The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
GOVERNOR CALLED
IN CARMACK CASE
Testimony Given for Defense OF
CoOpers While Jurors Are
Out of Court

NASHVILLE. Tenn. Feb. 27.-Two
features stood out in the Cooper-Sharp
trial for the murder of former United
States Senator carmack One was the
calling by the defense Of Governor Pat
terson. The other was the failure OF
the state to cross examine him.
A nurmur ran over the courtroom
which was quickly suppressed. as the.
tall. slender. boyish. looking. governor
walked into the room.
r. In answer to Questions Governor Pat.
terson said he knew the .coopers- we'll
On the day Of the shooting he. with his
private. secretary. Mr.. Scruggs. had
hunted up Colonel Cooper .'as a. result
OF telephone message from his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Lucius Burch," and found him
at the Maxwell house.
JURY ORDERED TO RETIRE
The state began to object and the
court ordered the jury to retire
Il want TO say" said Judge Ander-:
son. that we propose to ask questions
heretofore ruled out. but we want them
in the record, so the Jury had better
retire"
After the 10 men. had gone out the.
governor was told to tell all that had
happened He said:
/ found Colonel Cooper In the writl
ing rOom writing letter or debating.
one. He told me to wait a minute, I
sent for Attorney James Bradford and
Robin. They arrived in a few minutes.
Then | learned that the letter he had
been debating was to Mr. Carmack.
urged him strongly not to send It. so
did Mr.. Bradford, and Robin agreed
with u.s.
Colonel Cooper was very angry. He
said he was private citizen and that
the senator had no right to use his.
name, that he felt as though man
was splitting in his face each morning.
LETTER GIVEN BRADFORD
I told him that if he sent that letter
it might provoke an encounter, a per-
sonal encounter, which told him must
be avoided at all costs.
The letter was turned over TO Mr..
Bradford, who promised to adjust the
difficulty and asked IL Colonel Cooper
would let him keep the letter and meet
him at his (Bradford's) ONCE at
The governor said he did not antici-
pate any trouble, but he advised Robin
TO remain near Colonel Cooper that
day. He continued:
I. was signing some, bonds when ATT
torney Bradford phoned. and said he
had not seen the party we were speak
ing or put that GensraI IulIey BroWn
and he had discussed the case and de-
cided there. was no danger or trouble.
/ phoned Bradford's oflce and asked
Colonel Cooper to come. to the mansion
COOPER GOVERNORS ADVISER
Did You wish to see. him about this
troubleg'
mo, sir; Colonel Cooper was one OF
my closest advisers. was going away
that night and wished to see him be-
fore I left"
The governor said he walked out OF
the mansion: with one of his staff and
met Governor Cox. They chatted
while and the governor re-entered the
mansion. After a little while the por-s
ter came in and told him of the killing.
You say you spoke to Governor Cox.
Had Colonel Cooper brought about the
reconciliation
mo, sir. AS matter OF fact we
meyer had been. personal enemies"
What. was Robins manner in these
interviews"
He was very anxious to effect a
Ipeacable settlement. and when he left
me in the Arcade he thanked me for
what. had done and his eyes filed
with tears"
At. this point Judge Hart indicated
that he believed the results OF the con-
ference were admissible, but not the
language used at them.
The jury was recalled and the. gov
ernOr repeated those portions of his
previous testimony which the court had
declared were admissible.