New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-09-05
n DOCTORS DUEL.
From The Ne,o. Orleans Delta, Aug. q

From The Ner Ori<drs Dettd aug %
Alta quarter past II o'clock yesterday afternoon,
difficulty occurred at the gate Of the Charity Hospital
between two Of prominent New Orleans physicians
-Drs. T.. Chopin and j. Foter-dunDg which five
shots exchanged and the former was dangerous
~ wounded. The unfortunate affair soon became
nosed throughout the city, and passing from mouth to
mouth the report assumed numerous exaggerated
pbases come of them to the injustice Of one or the
other Of the parties 1t is principally owing to this
fact that We give go full ana comprehensive report
Of every circumstance connected with the difficulty,
collected from reliable authorities and witnesses, 80
that the public may not be led astsy by false rumors,
eve TO the lesser particuarities.
A feud or at least a strong amnesty has existed
between these ger temen for upward Of two years.
One Of the first incidents OF it is tad to have been "a
follOwR; Nearly two years since young man named
WeeTs Of Rapides parish fatally shot 10 an afftsy
in this city and carried TO the Charity Hospital.
Dire. Foster and Chopin were both practicng there
at the tine, and by some regulation OF the Hospital the
former had the right to attend young Weems The
wounded man WAS however, a student under DIR.
Chopin in the Medical College, and as consequence
he determined to attend him. and did go. When DR..
Foster came in and learned Of the fact, he net DIR.
Chopin, and they bad severe fist encounter 10
of the rooms of the Hospital This Dot proving salts
factory TO either party host meeting was arranged
for the mex. day. Shos exchanged without effect,
when the seconds inerered and refused to allow mat
ters to go any further.
There have been other causes Of dispute, suc1 as
their both running for the Off Of House Surgeon at
the Hospital. Up to the last election, DIR. Chopin
holding this portion and st the election DIR. Eos
ter was chosen over him. There have asO been differ
ences Of opinion between them pol teal subjects,
both having been Delegates TO the State Democratic
Convention held in May last from the same Ward DIR.
Chopin being of the party known as the NewLiner5,
and Dr. Foster of the patty called the Old Licers.
There are four visiting surgeons for the Charity
Hospital Doctors Stone, Hunt, Mott, ard Chopin,
who perform all operations OF surgical nature. the
two former being out Of the city, their departments
were in charge OF other surgeons the latter Of the two
being DIR. Dirmeyer. man was brought to the Hos
pitsl a short time since suffering from severe aneur
ism in the left shoulder. lie placed 10 Ward No.
9 which is under the immediate charge OF DR. Spragus,
one of the students, and s in DIR. S,Ones surgical
department After consultation end general exami-
paton it agreed tbst the could not live unless
the artery which supplied the aneurism wac taken up.
All were of opinion at the time that this was the sub
clavan artery one CT the most important in the body,
and to tie which would be more dangerous operation
than tying the csrod in fact, it would Only give the
patient one chance in three or four Of life over the
certain death which the aneurism would cause if I'M
checked.
Among professional men, IS q matter OF course, the
more difficult operation is the more anxious skilfu
surgeon il to obtain the honor of performing it. TIE
operation belonged by right to the surgeon acting in
the place of DR.. Stone but he passed 1t over to Dr.
Dirineyer. week passed by, and the operation had
not been performed though the longer was delayed
tine more dar gerous il became to the patient. The
sufferers w fe desired TO have Dr. Stones service,
but az be was out Of the city, she said she wanted the
next best surgeon in New Orleans. 10 tie mean time,
however, it was discovered that 1t would Dot be ne ,es
,ry 10 take up the subcavian artery, as the axsry
artery would be sufficient for the purpose This less
sned the danger one-balf but still it would require
great skll ard nicely with the knife, in consequence of
the danger of severing some other vital portion In
reaching the axlary through network Of arteries,
veins and nerves.
The patients wife heard yesterday that DR.. Chop.
pin was very anxious to perform the opershcn and on
calling upon him il s said he offered to keep the man
in his InGrmsry on Csron ieet street, free of charge
until the result of the operation tor the privilege OF
performing which he would pay him 80. An agree
n ent was then made that the man should 60 to DIR.
Cboppins Infmary yesterday morning. DR.. Dir
never, hearing of this requested DR.. Foster, House
Surgeon and DIR. Smith, Assistant House Surgeon not
10 dlscbarge the man from the Hospital and they
agreed not 10 do it. 1t is claimed that all persons who
90 the Charity Hospital without paying, place them
Selves under the control Of the institution, and the
doctors can retain them until they cured or dead
Yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, the mans wife
came for him. and he dressed himself aud went out TO
the pate thinking there would be no difficulty about
his leaving. The woman asked for a discharge from
the clerk but he had received orders not TO give one
She then went to DR. Spfague, bat he being student
had no authority to sign one; Sne next vent 70 Ut;
not be allow ed to leave but he sat out by the gate
until DR. Chopin came in his buggy, at about noon,
10 visit the wounded men in hs department.
AS soon as he found the man was detained. he went
into the Office and asked Mr. Jules Lombard, Deputy
Clerk for discharge. Mr.. L. told him he could not
do 80 against orders DR.. Chopin then SAID he would
make out the discharge msef, on his authority as
visiting surgeon, ard did So giving II to the man ana
Lombard as this is against my orders, II Ia ny duty
TO imme dately inform DR.. Foster of the fact Ger,
tainly," said DR.. Chopin, "that IS your duty and
will wait until You have done 3d."
Dr. Chopin stood on the banquette, IN front OF hs
buggy ard within five or six feet Of the gate where
Dr. Foster came out. The latter Immediately repri-
manded Mr. Lombard for permitting the man TO leave
in defiance Of bis orders 20 the contrary. Mr. L. re-
piled that he could not have prevented 1t without hay-
ing difficulty with DIR. Chopin, which he would no.
have. Dr. Foster then stood in the gateway, and
gszed fxeoly at DR.. Chopin.
Doctor Chopin ssid: Are you looking at me, sir =
Doctor Foster answered." les, sir, am looking at
YOU" "And Whist do you think of me ''-con,inued
Doctor Chopin. IL think yon are Cd ID
scouudrel" said Dr. oster. Instantly upon this re-
ark and smult aDeousy Is we can learn from
those who anything of 1t, both gentlemen drew
their pistolr.
Dr. Foster csned a self. cooking, five bsrrelet re-
yolver. DR.. Chopin carried q single bareled Der
ringer in each pants pocket aud bowie knife 10 one
of bis cost-tsil pockets.
While DIR. Foster had but to raise his weapon and
pull the trigger, Dr. Chopin had to cock his. While
lie was doing So Dr. Foster red and shot his aLtsao-
mist through the le side Of the peck the ball passing
con ple.y through and cutting two the exterior Jug
ular vein 10 ts course. This paayzed Dr. SnopPins
right arm for second ard his pistol went of, the ball
max d. slight wourd in his own left hand The force
Of Dr. Fosters fret ball staggered DIR. Choppia back
some eight ten feet along the sidewalk OF Common
street., and in the DIRECTION Of the river Dr. tosttI
Their fired sgso and Ms bad entered the lett thigh OF
Dr. Chopin IN the lilac region, coming out on the
side Ii went through his psntaloons pocket aud Gaze
out on the seam Of the pants. Whether II TOOK us
course around immediately uoder the skin or passed
through and cut any of the ntestnes, Is higo!! I'M
nortant question which has 10. been decided yet If
hep,es tunes are wounded, fasl Inflammation may set
Wounded az he was, DR.. Chopin next drew his
4 4 A IT D.. tlr ne