Courtade was always the aggressor in
these affairs, while the Doctor acted in
variably on the defensive. A week or
two before the shooting, the jealous
teacher is said to have sent a communi
cation to a New Orleans journal severely
reflecting upon his antagonist, and upon
the refusal of the journal to publish the
effusion, Courtade "posted" the Doctor
by means of placards displayed on the
Bayou Goula streets, denouncing him in
unmeasured terms.
On the day of the fatal encounter be
tween these parties, Dr. Snell paid a
visit to a lady patient in Bayou Goula,
and upon returning to his buggy in
front of the patient's house, was con
fronted by Courtade, who had evidently
taken np his position there to await the
arrival of his enemy. An altercation en
sued which the Doctor endeavored to
avoid by making a motion to enter his
vehicle, but Courtade drew a revolver
and fired, missing his man. Dr. Snell
promptly returned the fire, discharging
three chambers of his weapon. All three
balls took effect in the body of his as
sailant, one in the groin and two in the
head, producing instant death. After an
inquest had been held Dr. Snell pro
ceeded to Plaquemine and surrendered
himself to the Sheriff of iberville. A
judicial examination of the case was
held on Wednesday and the Doctor was
discharged from custody, it being a clear
case of justifiable homicide.
Brudder Bones is sadly at sea in his
glowing account of the renovation of the
Wiitecastle plantation. So far from be
ing restored to its aucient splendor,
demolition and dismantling woukl be
more appropriate terms to apply to the
work going on there. The sugar-house
is being torn down and material sold.
