New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-25
The Duel in ST. James,

We are indebted to the St. James Sentinel
for the following, We trust, reliable account
OF the rece1t unfortunate affair IN that
parish;
The dualing code has again been brought
into terrible and bloody practice in this
parish and one OF the saddest results from
this honorable y custom which it has ever
been our duty as a journalist to chronicle.
occurred about one mile below here on yes.
terday morning between DR.. Charles Gray,
formerly distinguished surgeon in the
United States army, afterward member, of
the Louisiana Legislature, and lately a
practicing physician in this community.
and Mr. D. J. Richard, deputy sheriff of St.
James. causing the immediate death of the
former, and the probably fatal wounding of
the latter.
We will not attempt to give the full de-
tails OF this horribly bloody affair, further
than to state that it had its origin in re-
mark made by one of the gentlemen in a
manner deemed insulting by the other. A
challenge followed, and they met with their
seconds about ten O'Clock Yesterday morn.
ing, Immediately in the rear of the resi-
dence Of Judge N. Underwood, and settled
the affair according to the code.
The distance agreed on was fifteen PAGES,
the weapons chosen were pistols (Smith &
VessOu NO. ~ Inc uISI aNu soconl
shots proved harmless, but on the third
shot, and at the word .'two," both princi-
pals fired simultaneously, and both went
down together-one bleeding corpse aud
the other thought to be mortally wounded.
DR.. Gray was shot Immediately under the
right arm, the ball passing through and
completely severing the main artery Of the
heart when death ensued without strug-
gle. Mr.. Richard. upon examination, was
found to be shot about one inch and a half
or two inches to the right Of the navel, the
ball passing bet weed the stomach and the
intestines, striking the inner side OF a rib
on the left side and glanced upward and
remained in his body.
Mr. Richard was brought to his home,
and is now undergoing treatment at the
hands of Drs. Geauthreaux and Lambre-
mente. with but little if any hopes of his
recovery.
Dr.. Gray was buried at ten o'clock this
morning in the cemetery in the rear of ST.
Glichaels Church, his funeral being at
tended by large concourse of friends, and
many were the regrets expressed at his
unhappy and untime!y end. He leaves
here his bereaved wife, a nOther-in-law.
aud little Annie, his adopted daughter, to
mourn his loss, while in England, his ma
tive country, he leaves many relatives who
will weep in pain for the one who has gone
before.
A generous, kind hearted man, DR.. Gray's
loss will be sorely felt throughout the par
ish; especially the poor, suffering sick will
miss his kind treatment and ever willing
hand of sympathy, and his death will create
a void which can never be filled. Peace to
his ashes, and may kind ruling Providence
claim him as one Of His own.
At the latest accounts Mr.. Richard was
somewhat better, having passed COM
paratively easy night, though his chances
tor recovery are said to be about the same
as already stated. We sincerely trust, not
withstanding all the circumstances which
brought about the duel, and the great odds
against him, that he may entirely recover
aud soon be out again among his friends as
full of life aud vigor as he was on yesterday
morn when he went out 10 meet in mortal
combat. He has an aged mother and sew
eral sisters dependent on him for support,
and his loss to them will be sorely and
grievously felt
AS the dueling mode of warfare is antag.
onistic and contrary to the laws of the
State, the case has been placed in the hands
Of the proper officers, and is now undergo
ing rigid investigation.
In our next issue we will give the conclu-
sions arrived at, as well as the actions of
the legal authorities.