New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-23
L0ca! Intelligence.

AOVQt AAlIOtllH 0IAV0z
The WASH ROCKWELL INQUEsT.-Yester-
day Dr.. Chsstant, coroner for the upper
municipal districts. held an inquest in the
lake end of the new shell road, on the seven
teenth instant, and obtained the following
testimony:
Benjamin s. Harrisson-I know nothing
OF the killing and was not present when it
occurred; Just at twilight on the seven
ueenth of March l was on Hoyt's Hotel
gallery at the Lake End; heard three shots
tired and thought tha sounds we're at
short time after Tony came running up
and said that Wash Rockwell had just
been killed on his gallery; l proceeded to
me place, accompanied by Messrs. V. A.
Ryan, Leon Lam0the and Riddle; saw de-
ceased in an arm chair, sitting perfectly
natural, but / found he was dead; Mr..
Lanothe took him by one arm and by the
other; We raised him clear of the chair and
we placed the bndy on the gallery; am sure
when Tony appeared at Hoyt's House he
said that he thought that DespOsito had
killed Rockwell, but did not see the shoot
ing.
Antonio Cordes-I an the proprietor of
the house where Rockwell was killed; two
men came to my place and ate dinner;
when they arrived from the new shell road,
in spring wagon, they did not appear to
be intoxicated or disposed to be quarrel
some together; they ate dinner and after.
ward began to talk excitedly together;
heard them call each other bad names, and
were excited in their conversation; one OF
them asked for cOgnac; as l went to get it.
in turning the end Of the counter, heard
three shore, fred pop, pop, pop, quick.
close together; on turning, l saw deceased
sitting in his chair; then saw the other,
the small man, running away; he was about
ten or twelve feet from deceased when l
saw him leaving; can not say whether or
no he had q pistol as he was leaving; can
not say that he had on coat and hat then;
know the small man by sight, but do not
know his name; can recognize him; the
coat and hat now shown mo are the same
found in my house after the shooting; while
gether; when they arrived at my house
they appeared to be friendly; it was the
smallest man who ran of.
Sergeant Taylor and an officer Of the
mounted force testified, but their evidence
the case. Both recognized the hat and coat
shown by the coroner as the articles found
in Tony 3 house Immediately after the shoot
ing.
Other witnesses were called, but they
could not furnish any information as to the
cause of the shooting or any thing else that
can be taken as evidence.
The verdict of the jury is that Rockwell
came 70 his death by gunshot wounds &C.
livered at the hands, as is supposed, of
Robert Desposito, now in custody.
Dr.. Chastant will make an affidavit charg-
Jag Desposito with the crime of murder.
WHEN DocToRs DISAGREE, WHAT SHALL
BE DoNE?-In yesterdays REPUBLICAN was
given the record Of the case Of Chastant VS..
Cooper, before the Police Board, and since
then DR.. Cooper asserts that the error en-
which he was picked up was purely cleri-
cal one, and he produces what he swears is
the original document to prove his asser
ton.
DR.. Chastant also complains of the 6ocu-
ment produced by the committee Of medi-
cal experts, and makes the following ex-
pi1Ea.ioh'
The board of physicians committed an
error, and an ubil tsntional irj nstice against
me in stating that 1.-The coroner did IN Dr.
Cooper's presence, announce that he was
satisfied as to the cause Of DEATH" My re-
mark was that was satisfied, not as to the
cause of death, but as to the anatomical
nature and extent of the wound.
A. CHASTANT, NJ. D.
Following the above is the statement Of
two of the experts:
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Medical Depa tment, :
New Olleans March u 1876.
Dr. A. Chastant
DEAR SIR-In compliance with your ear
nest request state the fact that IN the
decision "A to DR.. j. y. Cooper, rendered
Yesterday by the medical board, the first
resolution was originally written so as to
express adequately aud with full force nay
opinion, viz: To the effect that 'Dr. Cooper,
in his official certificate, did show gross
earelessness OF gross anatomical 'snci-
auce"-a fact sufficiently manifest from tue
words quoted from said certificate: "Sc'ne
sharp cutting instrument entering the
thy rod cartilage. passing into the 11achea,
Just above the epigIotfis." The suppression
Of the appropriate a4iectives was agreed to
n order to obtain unanimity OF opinion.
You're very tculy,
STAFFORD E. CHAILLE, IL. D,
Y. LIE MONiER, NJ. b.