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Webster 1913 Edition

Chance-medley

Chance′-medˊley

,
Noun.
[
Chance
+
medley
.]
1.
(Law)
The killing of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See
Chaud-Medley
.
☞ The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one’s self against assault.
Bouvier.
2.
Luck; chance; accident.
Milton.
Cowper.

Webster 1828 Edition

Chance-medley

CHANCE-MEDLEY

,
Noun.
In law, the killing of a person by chance, when the killer is doing a lawful act; for if he is doing an unlawful act, it is felony. As if a man, when throwing bricks from a house into a street where people are continually passing, after giving warning to passengers to take care, should kill a person, this is chance-medley. But if he gives no warning, and kills a man, it is manslaughter.

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