“HONOUR SATISFIED.”

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 5

“HONOUR SATISFIED.”

EARLY WELLINGTON DUEL. BARRISTER FATALLY SHOT. A concomitant of romance and chivalry through the ages has been the traditional method of vindicating personal honour by duelling. In some cases it has been a sedate, formal business, the tentative tapping of blades culminating In the harmless letting of blood, this being thought sufficient satisfaction; In other Instances It has been a business-like "Pistols for two and coffee for one.” 'Duelling owes its birth to the ancient “trial by battle," which was governed by the fervent hope that the duellest with right on his side would succeed by Divine intervention; but It was on the Continent that the custom of settling “honourable” disputes by personal combat first became established. German youth, even In recent times, considered that a face scarred by slashes of the duelling blade was something to be sought, and, once gained, something in which to take pride. The reported duel In Auckland, between a former English Army officer and a foreigner, recalls a tragic duel that was fought when Wellington was young. On February 26, 1844, two shots rang out in what is now Sydney Street, and a barrister fell, fatally wounded. He and a colleague had reverted to duelling to settle a legal dispute. A Contemporary Report.

The New Zealand Journal, London, of Septembed 28 of that year, gave the following account: — “A duel was fought at Wellington between Mr W. V. Brewer, barrister, and Mr Ross, solicitor. Mr Brewer fired in the air, but received Mr Ross’s ball in the groin, from which wound ho died a few days afterwards. "Mr Boss’s second was Major Durie, and Dr Dorset the surgeon in attendance.

"The case arose from a Government source. These people are sure to be at the bottom of any mischief. Boss, a Government officer, was defending McDonogh (of Proclamation fame), in an appeal against a decision which he had given, from circumstances connected with which Ihc quarrel arose. On Mr Brewer’s failing the parties absconded, but returned on finding [hat he was not dead. After his death they did not appear to ihink Ihc. precaution necessary. While, to the astonishment, of everyone, the Coroner's jury brought in a verdict of ‘Died from a gunshot wound, by whom inflicted, there was no evidence lo prove.’ "The deceased gentleman was a hrolhcr-'in-iaw of Mr Justice 11. S. Chapman, and Ihc brolher of Ihc Judge of llm County Court al Nelson’, and arrived in New Zealand before Urn occupation of Cook's Strait by Ihu New Zealand Company. “Boss was. until recently. AllorneyCencral of Van Pieman's Land. The unhappy affair lias created the greatest. disgust. We shall feel obliged In any of our readers who may have received accounts of this melancholy affair to forward them to us ”