The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-11-11
SENATOR CARMACK KILLED.
BRILLIANT TENNESSEE EDITOR
SHOT DOWN ON STREET.
The Homicide Grew Out of Politics
and Carmack's Editorial Criticism
Or His OppOncnts--COnfiic Ac.
counts Of the ARRAY Are Given by
Friends of the Participants.

| Nashville, Tenn, Nov 9.-As a Sc
quel to the recent bitterly contested
Democratic primary for the guberna-
torial nomination in Tennessee, Hon.
Edward Ward Carmack, former Uni
ted States senator from Tennessee. was
shot and killed in a street duel here
this AFTERNOON by Robink Cooper, a
young attorney. Yuong Cooper was
woncc>; IA the shoulder by a bullet
from CaTmack's revolver and is to-
night under police surveillance in a
local hospital. His condition is not
serious.
Carmack was wounded three times,
In the neck, the breast and the left
shoulder. Col. Duncan B. Cooper.
father Of the young man, was with
his son during the affray, but did not
fire shot. 1t is said he stood by with
pistol in hand. He is detained tonight
/
The direct cause Of the killing Is a
recent series Of editorials in The Ten
nessean, a daily paper of which Mr..
Carmack became editor after his de-
feat for the nomination for governor.
The editorials in question had been
vigorous in their comment on Col.
Il
cooper and his alleged connection
with what Mr.. Carmack termed the
democratic machine" and it's meth.
ods' Col. Cooper, who is we'll known
In business. newspaper and political
circles In Tennessee, it is said had no.
titled Mr.. Carmack that the references
10 him must cease. Another such
editorial appeared this morning.
The men fought at close quarters
and there were but few witnesses. II
was past 4 O'Clock in the dusk OF the
afternoon. They met on Seventh ave-
nue.. north. directly in front of the
Polk fats. a fashionable apartment
mousse Mr.. Carmack had just lifted
| his hat to Mrs. Charles III. Eastman.
friend. who was passing. In mo-
ment the firing began and Mrs. East
| man was horrified witness at close
range. So close was she that one of
the Coopers is said to have charged
Carmack with being a coward and
hiulng behind woman. Cooper's
friends charge that Carmack fired the
hrst shot, but the dead mans friends
stoutiy protest that his opponent was
the first to shoot.
The tragedy created the most in
| tense excitement throughout the city
and within a short time the streets in
the neighborhood were thronged.
"A statement issued by friends of
the Coopers tonight say that Coop
er had recently talked with E. A.
Craig of Chattanooga, a close friend
or Mr. Carmack, regarding The Ten
| nessean editorials. Col. Cooper had
told Craig, the statement says, that
ne wanted the references to himself
| stopped. that he was a private citizen
and Carmack had no right to discuss
his affairs in the manner he had adop-
ted. Mr.. Craig. it is said, saw Mr..
| Carmack about the matter and report
ed that Carmack would consent to no
relations with Cooper. Mr.. Craig,
however. is said to have expressed the
opinion that the editorial references
would cease. Cooper had a letter
which he desired to send Carmack,
but friends advised against it and urg-
ed him to take no notice Of the edi-
torial this morning. Shortly after this
conversation OF Cooper and his friends
the former was requested, the state
ment says by Gov. Patterson to come
10 the executive mansion, which is on
seventh avenue north, for consultation
on matter not connected with Mr.
Carmack and to bring with him Aus
tin Peay. chairman Of the Democratic
State committee.
After the appointment was made.
continues the statement, James G..
Bradford and Gen. Tilley Brown again
referred to the Carmack matter and
advised Col. Cooper not to go on the
streets in such directions as would
make probable meeting with Mr..
Carmack. TO this Col. Cooper assent
ed He and his son. Robin then LETT
the Office to go to the governors man.
sion. To avoid any possible meeting
with Mr.. Carmack they went through
the Arcade ana up through Union
street to Seventh avenue north Their
purpose IN taking this route was to
avoid meeting on the streets.
col. Cooper and his son went
through the Arcade thrNlgh Summer.