The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-10

Carmack was wounded three times,
in the neck, the breast and left shoul-
der. Col. Duncan B. Cooper, father of
the younger man, was with his son
during the affray, but did not fire a
shot. 1t is said he stood by with pistol
in hand. He is detained at police head
quarters.
The cause of the killing is a recent
series of editorials in the Tennesseean,
a daily paper of which Mr. Carmack
became editor after his defeat for the
nomination for governor. The editorials
in question had been vigorous in their
comment on Col. Cooper and his al
legged connection with what Mr.. Car
mack termed THE Democratic ma
chine" and its methods. Col Cooper,
who is well known in newspaper circles
in Tennessee and the south had 1t
is said, notified Mr.. Carmack that the
reference TO him must cease. Another
such editorial appeared yesterday
morning. The men fought at close
quarters and there We're few witnesses.
1t was past o'clock, in the dusk of the
afternoon. They met on Seventh ave-
nue. north, directly in front of the
Polk flats" a fashionable apartment
house. Mr.. Carmack had just lifted his
hat to Mrs. Chas. H. Eastman, a friend,
who was passing. In a moment the
firing began and Mrs. Eastman was a
Mortified witness at close range. So
close was she that one of the Coopers
is said to have charged Carmack with
woman. Cooper's friends assert Car
mack, regarding the Tennesseean edi-
mans friends stoutly protest that his
opponent was the first to shoot The
tragedy created intense excitement
throughout the city and within short
time the streets in the neighborhood
We're thronged.
A statement issued by friends of the
Coopers says that Col Cooper had re-
Gently talked with E. A. Craig of
Chattanooga, a close friend of Mr.. Car
mack, regarding the Tennessean edi-
torials. Col Coo~er had told Craig the
statement says, that he wanted the
references to himself stopped that he
was private citizen and Carmack had
no right to discuss him in the manner
he had adopted. Mr.. Craig, it is said,
saw Mr.. Carmack about the matter an.l
reported that Carmack would consent
to no relations with Cooper. Mr. Craig,
however, is said to have expressed the
opinion that the editorial reference
would cease. Cooper had a letter which
he desired to send Carmack, but friends
argued against it and urged him to
take no notice of the editorials. Some
time after this conference of Coooer
and his friends the former was re-
quested, the statement says, by Gov
ernor Patterson to come to the execu-
tive mansion, which is on Seventh ave-
nue. north for consultation on a matter
not connected with Carmack, and to
bring with him Austin Peay chairman
OF the DenOCTdllC SIdIe
After the appointment was made, con-
tinues the statement, J. G. Bradford
and General Tully Brown again refer
red to the Carmack matter and ad-
vised Col Cooper not to go on the
street in such directions as would make
probable a meeting with Mr.. Carmack.
To this Col. Cooper assented. He and
his son Robin then left the office to go
to the governors mansion to avoid any
possible meeting with Mr. Carmack,
r1d I'M
through Union street to Seventh ave-
route was to avoid a meeting on the
streets The statement continues:
"Col. Cooper and his son went
mer. then to Union and UP to Union
nue. north, Col. Cooper and his son
saw Mr.. Carmack walking up Seventh
avenue going north on the west side
of the street and in the direction of
Col Cooper and his son, then on the
opposite side of the street from them
Col Cooper thereupon said he would
go over and speak with Mr. Carmack
and see if he would not agree to stop
making the annoying newspaper at
tacks on him.
"CoI Cooper walked across the
street and approached Mr.. Carmack
who was coming facing him at the
time Col. Cooper had just begun to
speak with Mr. Carmack when Mr..
Carmack drew his pistol and began
trying to fire while a passing lady was
between Carmack and Cooper and his
son. who had run over. Mr.. Carmack