FATAL DUEL IN FRANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3589, 11 October 1879, Page 3

FATAL DUEL IN FRANCE.

A duel has jusfc iaken place at St Germains, resulting in tho death of one of the combatants. A quarrel broke out at table between fcwo non-commissioned officers in consequence of one asking the other for repayment of a debt. Then and there tbey repaired to the riding school, accompained by their seconds and the maitre d'armes. After each had received some trifling ecrafcihes, tho lender asked his adversary to retract an offensive word, in which case he would give him his hand, but the other preferred to continue tbe fight. Ho speedily received a formidable thrust, which would bava run him through had not the maitre d'armes hit up the sabre. As ifc was, however, he waa seriously wounded in the neck, and although taken to the hospital, where every attention waa paid to him, he died soon after. The colonel of the regiment put tho surviving combatant and the seconds under arrest, but he soon liberated the former on learning how he had behaved, though he condemned each of the latter to a fortnight's imprisonment for their share in the affair. The superior authorities have, however, released the offenders, as, though unwise, their conduct is Btated fco have been loyal and correct. The colonel has warned his non-commis.'ioned officers fco be more careful in future, and with this mild recommendation the matter will probably end. According fco one account, ifc was fche seconds who insisted on the duel being continued after the first blood had been spilt, and in any ease they approved the butchery that followed.