AS the result of challenging Major Caine, founder of the Hong Kong Police, to a duel, Lieutenant Macdonald of the 98th Regiment was court-martialled on March 4, 1845.
It all started with a brawl between a group of drunken British soldiers from Macdonald's regiment and civilians who lived in the market area. The soldiers were severely beaten and it was rumoured their comrades planned to return to the scene and beat up those responsible.
To prevent further violence, Macdonald was put in charge of patrolling the area. Unfortunately he exceeded his orders and went round to the house of a civilian called Robinson, whom he suspected of being involved, and dragged him back to the barracks where, allegedly, he was beaten by the vengeful troops.
Robinson sued Macdonald and was awarded $50 damages, which Macdonald refused to pay. Major Caine, in his capacity as sheriff of the Supreme Court, sent a bailiff to the barracks to arrest Macdonald.
Unfortunately, due to the shortage of court officers, he chose a bailiff who was a private soldier and had been seconded to the court. He was dressed in civilian clothes, but Macdonald recognised him and arrested the soldier-bailiff for ''disrespectful conduct''. The infuriated Scotsman then challenged Major Caine to a duel.
Major-General D'Aguilar stepped in. He released the bailiff and arrested Macdonald. The general, who ''abhorred duelling'', generously took into account ''that high feeling which renders it worse than death to a British officer to submit to an unprovokedinsult''.