The Washington times., 1909-02-25
Aged Defendant in Carmack
Murder Trial Undergoes
Trying Ordeal.
HOPES OF DEFENSE
ARE RESTING ON HIM
But One or Two Corroborative
Witnesses Will Be Called
to Complete Case.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Feb. 25.-ShcTs
ins hsht when pressed too closely b.
the prosecution, Col Duncan Cooper,
charged jointly with Robin Cooper and
John B. Sharp. with the murder OF ex-
Senator Edward W. Carmack, under
went a long siege on the witness stand
today at the hands Of his prosecutors
Attorneys for the defense announced
today that they will prove that Sena-
tor Carmack was armed for twenty-four
hours before ne was killed There has
been much mystery surrounding the
manner in which he 90. his pistol and
the story generally credited was thar
it was forced on him by one OF The
Tennessean reporters just before he left
the office 10 go home the afternoon he
was killed.
1t developed today that the pistol
he carried was given him by Major
w c VeTtress. a prominent local Al
torney. the Sunday night before the
killing This was just after the con-
ference between L. 3. Craig. through
whom Colonel Cooper sent the message
that II his name were again used in the
Tennessean the town would not be big
enough 10 hold both" Major Vertrsss
is TO be called as a witness to tell Why
he gave Senator Ca-mack the revolver.
Rules Out Editorial
Judge Hart ruled out an editorial that
appeared in the Lancet, which assaulted
Colonel Cooper. The defendant was
then cross-examined at great length
as to his political career. AttorneN
General Fitzhugh characterizing him e
a bolter.
Didn't you bolt William NJ. Bate, the
hero OF Shiloh, and support the Re
publican candidate for governor, J. II
FuzzAH?'' demanded the attorney
L never voted for a Republican in
my ufe,' answered Cooper '-Euzzeil
was the candidate of one faction OF the
Democratic party, which was split, and
/ supported him. Both sides claimed
to be regular
did you not demand that Senator
Carmack aid you in opposing Bate and
is not that the reason you called him
2 damned ingrate?"
THAT is a lie declared Cooper
He denied he had reconciled the Cox
and Patterson factions in the party and
succeeded IN getting them to work to-
gether against Carmack- His cross
examination was very minute, but ne
stuck closely TO mis- original narrative
Emphatic Denial
With much emphasis. Colonel Cooper
denied that he had given his sanction
10 a statement published il the Ameri-
can on November 10, the day OF the
killink, purpOrting 10 FsFI his side OF
the killing.
He said ne saw Mr.. Bradford Of coun-
sci for the defense. and Mr.. Wing, ed
itor Of the American. at the police sta
ton, and that they read the statement
10 him, and asked him 70 tEdorSe II
He said he refused. and even refused 10
read il he denied that he was told
that the statement was 70 be used eN-
cIusiveIy in the American and would
also be given to the Associated Press
When asked directly il the statement
was true or false. Colonel Cooper re
piled that he could not say, as he mad
never read il He said he did not Know
that Bradford owned stock IN the NaSh-
Vile American. but had heard that He
did
Cooper Philosophy.
Il have always believed that a nan
who keeps a fighting tongue should also
keep a fighting body" was bit &C
the Cooper philosophy. which sheds
some light on the feeling among the
Coopers that Carmack bS his course OF
criticism Of the elder Cooper could
come TO but one snd-that which
eventually befen him
Again. when his attorneys interpOSed
as 70 the relevancy OF certain test
rnony. Colonel Cooper remarked in pep-
perry tones:
Let them ask me any question they
want 70. I can explain everything
Early indications were that the cross
examination would occupy the esEClrs
day. Judge Hart, however, made IL
plain at the outset that il was his In
tention 10 eliminate much OF the siren
uOuS argument between attorneys IS
70 the admiSsibility Of evidence and the
frequent clashes which occupied ~
greater portion Of the time yesterday.
Threat Against CaImack
In answer to a question as 10 what
he meant by his threat against Car
mack, Cooper said
What / meant by saying 10 Senator
Carmack in my message that If my
name was used again In the Ter-Hessee-
an, the town would not be big enough
10 hold US both was that if he did
not quit / would make public certain
private and public acts Of his with
which I am acquainted and that f.
would make il 50 hot 10 him that he
could not stay in NaShVil. e
Widespread interest IS being mani
tested IN the testimony OF the elder
Cooper, many or his personal and
political aCuUaintanceS CrOwding the
court room 20 hear his version or tho
in the murder of CaTmack- With the
conclusion Of his testimony the major
part Of the case Of the defense viii be
complete. a few other Witnesses VIII
be called. but merely 10 strengthen
certain parts Of the testimony Of The
COOpers-
CrOsS-Examination.