New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-18
CARMACK MURDER PLOT?
THREE WOMEN TESTIFY.
One Says Sharp Kne10 Who Vas
Being Kiled-Bitter Feeling.

Nashville Tenn Feb. 17.-Despite the cold and
the of the unusual blizzard there another
big crowd at the courthouse early this morning.
This would indicate that not even a cold snap
which most Southern people unprepared to
meet, chill interest in the trial Of Colonel Dun
can B. Cooper. Robin J. Cooper and John D. Sharp.
charged with the murder of ex-senator E. W. Car
mack. There the usual delay the part OF
attorneys in assembling and a court officer gave
excuse the cold weather
IF the Court can drive five miles snd get here
time these attorneys have got to do it,, was
Judge Harris terso comment.
There were even more women in the room to-day
than yesterday. 1t has been considered good
form in Nashville for women to attend court, ex-
cept when summoned. But friends Of the daugh-
ters of Colonel Cooper and the wife OF John Sharp
all of them Of unquestioned standing In Nash
Vile society-have determined to show their SYM
pathy by their presence in the courtroom. When
this became known other women broke the ice
and it is a popular pastme to attend the ses-
sions In the afternoon increasing number OF
high school girls may be in the balcony, their
school books under their arms or in their laps
The states first witness W. ]. Smith. an in
surance agent, who corroborated the testimony Of
Hugh Morton that John D. Sharp had cursed Car
mack Just before the Senatorial contest in 1896. On
ross-examination Smith was asked If this remark,
that the country would be better on IL Carnsok
were dead and in hell twenty years ago." had not
been made before Governor Patterson was born
q politician The state objected to any reference
to Governor Patterson and sustained
CURSED SENATOR CARMACK
The next witness was l. A Welsh. a barber
who shaved John D. Sharp a few days before the
election. Sharp was reading Carmack's paper
the editorial page-and said:
The - ought to be in he'll"
ITO whom he referTing?'
ITO Senator Carmack"
The defence attacked Welsh with yigor and
forced him make some contradictions
Miss Mary Skeffington. the state librarian, was
the next witness. She told OF leaving the state
library a few minutes after D. m on November
9, and Of seeing Governor Patterson and ex-Ciov-
ernOr Cox in conversation.
Il soon reached nearly the corner Of Union s+raa
and Seventh avenue. looked down toward Union
street and saw John D. Sharp, whom I had known
many years. When heard the shots I looked I'D
and said. What is that? He said. Tt Is shoott,s
I asked Who is shootng?' He replied 1T ts Colo
mel Durcan Cooper shooting Senator Carmack'"
How was he standing with regard to the seen.
OF the shooting?'
with his back to the shooting"
z. n. Morgan postal clerk saw John Sharp
and the Coopers meet in the Arcade half an hour
before the shooting. The men shook hands c. 3.
Horn. a, real estate dealer, said that Sharp had
abused Carmack before the primaries. Miss Teresa
McKeon. a teacher. IN DR.. Forts irfrmary
when Carmack shot
Il stopped at the library to tell Dr. Fort that
Carmack was dead said the witness. las did
so saw a gentleman in the room walking I'D and
down said in a loud voice: 7 don't any
one else in this room unless they Of
fcers. 1 do want to have to shoot another
man. The witness said DR.. Fort told her the
speaker was Colonel Cooper. She identified the
defendant the speaker
Miss Lizzie Fort was sitting at her window in
the Polk apartments She heard the shots. and
counted Ave Heretofore witnesses have testified
to only three. She said the first three were in
rapid succession and sounded like the re-
volver.
Charles H. Warwick secretary OF the Credit
Mems Association, testified that he met Robin
Cooper on a streetcar morning last June and
heard the young man say about Carmack:
Damn him: he ought to be in hell
On cross-examination the witness said such re-
marks were very common in the campaign. which
was bitter Those men who did not Carmack.
did curse Patterson.
BIOODsTAINED GARMENTS PRODUCED.
w G. Jones. who embalmed Senator Carmacks
body was then called and described the wounds
Before Jones testified. however, Mrs. Carmack was
taken from the room Senator Carmscks blood
stained garments then produced by the I'M
dertaker-
Miss Daisy Lewis. stenographer in the law firm
Of which Robin Cooper member, told OF the
presence there the morning Of the tragedy OF Colo
mel Cooper.
while in the office" she said Il heard Colonel
Cooper say to the effect that he has right to
use nv name and that I have a right to protect
myself The colonel was excited left the Office,
was gone half hour, then returned
Did you anything said the second visit?''
Il overheard something
What was it?"
cit was swearing-awful-"
Repeat it
..Oh cannot Must l. judge?
Turning appealingly to the Court. her eyes filed
with tears and pulling nervousIy at her gloves.
the young woman seemed about to become hysteri-
cal You II they insist. and one regrets
1t more than l." said the Court
Il will consent Miss Lee writing what she
heard said the Attorney General. The witness
wrote rapidly and handed the slip the prosecutor
He read aloud what she had written The epthets
were unprintable and obscene AS the Attorney
Generals voice rang repeating them the little
witness covered her face with her hands.
WI did he refer when he used this Ian
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