THE LAST ENGLISH DUEL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XI, 14 September 1895, Page 322

THE LAST ENGLISH DUEL.

The last duel—the last fatal one, at least—was fought in a field in Maiden Lane in a solitary’ part of Holloway, in 1843. The district acquired considerable notoriety from the event. It was the duel fought between Colonel Fawcett and Lieutenant Munro. The former was killed. The duellists were not only brother officials, they were also brothers-in-law, having married two sisters. The coroner s verdict on the inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder, not only against Lieutenant Munro, but against the seconds also. The latter was, however, acquitted. Munro evaded the hands of justice by seeking a refuge abroad. Four years later he surrendered to take his trial at the Old Bailey. He was found guilty and condemned to death. He was, however, strongly recommended to mercy, and the sentence was commuted to twelve months' imprisonment. The neighbourhood in which this duel was fought is no longer solitary ; a wide thoroughfare, known as the Brecknock Arms, appropriately indicates where the final shot was fired.