1877 Dakota Terr. Rev. Codes 771
Abstract
Penal Code, ch. 23, § 294: Duel Defined. A duel is any combat, with deadly weapons, fought between two persons by previous agreement or upon a previous quarrel. § 295. Punishment for Fighting. Every person guilty of fighting any duel, although no death or wound ensues, is punishable by imprisonment in the territorial prison not exceeding ten years.
Summary
This statute strictly outlaws dueling with deadly weapons, punishing fighters with up to ten years in prison and a permanent ban from holding territorial office or public trust. It also imposes prison sentences of up to seven years for seconds, aids, surgeons, and those issuing or delivering challenges, while classifying attempts to provoke challenges or shaming non-participants as misdemeanors. Additionally, the law prevents individuals from evading prosecution by dueling outside the territory and strips witnesses of the right to refuse testimony, provided their statements are not used against them in criminal proceedings.
Law Text
"§ 294. DUEL DEFINED.] A duel is any combat, with deadly weapons, fought between two persons by previous agreement or upon a previous quarrel.
§ 295. PUNISHMENT FOR FIGHTING.] Every person guilty of fighting any duel, although no death or wound ensues, is punishable by imprisonment in the territorial prison not exceeding ten years.
§ 296. INCAPACITY TO HOLD OFFICE.] Every person convicted of fighting a duel is thereafter incapable of holding or being elected or appointed to any office, place or post of trust or emolument, civil or military, under this territory .
§ 297. SECONDS, AIDS AND SURGEONS.] Every person who is present at the time when any duel is fought, either as second , aid or surgeon, or who ad vises or gives any countenance to any duel, is punishable by imprison ment in the territorial prison not exceeding seven years.
§ 298. PUNISHMENT FOR CHALLENGES.] Every person who challenges an other to fight a duel; every person who accepts any such challenge; and every person who knowingly forwards, carries or delivers any such challenge, is punishable by imprisonment in the territorial prison not exceeding seven years.
§ 299. CHALLENGE DEFINED.] Any words, spoken or written, or any signs, uttered or made to any person , expressing or implying or intended to express or imply a desire, request, invitation or demand, to fight a duel, or to meet for the purpose of fighting a duel, are deemed a challenge.
§ 300. ATTEMPTS TO INDUCE CHALLENGE.] Every person guilty of sending, uttering or making to another any words or signs whatever, with intent to provoke or induce such person to give or receive any challenge to fight a duel, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 301. POSTING FOR NOT FIGHTING.] Every person who posts or publishes another for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a challenge to fight a duel, or who uses any reproachful or contemptuous language, verbal,written or printed, to or concerning another for not sending or accepting a challenge to fight a duel, or with intent to provoke a duel, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 302. LEAVING TERRITORY TO EVADE LAWS.] Every person who leaves this territory with intent to elude any of the provisions of this chapter, and to commit any act out of this territory, such as is prohibited by this chap ter, and who does any act, although out of this territory , which would be punishable by said provisions, if committed within this territory, is punishable in the same manner as he would have been , in case such act had been committed within this territory.
§ 303. WHERE TRIED.] Such person may be indicted and tried in any county within this territory.
§ 304. WITNESSES PRIVILEDGE.] No person shall be excused from testifying or answering any question upon any investigation or trial for a violation of either of the provisions of this chapter, upon the ground that his testimony might tend to convict him of a crime. But no evidence given upon any examination of a person so testifying shall be received against him in any criminal prosecution or proceeding."
Description
Categories
DEFINITIONS, DUELING