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 In May 1821 a young surgeon was killed in a duel at Winster.
He was William Cuddie, aged 31. William had fallen in love with Mary, the daughter of the wealthy Brittlebank family of Oddo house. For some reason one of her brothers, William Brittlebank, tried to keep them apart.
One evening the two men quarrelled. The doctor later received this note:
“Sir, I expect satisfaction for the insult you dared to offer me at a time when you knew that my situation with a helpless Woman prevented my chastising you.
Name your time and place, the bearer will wait for an answer.
Sir, Yours, &c. William Brittlebank, Jun.
I shall be attended by a friend and prepared with pistols, and if you don’t meet I shall post you as a coward.”
In other words this was a challenge to a duel, but Cuddie refused to reply. The next afternoon the three Brittlebank brothers turned up in his garden with two loaded pistols.
Cuddie reluctantly accepted one of the weapons. William Brittlebank walked 15 yards (13.7 m) away, turned and fired. Two shots were heard but only Cuddie was hit. He died a few hours later.
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Bone and Skeletons
Crime & Punishment
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