The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Philosophy
The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)
Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Dueling
On the 21st of September, their trial came on at the Central Criminal
Court. Eliot and Broughton did not appear; but Young and Webber took
their places at the bar. Mr. Bodkin said, that in consequence of the
illness of Mr. Clarkson, who was Broughton’s counsel, it had been
thought desirable that he should not surrender. The prisoners having
pleaded “Not guilty,” Mr. Chambers opened the case for the prosecution,
and called the various witnesses. At the close of the case for the
prosecution, Mr. Adolphus addressed the jury in behalf of Webber, and
Mr. Phillips in behalf of Young. They both maintained, that there was
not a tittle of evidence to show that either of them had any
participation in the unfortunate occurrence. Several witnesses spoke to
their character; which was described as being of the most humane
description.
Mr. Justice Vaughan then charged the jury. He said, that the case, in
his own opinion, presented no point of difficulty. The question for them
to determine was, whether the prisoners at the bar had gone down for the
purpose of aiding and encouraging Mr. Eliot. If they entertained any
doubt upon that point, they were bound to give them the benefit of that
doubt. There were, undoubtedly, he observed, some peculiarities in the
present case, which did not belong to any other case of duelling with
which he was acquainted; and that peculiarity was, the fact of so many
persons having been mixed up with the transaction. With regard to the
manner in which it was conducted, it did not appear that any unfair
advantage had been taken by either party. On the contrary, as far as he
knew anything of such matters, the affair appeared to have been managed
with a strict regard to the practice usually followed on similar
occasions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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