Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-07-10
DOAI HERALD AND VALLEY A T1I2lTIsER
FATAL DUEL.

FATAL DUEL.
NEW ORLEANS, July IA private
dispatch from Bay St. Louis states that
duel was fought near Montgomery
station this morning between ex,Judge
William II. Cooley, and r s. Rhett of
the i'scayasne, i'll which Cooley was
killed at the second fire. The difficult
" grew out of an article published in
the Ptcaymme, and a reply from Judge
Cooley published in the Times of the
9th ultimo Colonel Rhett was not
touched. 1t is understood that Rhett
was the challenged party.
New ORLEANS, July 1.-The Times
special, dated Montgomery, State of
Mississippi, via Bay St. Louis, July lst,
says: In the Rhett and Cooley duel
Judge Cooley was killed at the second
tire. The parties arrived at this place
on the same 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 Ma
jor Nc. Rae. The weapons were do,!,
Die barreled shot guns, one barrel lead
ed with single bali = distance 40 yards.
The ground was promptly selected, dis
lance 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 8
shot entering his left side and passing
apparently through his heart. He ex
PRED in six minutes, without apparent
suffering, only speaking the words tc
DR.. Holiday, q am shot through the
breast. The gentlemen engaged in the
affair exchanged the usual ciyilities af
ter the second fire, and separated with
the expression Of mutual respect and
consideration.
ANorlIER ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
NEW ORLEANS, July L. The E'oeas
ing Herald has the following: "I or sew
erai days past this community has beer
much excited by an apprehended due
between Colonel r. 8. Rhett, Jr, edi
tor Of the Picayssase, and Judge Win
lam r. Cooley. the leading counsel ii
the case of Hawkins Us. The -Picayatase
On Friday Colonel Rhett sent 1eremp
tory challenge to Judge Cooley, which
was accepted, the meeting, however, te
be postponed until Tuesday On accoun,
Of Judge Cooley's engagement to ar
que the rule 70. q new trial before
Judge Hawkins, which came up yester
day. During the course of his argu
ment, Judge, Cooley, in opposing The
motion for continuance. remarked
that if the case went over until Wednes
day he might not be alive to argue it
and so it sadly turned out to-day
The parties left in the Mobile train al
8 o'clock this a. NJ, arriving at Mont
gomery station about 10 A. NJ, where
the party got off. Montgomery station
where the duel occurred, is wild, san,
dy looking place, some four or five
miles this side Of Bay ST. Louis, where
the road passes through woods of tall
pine, behind which is an open field.
Near by and on the line of the railroad
is small cottage occupied by a family.
But with this exception there are no
residents nearer that three-quarters of
a mile. This difficulty is one of the
sad results OF the litigation in the Haw
kins suit against the Picayune. OF which
Colonel Rhett is the editor. In his
speech for the prosecution Judge Coo
ley made reflections upon that pape,
which called forth an editorial in its
next issue pronouncing them false.
Judge Cooley then addressed COM
munication to the editor, calling for
explanation, which not being accorded,
he followed it up by publishing card
assalhng 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 before the war he met DR..
Kaufman, one Of his parishioncrs, upon
the field Of honor, and after an ex
change Of shots on amicable adjustment
OF the difficulty was made, and there
after the parties became warm friends.
The body of Judge Cooley was
brought to this city this evening and
left at the Nuremberg Hospital. The
funeral will take place tomorrow morn
ing.