The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-03-25
FOI]ND GUILTY
OF MURDER
COOPERS CONVICTED-"SECOND DE-
GREE" is VERDICT OF JURY
IN TENNESSEE CASE.
DEFENDANTS ASK NEW TRIAL.
Statement of Jurors Friday That They
Were "Hopelessly Tied Up" Is Called
a Disagreement.
END OF SENSATIONAL ACTION.

! NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 20
/ Guilty of murder in the second degree,
with twenty years Imprisonment as the
/ penalty. was the verdict Of the jury this
! morning in the case against Col. duncan
/ +. Cooper and his son, Robin Co per,
/ charged with the murder of former
United States Senator f. W. Carmack.
The Jury yesterday acquitted John Il.
Sharp, co-defendant.
Immediately the defense moved to set
aside the verdict because of the verdict
# disagreement yesterday and asked the
court to declare it mistral. Judge
Hart said he would listen to arguments
IN this motion later. He then fixed the
!cfen.lnts' bond at $4,000 each, which
amount was acceptable to both sides.
Verdict Is a Surprise.
The verdict coming as it did upon the
heels of Foreman Burkc's declaration
yesterday, that we are hopeiessly tied
up "a, to the Coopers,' was decided
surprise.
The defendants took it coolly-almost
without emotion. Mrs. Burch and Mrs
Wilson, the young daughters Of Col.
Cooppr. were brave. and aside from
fearful eyes restrained their emotion.
Mrs. Burch sat with her arm around
her brother Robin, and Mrs Wilson's
was AT her fathers right. The suspense
for the two young women had been
hcartrrudIng and any verdict, however
IufayOrablc was "A relief.
The Jurors were tired looking and dis
hevelcd and when the court remarked:
II thank you, gentlemen, FOR your pa
Iirncc and devotion TO the state and dis
miss you to your homes and your per
sonal avocatiOns,' the entire twelve
sprang from their seats as one man and
hurriedly left the courtroom The de-
PENDANTS and their counsel remained to
complete the bond prclimnarles and mo-
tons for a new trial.
Various and usIstcnt rumors that the
Jury had agreed were responsible for "A
crowded courtroom this morning and for
the presence of attorneys on both sides
long before the usual hour for converting
As soon rs Judge Hart entered court
and even before he removed his coat he
ordered the jury and the defendants
brought into court.
II understand that they have agreed
he remarked TO the press table, "and
am sending to sec
Jury Makes Appearance.
In almost a moment go to bc exact
the twelve men entered the room aud
took the same seats they have occupied
for nearly nine weeks.
Have you agreed upon a verdict, gen
tlcmou| said Judge Hart.
I'VE have replied Foreman f. VI.
Burke hOarsrly.
Advance, Mr.. Foreman, and read the
verdict
we the jury. find the defendants,
Duncan Il. Cooper and Robin j. Cooper |
guilty Of murder in the second degree
and assess their punishment at conilnc-
meut in the state peuitcutiary for pc
Rod of twenty years.
so say YOU all, gontlcmcnE'
$50 say we aIl," in chorus,
81 thank you, gentlemen" said the
court. "for your patience and devotion
to the state and dismiss you to your
homes
In Il moment, Judge Anderson of the
defense was on his feet cYclaiming:
Your honor, we move the case be
declared mistrial because of the verdict
yesterday. We contend that yesterdays
verdict was the only one and that it ac-
quilted John Sharp, but declared a dis
agreement on the other defendants. We
also ask that the defendants he admitted
to bond at once"
The verdict of the jury makes it
haiIahlc cuSo,' was tn" courts rctort
"lIrucc will fix the bond of each de-
PENDANT at $4,000 unless there loo some
objection In that event ! vii! hear
arguments
1T is satisfactory to us" said Attor-
ucy General MCt'Hru
And 10 us, rcturtcd Judge Anderson.
There seems tu hc nothing LEFT but
for the court t. pass sentence added .
Judge Hart.