The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-13
DUEL In A LOCKED ROOM.
Terrible Tragedy in the Clerks Office of a
United States Court.

New ORLEANS, March IA desperate duel
or shooting ARRAY, occurred here in the clerks
Office of the United States District Court, in the
custom-house. in which one of the principals
was killed and the other MORALLY wounded.
Both of them are well-known men, Mr.. NJ e.
Grace was young lawyer, who had been the
inspector Of customs, and j. M. Brou has been
for years one of the most conspicuous men in the
steamboat business. Mr.. Grace, who had an
admiralty suit before the United States District
Court, was seated in the private or inner office
of the clerk when Brou entered. The suit hap
pened to be against friend of Brou's and the
latter had interested himself in it. Stepping up
to Grace he said:
1'You ought to be more Of a gentleman than
to take case like that"
Grace sprung from his seat declaring that he
was as much gentleman and as good man as
Brou. The latter then struck him across the
face with the light cane he carried, whereupon
Grace drew his revolver and fred at Brou, the
ball causing mortal wound. Brou staggered,
but did not retreat STEP Again he lifted his
cane and struck Grace across the face. Grace
replied with second shot, which struck Brou in
the chest Indeed, it was almost impossible to
miss him. as the two men stood within few
feet of each other.
BY this time Brou had got out his pistol, and
number of shots were fred, the two men facing
each other resolutely. When Grace's pistol re-
fused to fire. he turned and ran towards the
door. as though to escape from the room. There
were number of persons in the room when the
firing began, but these had scattered at the first
shot, and the door. which had spring lock, was
thus locked on the two men. Grace ran into the
outer room to eacape, pursued by Brou, who
struck him over the head with the butt of his
pistol He tried the other door, but found it
also locked.
This was the last of the fight seen by the out
siders, for the two men were left shut up in the
room together, with all the doors spring-locked.
Another pistol-shor was heard, and then silence
reigned within. The crowd without waited few
seconds and then entered the room. The two
men lay on the floor close together-Grace stark
dead at the door which he had been trying to
open, and Brou nsensble and mortally wounded
in the center of the room. Their fire had been
wonderfully accurate Every one of Gracess
bullets had taken effect, one entering Brous
face, penetrating from cheek to cheek; another
passing through his back and lodging in the
abdominal cavity, and the third penetrating the
right lung Grace was shot through the arm
and twice in the chest Most of the shots were
fired while the men were standing face to face
and with their pistols almost touching each
others breasts.
Grace was thirty years of age. very popular,
and enjoyed good practice. Brou had been
the agent of the French opera here. and was in
various steamboat enterprises He is q creole,
thirty six years of age. He was regarded as
dangerous man to quarrel with, having been the
principal in several duels; last year in a duel
with Mr. Evanste Poche, whom he wounded
Brou was a married man.