Sen. killed by judge in duel
On this day, Sept. 13, in 1859, U.S. Sen. David Broderick of California was shot by California Chief Justice David Terry during a duel in San Francisco. Broderick and Terry had been friends, but they had a falling out when Terry lost his re-election bid because of his pro-slavery views. He blamed Broderick, who opposed the expansion of slavery. Terry challenged Broderick to a duel. Broderick's gun misfired into the dirt and Terry shot him in the chest. He died three days later. - Scott McCabe

- Scott McCabe