The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-02
FATAL DUEL.

NEW ORLEANS, July IA private dispatch
from Bay st. Louis states that duel was
fought near Montgomery station this morn
ing between ex.Judge William n. Cooiey.
and q. B. Rbett Of the Picayune. il, which
Cooley was killed at the second fire. The
difficulty grew out Of an article published in
the Picayune, and a reply from ,J,doe
Cooley published in the Times of the 27fh
ultimo. Colonel Rhett was not touched. n
is understood that Rhett was the challenged
party.
New ORLEANS, July 1.-The ,Tfmes's spe-
cial, dated Montgomery, State Of Mississippi,
uia Bay st. Louis, July 1st, says: In the
Rhett and Cooley duel Judge Cooley was
killed at the second fire. The parties arrived
at this place on the,sane train at 10 o'clock
this morning. Mr.. Rhett was accompanied
by Messrs. Charles Roman and DR.. Burns,
and Judge Cooley was attended by Colonel
George w. Carter and Major McRae.
The weapons were doubie-barrelled shot
guns. one barrel loaded with single ball
distance 40 yards. The ground was promptly
selected, distance measured, and the parties
placed in position. At the first fire Rhett's
shot ranged high, Cooley's to the right.
Cooley delivered his fire first. At the second
fire both fired simultaneously, and Cooley
fell mortally wounded by shot entering his
left side and passing apparently through his
heart. He expired in six minutes, without
apparent suffering, only speaking the words
to DR.. Holiday, i" lam shot through the
breast" The gentlemen engaged in the affair
exchanged the usual civilities after the
second fire, and separated with the expires
sion of mutual respect and consideration.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF TIE AFFAIR.
New ORLEANS, July 1.-The Ecenans
Herald has the following: "For several
days past this community has been much
excited by an apprehended duel between
Colonel r. B. Rhett, Jr., editor of the Pica
ytne, and Judge William III. Cooley, the
leading counsel In the case of Hawkins rs
The Ptcayune. On Friday Colonel Rheti
sent peremptory challenge to Judge Cooley
which was accepted, the meeting, however,
to be postponed until Tuesday on account
of Judge Cooley's engagement to argue the
rule for new trial before Judge Hawkins
which came UP yesterday. During The
course of his argument, Judge Cooley, in
opposing the motion for continuance, re.
marked that if the case went over until
Wednesday he might not be alive to argue
it, and so it sadly turned out to-day. The
parties left in the Mobile train at s O'Clock
this A. NJ, arriving at Montgomery
station about 10 A. NJ, where the party
CO. of. Montgomery station, where the
duel occurred, is wild, saudy-looking place
some four or five miles this side of Bay st
Louis, where the road passes through q
woods of tall pine, behind which is an open
field. Near by and on the line of the rail-
road is small cottage occupied by 4 family
But with this exception there are no resi-
dents nearer than three quarters of mile
This difficulty is one of the sad re.
suits Of the litigation in the Hawkins
suit against the Picdy,tne, of which Colonel
Rhett is the editor. In his speech for the
prosecution Judge Cooley made reflections
upon that paper which called forth an edito-
rial in its next issue pronouncing them false.
Judge Cooley then addressed a communca-
tiOn to the editor, calling for explanations,
which not being accorded, he followed it up
by publishing card asSailing Colonel Rhett
The challenge promptly followed, and the
result is now before our readers.
This is not the first duel In which Judge
Cooley has been concerned. Some years be.
fore the war he met DR.. Kaufman, one OF
his parishioners, upon the field Of honor
and after an exchange OF shots an amcablc
adjustment of the difficulty was made, and
thereafter the parties became warm friends.
The body of Judge Cooley was brought
to this city this evening and lett at the LII
zenberg Hospital. The funeral will take
place tomorrow morning.