Smith v. State

| Ala. | Jul 15, 1828

JUDGE PERRY

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The question proposed arises out of the statute passed in 1807, and the one passed in 1819; the first of which provides, “that if any person or persons shall deliver, offer, or send any challenge in writing, verbally or otherwise, to fight a duel,” &c. “the. person or persons so offending, their aiders or abetters, and each of them, shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars, and be imprisoned twelve callendar months, and be rendered incapable of holding any office of honor, profit, or trust, under the government of this territory, for and during the term of five years from the time of such conviction,” The General Assembly in 1819, made the following provision, “that’if any person or persons be engaged, either as principals or seconds, in fighting a duel; or in other words, fighting in single combat with any deadly weapons, the principals and seconds, and every person or persons directly or indirectly concerned therein, either in sending, giving, accepting, or conveyingany such challenge, knowing or believing it to be such, their coun-sellors, aiders, or abetters, upon being thereof lawfully convicted, shall be imprisoned three months, and shall severally forfeit and pay a fine to be assessed by any Court having jurisdiction, not exceeding two thousand dollars.” The statute then provides for the commitment of the offender until the fine is paid, or until he gives security for his good behavior; and also disqualifies him from holding any office, &c. The last section of the act of 1819, repeals all laws .in contravention of that act. The question arises, how far the act of 1819 repeals that of 1807.; in the determination of which, the penalties in. each statute will afford much aid in coming to a correct conclusion as to what the Legislature intended by the passage of the law of 1819. The penalty inflicted by the |aw 0f 1807, for amere challenge, being greater than that inflicted by the law of 1819 for fighting a duel, where neither party ¡skilled, leaves no doubt on our minds, but that the General Assembly intended by the law of 1819, to repeal that of 1807 ;■ for otherwise a person who merely challenges, would be more severely punished than those who fight, thereby subjecting the lesser offence to the severest penalty. The law then of 1807, contravening the provisions of that of 1819, and there being no provision in the law of 1819, punishing the offence of challenging to fight a duel, except the fight actually takes place, we are of opinion there is no law by which the offence of challenging to fight a duel can be punished. Because, to punish the offence as at common law, the Court must have the sole power of inflicting the punishment, which there, being unlimited, renders the common law in that respect more penal than the statute of 1819 ; consequently, contravening its provisions in the same manner as the law of 1807.

We are therefore of opinion, that the judgement of the Court below be reversed; and the defendant is oidered to be discharged.

Judge Saeeold not sitting.