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

claimed distinguished. VICTIM this morning.
Judge Cooley, a prominent mensoer Of the New
Orleans bar, was killed in duel at Montgomery
station, near Bay St. louis, bg|Ooonel R. B. Rhett,
Jr.. editor Of the the PlcaUrrsH OF this CITY, The
particulars of the quarrel between the parties are
the following :-Tor several days past this commu
nifty has been much excited by an apprehended
aael between both parties.
On Friday Colonel Rhett sent peremptory chsl-
lenge-tO Judge Cooley, which az accepted by ham,
the meeting, however to be postponed until Tues
dAg, on account of Judge Cooleys engagement TO
argue the rule for new trial before Judge Haw-
GAINS, which came up yesterday. During the course
of the argument Judge Cooley, in opposing the mo-
tion for q continuance remarked that If the case
went over until Wednesday
HE MIGHT MorssEaAITvE
10 argue it, and 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 Oh.
Montgomery station Is Wild sandy locking
splace, some tour or 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 exception there
are no residents nearer than three-auarters of
mile. The duel was fought with
DOUBLE BARREL SHOT GUNS
loaded with ball. The distance was forty PAGES.
Mr.. Rhett accompanied by Messrs. Charles
Roman and DR.. Brunns and Judge Foley was at
tended by Colonel George W. Carter and Major
McRae Seph. The weapons we're double barrened
shot guns, one barrel loaded with q single ball.
The distance was forty yatds. 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 the right. Cooley
delivered his file first AT the second IRE both
toad osrn
wounded by shot entering his left side and pass
ing apparently through his heart. He expired in
six minutes without apparent suffering ana only
81 AM SHOT THROUGH THE HEARTH
The gentlemen engaged in the affair exchanged
the usual civilities alter the second fire and sep
arated with the expression OF mutual respect and
consideration.
The body was brought to the city on the evening
Train and LETT at the Luxembourg Hospital The
funeral will take place tomorrow morning. at ten
o'clock, from the corner Of Seventh and ST. Charles
street.
SKETCH OF THE DEAD DUELIsr.
Judge William H. Cooley was born in Pointe
MS mother being Ledeux, also of the parish OF
Pointe Ooupee He was educated and graduated
OF in sat- IN e
same year and at the same institution where
in w H
COupee by Michael Hahn. The first appearance of
Judge Cooley prominently before the New Orleans
public was as a 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, TO which position he
elected, and which he maintained until the recent
election, when he declined submitting his name
At the time OF his death Judge Cooley was about
forty-seven years old. He was a widower, having
married Miss Plantinugne who died about Jour
years ago. HIS only child is now about ten or
twelve years old. His father, Judge Thomas j.
are well known TO the legal fraternity and officers
Df the Courts. He was
MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES,
and what he knew either OF law or language came
TO him as il were by intuition His mind while it
ceedingly analytic, and in cases where neither
personal feeling nor party animosites interiered
always critically correct. With an inexhaustble
lund Of humor. keen sense OF the ridiculous, and,
being an adept III tue use OF satire, he was at once
warm friend and bitter enemy.
This is not the first duel in which he has been
DR.. Kaufman. one OF his pensioners upon the
Held OF honor, and alter an exchange OF shots
amicable adjustment of the difficulty was made and
thereafter the parties became personal
lriends He had supreme contempt for shame
and was fond OF launching arrows OF wit and
casm against all manner OF hypocrisy. He had
religion and a code OF morals peculiarly his own,
and with all his excentricities was man Of liberal
ideas and warm impulses.
SKETCH OF THE SURVIVOR.
Colonel X. Barnwell Rhett, Jr., the surviving
1uellst, is well known among the journalists OF the
United States as the editor OF the now defnnct
charleston MecDN anterior to and during the
war. Probably no paper In the South contributed
30 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
Car0llnd and Is about forty years OF age Inherit
Ing from his family and home surroundings the
peculiar feelings OF honor that find redress the
nuelinR code, he has never hesltated to hold him.
self responsible for all language uttered in his
journalistic columns or elsewhere, and more
than once has been involved In controversies
that found settlement only at the muzzle
Of the pistol Some OF his brothers have each like
wise KILLED his man. in duels. Personally Colonel
Rhett IS rep esented to be heightened, gentle and
chvairous-a quiet, low-spOken man, and the last
e,ther 70 court quart or reSede rom 1t at the
OF the Mercury he retired to his Alabama planta-
tion. whence be was called about year ago to the
editorial chair OF the New orleans Picdyt1ne.
THE CASrs BELLI.
The card OF Judge Cooley which was published in
pc New Orleans Times OF June ~, and which
ought around the event fatal to llm, was as
iows:-
Yesterday morning the PtcaDee. in an editorial,
aleu- me on account OF my argument in the
-wklns-Ptcoyune libel suit. My statements to
- Jury were qualified as being malicious and
willuly iase' As soon az read the article ! adj
IS dressed letter TO Colonel X. b. Rhett Jr the ed
tor, which was handed 10 him by u friend. After
reading IT, Colonel Rhett stated that ne, within
was granted. To-day received his answer and /
now put before the people of New Orleans the two
letters:-
II p NEW oRLEASs, June IS 1873
SIR-In the Picuyaae OF this morn ing under the can
zion Of Hawkins vs. The P,qyv p you take The liberty
upon lucllcns or te trial 81 the Ne
PUT against The paper far deal In
~ Us not my purpose 10 ask
IN referring 10 me, under name, yOu have been
gully OF what consider a direct misrepresentation
aoa reief 10 my conciudng argument ior the paint
una say tIa Travelled out Of the
tened facts because knew one wa, q follow me ana
phGw my mistakes, which you quality 9uly wully
but manclOusy false In this CONNECTION aIlude
md quote from my argument a tollOws:-
rms canvas tof the Lynch returning board
this result proclaimed 10 The citizens Loui
tiana, on Inc 18th day OF December What di1 The Pun
fnne dor Did the PfodyA,s, month vi Deceuber
gay one word about itg N-nOt a word Then come.
tbe month OF January. Did She Pieugae "a the mpnn nj
January say one word about Not syllable Another
mont1 ~ ABOUT TO expire Oh the 80 FeJruary-tvyo
months and half after the acton wa rOnine ithan
II thar the vanous Indignation very virtuOus
sHeet aroused, an d published this arnce
Why il that they single out Judge Hawkins from The
returning board IL was not iawkns solely and snsy
fho had perperaed this immense injury Vi which Won
pau comp aimed. II anybody did Il il wa, the Ioa ri
nat Board composed Of FIVE individuals ask Won
" YOU put Yourselves forward champions of public