The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-02
THE NEW ORLEANS DUEL.
A Deadly Combat With Double.baT-
relied ShOtsgunsssJudge Cooley
Killed az the Second Fire.

dispatch from Bay 81. Louis, states that 9
duel was fought near Montgomery station
this morning, between ex:J Judge VIM. II
Cooley and r. B. Rhett, Jr., of the Pea
yuIe, In which Cooley was killed OF the
second shot. The difficulty grew out oI
an article published in the 1imeS Of the
27th. Col. Rhett was not touched. II Il
understoOd that Rhett was the chAlleng'
ing party and that they fought with
double.barreled shot guns, loaded with
ball, distance iorty PAGES.
NEw York, July /.
A private dispatch received al Wash
ipgton announces that q duel was fought
at Bay st. Louis this morning between
R. B, Rhett, Of the New Orleans Pea
yune, and ex Judge VIM. 81. Cooley, IN
which Cooley was killed at the second
fire.
NEW ORLEANS, July Ia Times spe.
cial says that in the Rhett and Cooley duel
Judge Cooley was killed at the second
fire. The parties arrived at the place on
the same train ut six o'clock this morning.
MIR. Rhett was accompanied by MIR,
Charles Boman and DR.. Burns, and Judge
Cooley was attended by Col. G. W. Car
ter and Msjor McRes Selph. The wea-
pons were double barreled shot guns, one
barrel loaded with u single ball, distance
forty yards. The ground was promptly
selected, the distance measured and the
parties placed In position. At the first
fire Rhett's shot ranged high and Cooley's
to the right, Cooley delivered his fire
first. At the second fire, both fired sim.
ultaneously and Cooley fell mortally
wounded, by shot entering his left side
and passing apparently through his heart
He expired in six minutes without any
apparent suffering, only speaking these
words TO DR.. HollidSy :"1 am shot through
tho breast" The gentlemen engaged in
the affair arranged the usual Civilities
after The second fire and separated with
mutual expression Of respect and con-
sideration.
ALL ABOUT THE DUEL AND THE PARTIES
TO IT.
New ORLEANS, July 1.-The Fleming
Herald has the following:
"For several days past the community
has been much excited by an apprehended
duel between Col. r. D. Rhett, Jr., editor
OF the Picdylne, and Judge William Il.
Cooley, the leading counsel In the case OF
Hawkins rS. the PicGyuRe. The facts OF
tho controversy will be hereafter ELECTED,
we presume, 10 full. Suffice 1t for the
present TO state that on last Friday, Col.
Rhett SEM pQremptory challenge 10
Judge Cooley, which was accepted by
him, the meeting, however, TO be post.
poncd until Tuesday, on account OF
Judge Cooley's engagement TO argue
the rule for a new case then on
trial before Judge Hawkins, which came
of yesterday. During the course ot the
argument, Judge Cooley, IN offering the
motion for a continuance, remarked that
II the case went over until Wednesday, he
might not be alive to argue II; and SO It
has sadly turned out. To-day the parties
lett on the Mobile train at 8 O'clock A. NJ,
arriving at Montgomery Station at about
10 A. N, where the party disembaIked.
Montgomery Station, where the duel &C.
CURED, Is q wild, sandy looking place, four
or five miles this side Of Bay St. Louis,
where the road passes through woods
Of tall pines, behind which is an open
field near by, and on the line OF the rail-
road Is small cottage occupied by q fam
Ily, but with this exception there are no
residences nearer than three quarters oil a
mile.
This difficulty is one Of the sad re.
suits Of the ubiquitous Hawkins trial
against the Picdyune, Of which Col. Rhett
Is editor. In his speech for the proSecu-
lion, Cooley made reflections upon that
paper which called forth an editorial In It's
next issue pronounciDg them false, Judge
Cooley then addressed communication
10 the editor calling for explanations,
which not being accorded, he followed 1t
up by published card aSsaillng Colonel
Rbett. A challenge promptly followed,
and the result Is now before our readers.
Judge Cooley was born In Polnte
Coupee; and was the son Of Judge Thos.
], Cooley, his mother being Ledaux,
also OF the parish Of Pointe Coupee. he
was educated and graduated In the Ac-
ademic Department OF the Transylvanis
University Of Kentucky, In 1857, in the
same year and at the same institution
where Governor Voorhies graduated In
law, BE was subsequently appointed
Parish Judge Of Pointe Coupee by Mich
ael Hahn. The first appearance OF Judge
Cooley prominently before the New Or
leans public was as representative from
Pointe Ooupee in the Reconstruction
Convention, which sat at the Mechanics
Institute in which he took q leading part.
When the Reconstruction election took
place Judge Cooley having selected New
Orleans as his residence, was nominated
by the Democracy as their candidate
for the judgeship ol the sixth District
court, OF the city, 10 which position he
was elected, and which he maintained
until tho recent election, when he declined
submitting his name before the conVen.
ton. At the time Of his death Judge
Cooley was about forty-seven years oi age
Judge Cooley was Q wldoWer, having
married q Miss PlGntinugre, who died
about four years ago. BIS only child %
now about ten or twelve years old.
His father, Judge Thomas ]. Cooley
and his two brothers james and
Thomas, are well known TO the legal
fraternity and officers oi the Court de
was man Of en- ordinary natural abill.
ties, and what he knew, either Of law or
language, came 10 him as II II were BY In.
tulIion. His mind, while Il was easily
warped by passion or prejudice, was ex'
ceedingly analytic, and In cases where
neither personal feeling nor party
animosIlies interfered 10 cloud his
Judgment, his decisions were almost
on all occasions critically correct
With an inexhaustible fund Of humor. q
keen sense Of the ridiculous, and, being an
adept In the use Of satire, he was at once
a warm friend and bitter enemy, This
is not the first duel in which he has been
concerned. Some years before the war,
be mot Dr.. Kaufman, ono Of bis parish