Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-11-01
NOW ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE
TOTS COOPER TO ANSWER
FOR MURDER
Of George Harris In a Barroom
Last July-Case Taken Up
In Court To-Day.

Shivering from the chilling breath
of heavy frost which had not been
dissipated by the early beams of the
morning sun julius. alias "Tots'
Cooper, was marched from the county
Jail to the Court House this morning
Manacled to a deputy sheriff, he was
lead. between crowds of curious spec
tators to the Court House, there to
stand trial for his life.
His hunted look, his trembling and
shifty glance, told of the agony of
fear in which he stood. From side
to side he glanced, searching for a
look of sympathy and hoping to hear
word of cheer. Once in the Court
room he sat down in the prisoner s
chair at the trial table and looked
about him. He mad pleaded TO the
charge of murder last week, but to
him the indictment was read. Ii was
alleged that he had shot ard killed on
July l5 OF this year one George Har-
ris, another colored man. Further it
was claimed that the shooting was
done with generalization and malice,
for which the penalty is death.
Defending him were Messrs. Claude
and Moss, ex-city attorneys, and ex-
Judge ID. X. Magruder. Opposed to
him and representing the state was
States Attorney Il. O. CAN'T. assist
ed by MIR. Daniel r. Randall The
state and defense were found to be
ready to proceed with the trial and
proceedings we're at once begun to Sc
cure a jury. AS each and every one
of the names were called the jurymen,
of the regular panel, were questioned
as TO their preconceived ideas of the
crime and whether or not they were
opposed to capital punishment. Per
emptory challenges were also used and
the full number of the panel was ex-
hausted. It took much longer than
was expected to secure the jury, but
some time before the dinner hour the
following were sworn in as the jury
to try Cooper Robert Mcpherson, W.
Schultze, Nicholas II. Killman, j.
w. Mitchell, j. II. Bells, John A.
Crobsy, Isaac Nichols, George p. Des-
ney, John L. Bryan, q. w. Hyde, s.
Scott Minchead and r. Wilson Carr,
the last three being talismen.
The trial was taken mp and witness
es we're examined with as great expe-
diency as the seriousness of the case
warranted. Mr.. E. Lacey Chinn.
county surveyor, was the first witness
examined. He swore to a drawing of
the scene of the murder. Probably
the most important witness for the
state was Mamie Cook, who is bar
tender for Michael Owens, in the rear
of whose saloon the murder is alleged
to have been committed. He testified
that he was in the saloon at the time
of the shooting; that he heard the
shot fired but thought it was a simple
cracker being exploded. Then Harris
walked through the saloon with others
and stated he had been shot. Last to
enter the saloon and pass out onto
the street was Cooper. He told the
witness that he had shot Harris. The
witness stated that Cooper had then
been arrested in front of the saloon
by Officer Owens. DR.. w. S. Welch
testified,to the. wounds received by the
murdered man. Other witnesses ex-
amined were Patrolman Owens, James
Campbell and Chief George Hahn, of
the police force. The trial thus far
has been free of any chickering's be-
tween the attorneys on both sides and
promises to be given the very best
hearing possible.