The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-02
Fatal Duel Between R. D. Rhett, Jry and Judge
". II. Cooley Near New Orleans.
One of the Parties instantly
Killed.
Sketches of the Duellists Oanssof the
Hostile Meeting ard Gard of
Characteristic Courtesy.

ClhAWcO u dStuBuieHcU- v1Ctlm this morning.
Judge Cooley prominent mensoer Of the New
Orleans bar, was killed in duel at Montgomery
station, near Bay ST. Eouis, bg|Oolonel R. B. Rhett,
IT., editor OF the the Plcayrnse OF this city. The
particularly of the quarrel between the parties are
the following :sFor several days past this commu
nifty has been much excited by an apprehended
oael between both parties.
On Friday Colonel Rhe tt sent peremptory chal-
lengeto Judge Cooley, which was accepted by ham,
the meeting, however, to be postponed until Tues
dag, on account ofJudge Cooleys engagement TO
argue the rule for new trial before Judge Haw-
f&lins, which came up yesterday During the course
'ofthe argument Judge Cooley, in opposing the mo-
tion for q cortinuance, remarked that fthe case
went over until Wednesday
HE MIGHT MrssE. ALIVE
10 argue It, and so IL has sadly turned cut to-day
The parties left In the Mobile train at eight
O'Clock this morning, arriving at Montgomery sta
ton about ten A. NJ. where the duel came or
Montgomery station Is q wild, sandy locking
splace, some tour five miles this side of Bay ST.
Louis, where the road passes through o wood OF
tall pines, behind which Is an open field Near by
and on the line OF the railroad is small cottage
occupied by family, but with this reception there
are no residents nearer than thrcequarters of
mile. The duel was fought with
DOUBLE BARREL SHOT GUNS
loaded with ball. The distance was forty PAGES.
Mr. Rhett was accompanied by Messrs. Charles
Roman and Dr. BRUINS, and Judge Foley was at
tended by Colonel George W. Carter and Major
McRae Selph The weapons we're double barrelled'
shot guns one barrel loaded with single ball.
The distance was forty yaids. The ground was
promptly selected, the distance measured and the
parties placed In position. At the first fire Rhett's
shot ranged high and Cooleys to the right. Cooley
delivered his dle first At the second nre both
hred simultaneously and Cooley fell mortaly
wounded by a shot entering his left side and pass
ing apparently through his heart. He expired in
hix minutes without apparent suffering and ony
speaking the words to DR.. Halliday:
81 AM SHOT THROUGH THE HEART"
the usual civilites alter the second fire and sep.
arated with the expression OF mutual respect and
The body was brought TO the city on the evening
Train and LETT at the Luzenburg Hospital. The
O'Clock from the corner OF Seventh and st. Charles
street.
SKETCH OF THE DEAD DuELIsr.
Judge William II. Cooley was born in Pointe
Coupe and was the son OF Judge Thomas j. Cooley,
SsR and
N the academic department Of the Transylvana
yesr a of M 9Se In @ in the
Governor voorhees, graduated in law. He was
subsequently appointed Parish Judge Ct Pointe
Judge Cooley prominently before the New orleans
public was as representative from Pointe Coupee
In the Reconstruction Convention which sat at
Mechanics Institute, in which he took leading
part. When the reconstruction election took
place Judge Cooley, having selected New Orleans
rs his residence, was nominated by the democracy
as their candidate for the Judgeship OF the Sixth
District Court Of the City, which position he was
elected, and which he maintained until the recent
election, when he declined submitting his name
before the Convention.
At the time OF his death Judge Cooley was about
torty,seven years old. He was widower, having
years ago. HIS only child is now about ten or
Twelve years old. His father, Judge Thomas j.
