THE LAW AS TO KILLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10479, 26 June 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LAW AS TO KILLING.

ALL ABOUT IT.

Suppose a burglar attacked you and you aimed a blow at his head with the poker, bat, instead of killing him, you killed a policeman who came to your Resistance, it would be quite justifiable. Bui: if you were fighting in the street, and a blow intended for your antagonist fell on a person standing by, this would be manslaughter or murder, for fighting in an unlawful act. Sometime* you may kill a person through another'" fault, in which case he is guilty, not you, A gentleman was driving a horse, when someone hit it, and the horse plunged on to the nidewalk, knocking down and trampling to death a little child. The rider was acquitted, and the other person convicted of manslaughter, Carelessness in doing a lawful bub dangerpus act makes'you guilty. For instance,' three men went with a rifle into a field, placed a board on a tree, and fired at it. During the firing a boy in a garden 4GO yards.off was shot dead, No one knew who shot him, but all three were found guilty of manslaughter, " . When a player accidentally kills another i in ft football match heis not guilty of any offence, for football is a lawful game. Some time ago a numbor of men were sparring with glove* in * private room, and one was knocked down and killed. But, as boxing with glovoa is lawful, there was no crime in tho homicide. If it hail been a prizefight, however, the death might have been murder. ■ < • .i

Avory good rule to remember is that if , either.your or another's- life" Im? to , be sacrificed you may kill the other. Two' sailors, for instaneo, were on a plank which' ■would not keep both iifloat, and the stronger was'justified in pushing off the weaker.. But if a man threatens'to kill you unless' you kill somoono olse, yon must let your, self be killed rnthor<th»u takeaway tho life of till innocfliifc party, 3 .....;,