The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-27
e0lPEa IRlll BEGUN.
MEN ACCUSED OF CARMACk,s
MURDER APPEAR IN COURT.
k'anea Of leo Examined-Judge's Rul.
an~ Expedite Proccctilngs-Statc
springs . Surprise.

ongS Surprise.
Nashville. Tenn. Jan. 20.-with
Tour jurors accepted out Of leo ex-
arninSd when court adjourned To-
night there n every prospect that the
trial Of Col. Duncan B. Cooper. his
son Robin J. Cooper. and Former
sheriff John d. sharpe. charged with
with tho murder OF Former United
vtssss Senator Edwsrd w. carmack.
WIN b In fun swing before the week
= over.
Tie readiness with which Jurors
we're secured was surprise to every
enc who had watched the progress Of
ths case. The rulings OF Judge Hart.
however. had not . little to do with
The rapidity with which the proceed
mss moved. He began by nnlns nine
tardy talesmsn sss each. Next ne
took into his own hands the examine
don Of those men who claimed to
hare formed IN opinion. Unless the
prospsctivs Juror insisted that he
could not render . fair verdict. even
after hearing the testimony, Judge
Hart held that he was q competent
Juror and compelled either the state
- d>fsnss to exercise It's right of per-
enpsort challenge. The Judge declar-
q that whether or not q man had an
opinion In the case. II ne swors he
could lay Il aside and render q YER
dict On the evidence. he was q COM
Potent juoror.
Whsn the days proceedings wore
over the state had exercised four Of
- - permsptory challenges and the
Aefenss four Of its ~. The state was
foroed % challenge at least three men
WHO qualified AZ jurors but who ad-
United their freisndship for some of
~ Attendants and who. In the opin-
stn q the attorney general. displayed
COO much ssssrness to serve in the
oase. N
AZ least twice during the sxamina-
Hon II developed that soms uniformed
policeman had been canvassins pros
pectivt juors and one talesman swore
that this policeman after questioning
him carefully said. 'You had better
- careful how you serve up there"
Every time that the states attorney
opeke cf ~hansine the dsfsndants".
Col coopsr's daughter showed by her
drawn, tsnse expression and clinched
hsn1s that the question. with its grim
ouggsstion Of = ghastly death for her
1neher and brothsr. sent the iron deep
Into her sorl. she sat through the
tsdious hours. however. next to her
father. now and then making whisp-
ersd commsnts to the attorneys.
The wife Of, ex-senator, Carmack
vhs IN court.
Il became known this morning that
ne state had prepared . surprise for
ths denfsnss by having had the body
of senator Carmack secretly exhumed
= Night and an autopsy held.
When court opened both sides an
nounesd readiness to proceed. and
5udoe Hart ordered the panel sworn.
Ihe court room was crowded within
~ minutss aftsr the doors were
thrown opsn.
The prisoners were escorted into
ths room after the preliminaries. Col.
C<oper and his son entered arm In
esm. while Sharpe followed them.
Tie lattsr's wife and father Greeted
HIN affectionsteiy. Mrs. Lucius Burch.
daughter Of Col. Cooper. met her
father and brother with q cheerful
snails. and. seating herself between
them. conversed animatedly with
them. Young Cooper seemed in
splendid spirits. His father showed
tie effects OF confinement.
AZ the request OF counsel on both
si1ss. time was granted by the court
for conferences and II was 1880 p. m.
bnors the examination Of taiesmen
began.