Cooley, and his two brothers, James and Thomas
fraternity
Df the Courts. He was
A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES
and what he knew either OF law or language came
TO him as it were by intuition. His mind while it
was easily warped by passion or prejudice, was eX
ceedingy analytic and In cases where neither
personal feellng nor party anmosites nteriered
to cloud his Judgment his discussions were almost
always critically correct. With nexhaustible
fund OF humor "a keen sense OF the ridiculous, and
being an adept liz tue use OF satire, he was at once
p warm friend and a bitter enemy.
This is not the first duel in which he has been
codcerned. Some years before the lie met
Dr. kaufman, one OF his Pensioners, upon the
field of honor, and after an exchange OF shots an
amicable adjustment of the difficulty was made and
friends. He had a supreme contempt for shame
and was fond OF launching arrows OF wit and sar-
casm against all manner OF Hypocrisy. He had a
religion and code OF morals peculiarly his own
and with all his eXcentrclties was man OF liberal
ideas and warm impulses.
SKETCH SURVIVOR.
Colonel X Barnwell khett, DR., the surviving
1uellist is well known among the journalists OF the
United states as the editor OF the now defunct
charleston Mercury anterior to and during the
war. Probably no paper In the South contributed
10 much TO bring on that terrible struggle. and lew
men welded more trenchant pen on his side OF
the line He is son of ex-senator Rhett, OF south
Carolina, and is about forty years OF age Inherit
Ing from his family and home surroundings the
peculiar feelings OF honor that find redress IN the
dueling code, he has never hesitated TO hold him
sell responsible for all language uttered in his
journalistic columns or elsewhere, and more
that found settlement only at the muZze
OF the pistol some OF his brothers have each like
wise killed his man" in duels. Personally Colonel
Rlett TpDfeSpnte1 no Dh-tn cor a. AM
chlvarous-a quiet lowspoken man, and the last
either to court quarrel or reeede from 1t at the
OF the Mercury he retired TO his Alabama panta-
tion. whence he was called about year ago to the
editorial chair OF the New orleans Picdyttne.
THE CAsUs BELLT.
The card OF Judge Cooley which was published IN
DE New orleans Times OF June -, and which
,lows:-
Yesterday morning the Ptcayaue, in an editorial
iied me on account OF my argument In the
-wklns-Ptcoy,1e libel suit. MY statements TO
.e Jury were qualified as being malicious and
wiliully false" As as read the article / adj
dressed letter to Colonel X. b. Rhett Jr, the edi-
tor, which was handed to him by friend After |
reading it, Colonel Rhett stated that ne within /
twenty-four hours would answer; and this time |
was granted To-day received his answer and | |
now put before the people OF New Orleans the two |
letters:-
=, puvrr =. NV oELFASs, June IS 1873.
zion Of Hawkins The rieayrS = yea take the liberty
f IS nv s psse a., 20 Tar as deal n
IN referring 10 me- under name, yoa have been
fuily o. what consider direct misrep presentation.
oou refer TO my CONCLUDING argument Tor the plainuu
anu ssy uat Travelled out Of the record and msrepre
fenteut act$ because knew 10 follow IN
h.w my mistakes which YOU quality not only Silfay
but manconsy false In tins connection you aude to /
ma quote from my argument a. ollowS:-
rms canvas (Of the Lynch returning board made
ms result proclaimed 20 the citizens Snte of Lou
fana on Inc Eth day OF December What did The
Jay word about s M in the m %ai Of Rs
Che month OF January Did ihe Piaggae the month Of
January say one word about ~ Not syllable Another
monih - ABOUT t0exppe on the sd OF february-two
nonffs ana nall after the acton cOmmted-thcn {
us that The vtlanous Indignation that very yrtuous
sheet Is aroused an d i published this article
Why IL that they single Judge Hawkins from the
returning board IL was not HAWKINS solely and singv
th9 had perDeJated TINS immense injury " which yOl
phd complained. IL anybody did IL ii was the Board
nat Board composed Of Ave individuals ask Won
iihs you put Yourselves forward as champions OF public