A pun does not commonly justify a blow in return. But if a blow were given for such cause, and death ensued, the jury would be judges both of the facts and of the pun, and might, if the latter were of an aggravated character, return a verdict of justifiable homicide.

Summary

This quote suggests that while it is generally not acceptable to respond to a mere pun with violence, there may be exceptional circumstances. In the hypothetical scenario presented, if someone were to retaliate with deadly force due to an incredibly offensive pun, a jury would have the authority to evaluate both the facts of the situation and the severity of the pun. If the pun was deemed to be extremely malicious, the jury might conclude that the act of killing was justifiable.

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