The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-20
All Tennessee Intent on the
Hearing of Alleged Muir
dererS of Carmack.
WILL BE ORDERLY,
JUDGE PROMISES
Defense Hopes TO Prove Former
Senator Fired the First
Shot.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Jan, D-Will
the feeling between the attorneys and
others interested already so tense that
ordinary civilities are eliminated, the
trial Of Col. Duncan Cooper, Robin
Cooper, his son, aad John D. Sharp.
Jointly indicted for the murder Of ex-
Senator Carmack, began today.
Last night Ia many Tennessee coIa-
munities services were held al which
prayers were offered for The punish
meRt OF Brother Carmacks murderers.
and today people here are wearing
mourning and photographs of the for
mer Senator
Nashville is divided as never before
Usually sane and conservative citizens
have taken sides with such intolerance
OF opinion that real trouble seemed in-
minenL
Whan Judge William H. Hart took his
seat, he faced a packed court room. The
spectators represent every class OF citis
zeus. The judge Is a typical Southern
lawyer, thin and sharp featured. and
his keen eyes follow the movements 0r
every one In the room.
Expects Orderly Trial
They viii keep themselves under con-
troll" was his terse comment.
The defendants were brought in short
y before . o'clock. They seemed cUoI
and expressed the belief that they would
be freed. The defense wanted the case
postponed until the feeling against the
Coopers would have q chance to die
down.
Through the initial argument it de-
veloped that local newspaper, at tie
time that the application Tor Dan vas
made, printed the evidence verbatim
and circulated thousands or free copies.
Attorney General McCaru for the
state coHtended that TINS was done 70
make it hard TO secure an unbiased jury.
since the papers also contained edit
OTtals insisting that Carmack shot nTEE
and that he was killed IN self-defense-
Judge J. l. Anderson. senior counsel
for the defense, declared that the State
failed to hold an autopsy as Is custom
airy after the shooting, and later had the
body eXhuned and held a secret au-
topSy. According TO high source the
doctors who performed the autopsy
found that the HTst shot killed Carmack
and that II struck him behind the ear
II the state can prove this. II might
mean a first-deEree verdict at least for
Robin Cooper. The identity OF The doc
tors has been carefully guarded. The
defense today characterized this as "a
tissue OF lies"
Which Shot Killed.
Judge Anderson declared he viii show
that the first shot from Robin COoper's
revolver struck Carmack over the heart
and that the second struck him behind
the ear. as the stricken man was faIllng.
They were afraid to permit Us to
have a doctor present at the autopsy
Anderson declared, because it was their
desire to convict our clients. But they
VIII never set this evidence into court
The following attorneys are appear
ing for the State: Attornev General Sic
Cam, Captain Fitzhugn, Memphis,
former Attorney General j. -
Garnder. Lawreuceburs; and former
Attorney General Matt Whitaker. Win
chester.
For the defense are Judge Anderson.
Gen. W. g. Washington, Gen. II. NJ
Meeks. and Judge Edward Baxter
Charles y. Burch, James &. Ryan, and
Albert Wing, i.
a venire oI 100 men from remote
ua~ts OF the country was ln the court
room when the trial was called. When
this is half exhausted IL is Judge
Harris intention to order an add
tional venire of a thousand men.