Impromptu Duel.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 January 1911, Page 4

Impromptu Duel.

e BARON AND BANK CLERK. A baron and a bank clerk ifchis morning (says the Berlin correspond fc/nnK ;11 , Iy Tcle g'-aph on October 10t.li) fought a duel, which was none the less lurious in consequence ot its complete disregard for the elaborate prescriptions of ''the code ot -honor, and, perhaps, 'throiHi its very tempestuousness and informality fortunately proved bloodless, in spito ot the unusual number of .shots exchanged. The affair (took the bank clerk by surprise, as ,he was reclining in an easy chair in his bedroom -in a West End Berlin flat, being shaved by one of the assistants rioni a neighbouring barber's shop. Suddenly the smooth progress of the razoi over his chin was checked bv a vigorous rattling at the handle of (the locked door that led to an adjoining apartment, and peremptory demands for admittance, coupled With a throat that unless his demands were instantly complied with he would shoot. The bank clerk seems to he a man of nerve, for he was not at all disconcerted by this menacanig invasion of ;h,is domestic peace. He replied coolly that he, too, had a revolver aft hand, and if it came to a question of shooting would probably prove to be the better marksman of the two. To this defiance he added an injury as to who Ithe stranger was, and what his business might be. The intruder then announced himself as Baron von E., ex-cavalry officer. and said that he had come to reclaim a young woman who had formerly acted as Jiis housekeeper and had left his service to enter that of Jfjhe bank clerk in a similar capacity. To this the lady'® n6W employer responded that his interest in her was

-not of a' nature to justify liim in embarking on an affair of /honour on hor account, and ho called upon the infuriated baron to leave the premises without delay. As tho lailiter's only response was a renewed effort, to get at his supposed rival, tho clerk duns open tho door, and ■commenced the combat with a shot' from his revolver. His lire was promptly returned, and exchanges followed one another in quick succession. 'Meanwhile tho terrified •barber had managed to dodge through tho shower of bullets, and slip out .into the street, where his shouts of "Murder!" soon brought the police to the .spot. "NV-hen they entered the flat where the duel bad /taken place they found the two adversaries facing one another with still smoking revolvers in their hands, and apparently only prevented from continuing their combat to the death by 'the fact..that they had expended all their available ammunition. They were led away to the nearest police station to be examined as to their responsibility in this strange affair.