The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-02
EX-SENATOR CARMACk
SHOT IN STREET DUEL
Killed by Robin Cooper, Son Of
Man He Criticised.
RESULT OF POLITICAL FEuD

Ex-senator Had Long Been Denounc'
ing and RidicuIing Colonel Dun.
can b. Cooper, Who Was an An.
ti-Prohibition Leader .
Nashville, Tenn.-Edward w. Car.
mack, formerly United States Senator
from Tennessee, editor Of the Nash
Vile Tennesseean, and one of the best
known men in the South, was shot
and killed here about 4 o'clock p. m:
by Robin j. Cooper, q young attor.
ney, the son of Colonel Duncan B.
Cooper. The tragedy occurred on
Seventh avenue, in front OF the Polk
homestead. W.
The tragedy was one of the most
thrilling of the South, and the news,
flashed everywhere, owing to the
prominence of the victim, attracted
widespread interest.
The bitter feeling between Car
mack and Colonel Cooper that led up
to the shooting was due to political
rivalry. Carmack was defeated in
the primary for Governor, and since
becoming editor of the Tennesseean
he has attacked the Democratic ma
chine here. His criticisms were di.
rected especially against Colonel
Cooper, and he told Carmack there
would be trouble If the editorial at;
tacks did not stop. AS a reply Car.
mack printed an unusually caustic
editorial in regard to Cooper.
Colonel Cooper's son took up his
fathers fight. When he, and MS
father saw Carmack approaching the
y son said he would settle the fathers
score with the former United States
Senator. Both father and son took
their pistols from their pockets, and
Carmack, seeing the CLINT Of steel.
also drew his pistol. when the three
men got within shooting distance OF
each other young Cooper began the
shooting. His first shot struck Car
mack, but did not kill him. The edl.
tor fred at Cooper, and the bullet en-
tered the young mans shoulder. Be-
fore Carmack was able to fire a e
ond time, the second bullet from
Cooper's pistol entered his heart, Kill
ing him instantly.
After Carmack had fallen to the
sidewalk Colonel Cooper put his arm
about his sons shoulder and walked
with him to the Office of DR.. r. G
Fort. The physician. dressed the
wound and Colonel Cooper and his
son surrendered to the police. The
Colonel was held in Police Headquar.
tiers and the son was sent to the o
pita1. Colonel Cooper's son Is a Law.
yer, twenty-seven years old and un-
married.
Former United States Senator Car
mack was born near astillan Springs,
Summer County, Tennessee, on NO.
vember 8, 1858.
At the time Of the tragedy MI. Car.
mack was talking to Mrs. Charles II,
Eastman, OF Nashville, the last words
ever spoken by him being to her,
Mrs. Eastman said that when Nj
Carmack was addressed he immedt.
ately jumped to one side, so as to be
clear of her, and SO suddenly did the
terrible truth dawn on her that she
turned into a gate. :
Several shots rang out in rapid
succession. Mr.. Carmack whirled
around and seemed to try to catch at
at electric tight. pole, but, missing it,
fell in q heap in the gutter, Just. q!
the edge of the sidewalk. He fell
somewhat on his right side and was
lying with one hand raised TO his
face, HIS revolver then fell to the
street by his side and was picked up
and turned over to the police. Mr..
Carmack was probably dead when he
fell, as two bullets had been fired
into his body.
Just who fred first will probably
be a matter of controversy, but the
shots were nearly simultaneous.
Friends of the Coopers say that Car
mack drew his pistol and fired first.
Mrs. Eastman says he did not. The
nature of Carmack's wounds would
indicate that he. could not have used
his pistol after being shot.
Mrs.. Eastman, who was accom-
panied by j. M. Eastman, of New
York, gave the following account OF
the shooting:
1--WE were walking down Seventh
avenue in the direction Of Church
street. and had just passed the en-
trance to the Polk flats. Mr.. Car.
mack came up the street toward US,
smiling as he recognized me. He was
a few steps away and there, were few
people in the street. Mr.. Eastman
and I vera near the edge OF the side
walk, and Mr. Carmack would have
passed between US and the entrance
to the building. He raised his hat
as we spoke. He had his right hand
up and was about to make a remark
when somebody, apparently behind
me, said, We've got you all right
or something to that effect. ]. can't
say positively what the exact words
were. It occurred to me that 1t
was anything more than a friend be-
hind me speaking, until Mr.. Carmack
raised his eyes, instantly put on his
hat, and ran his hand back Of him.
Then the same voice said, You cow
ard, you are hiding behind g woman,
are you?' Senator Carmack jumped
out so as to get clear Of me and /
jumped into a gateway. I saw that
Mr.. Carmack had a pistol. I turned
and said, For Gods sake, don't
shoot But shots followed and Irsaw
Mr.. Carmack wheel and fall IN a
heap in the gutter"
NJ. D-r IN ono oon Pounds Tahacco