The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1909-02-19
SHARPE TRIAL
DRAMATIC SCENES MARKED
THE OPENING SCENES.
Widow of Slain Senator Collapsed
in Court-Her 1O-Year-Old Son
Comforted His Mother.

crowded courtroom and a paIpitatins
audience, Mrs. Charles II. Eastman Tues
day forenoon graphically told of the
killing of Edward Ward Carmack, or
the afternoon of Nov. 0, 1908. Never
once was her perfect self-control shaken,
nor at any time was her admirable poise
disturbed.
Mrs. Eastman was not the first wit
ness, but Mrs. Eastman was the most
important witness examined in the
days hearing of the case of Col. Dun.
can Brown Cooper, Robin Cooper and
John Sharp, charged with the death of
E. W. Carmack.
Mrs. Edward Carmack was the first
witness. She was introduced by the
state to prove the condition of mind
of her husband just prior to the killing,
but this she was not allowed to do, and,
beyond testifying that she had talked
with him a few hours before, and that
she was his widow and the mother of
his sole surviving son, her testimony
was without other value.
Mrs. Carmack's entrance to the court
room was delayed and dramatic. Judge
Hart had been waiting for some time.
Evary scat u-oS nafp1nioJ Tn Tho rnor
of states counsel were reserved chairs.
1nstinctivelv the crowd felt that the
delay was caused by the absence of
som one. Finally the door opened and
the party of the prosecution entered.
There were waiting among the ladies
Mrs. I. Leigh Thompson, Mrs. j.. A..
Smyser and Miss Louise Baxter, who
arose to greet the newcomers. Mrs.
Carmack came first, leaning on the arm
of Frank G. Lander, and Mrs. Sue Gray
Huntington, her aunt. With her came
the young son of the deceased. A dozen
or more ladies came with her, also Sam
Carmack, the prosecutor, Judge Samuel
Holding and Judge E. II. Hatcher, of
Columbia.
All eyes were directed toward the fig
ures i'm the little reserved section in the
rear of the prosecuting counsel. Clothed
and cloaked in black, fairly EMBODIED in
the impenetrable draperies of crepe, Mrs.
Carmack became the central figure. Her
grief was hysterical. The scene evolved
about her was one of poignant interest.
Her sobs were heard all over the room.
Dropping into a chair, she bowed her
head on her sisters shoulder, and grief
was uncontrolled. Later her cousin,
Judge Holding, attempted to still the
hysteria, but its expression was asser-
tive, and Mrs. Carmack was gently at
tended by her friends.
When called to testify, Mrs. Carmack
rested on the arm of Frank G.. Lander,
and insisted that her small son should
accompany her. She staggered to the
stand, and only once during the day
raised her veil. On the stand the trag-
edy of tears was resumed, and her grief
raised its solemn echo again. Finally
she listened to the questions of
Gen. McCarn and answered them, at the
same time hugging her young son to her
if to emphasize her loss. She was
only on the stand a few minutes.
Returning to her seat, Mrs. Carmack
again collapsed into her sisters arms.
Aromatic spirits of ammonia was adj
ministered. A glass of water was called
for, and confusion reigned. Business of
the court was for the minute sus-
Finally, the court resumed. Ed Craig
was introduced, among other things, to
prove that he anticipated trouble, and
hoped to make peace, but failed. 1t
vas expected by the state to prove by
10Th Mrs. Carmack and Mr.. Craig just
what the condition of mind of Senator |
Carmack was on the eve of the killing, |
this was not allowed by Judge
Hart, who sustained the objection of de-
'endants' counsel.
The third witness was Mrs. Eastman.
She was artistically self-possessed, and
vent at once to the stand. Mrs. East
nan is the most important, and, so far
IS the court officials know, the only eye
witness of the tragedy. She is a hand
woman, whose hair is of that
beautiful shade of gray always envied.
sowned in black, admirable in the CON-
idence of self-assurance, certain in the
expression of her face, Mrs. Eastman
TODD out peerless and pre-eminent
.mong the witnesses of the day.
There was a certain conference in the
obstruction of her replies which re-
lected deep thought, and which made
Ter an effective instrument in the hands
f Gen. McCarn, who worked to his eli
max furtively. His examination led
through a labyrinth of questioning,
finally and with feverish sus-
,ense to the description of the shooting
tself.
Dna~r an nrnrnHrc /