Chance-medley and Chaud-medley are law expressions, which practically both mean the same thing, that a particular homicide was justifiable because it was done in the hot blood caused by an unprovoked assault. The phrase has no reference to homicide by accident. See MAN-SLAUGHTER, SANCTUARY.
Chance-medley
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 3: Catarrh to Dion, p. 97–98
Source scan(s): p. 0106, p. 0107