Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-02
THE MURDER OF CARMACK.
Progress Of the Trial Of the CoOperS
and Sharpe.
PUzzLING CONTRADICTIONS DEVELOP.

PULLLlNu CUNlhADlLllUNS UEvELUr
Col. Cooper correets Testimony Giver
on Gross Examination and Governor
Patterson Tells What. He Know,
About the Trouble-Trial May Las
a Week or Two.
Nashville, Tenn, Feb. 26.-The
ninth day of the actual testimony ir
the Cooper Sharpe trial was marked BY
lengthy and bitter argument between
the opposing counsel and closed with
q decided advantage for the defense
Major w. o. Vertres, one Of the
witnesses was to try suit in the
chancery court with Robin Cooper or
the day Of the tragedy. Robin, during
the morning, twice had the suit con.
tinued and when he arrived at O'Clock
said:
II was sorry to detain you, but hao
a matter I could not leave for any
law suit"
Did you see Carmack, or talk to him
on important topics Sunday night"
II did. was calling on a young lady
and the call was interrupted by tele-
phone message that Senator Carmaci
wanted me-"
The major went to Carmack's Office
What did the senator ask your"
He said he wanted revolver and
loaned him mine"
Judge Hart ruled that Major Yer.
tres could not testify what had trans.
pired in Carmack's Office the night be-
fore the shooting.
Attorney for the state asked for ar.
gument and the jury was sent out.
The Judge then permitted Vertres te
tell all about the meeting. so the court
could pass on the admissibility Of the
testimony.
The witness said Carmack had sale
he received a threatening lettcr from
Colonel Cooper to the effect that his
name must not be used again or one
must CO." Carmack said there was
nothing else for him to do but use Il
again, and that he would do so the
next day.
The senator said he did not think
there would be any trouble, but his
friends, urging him to arm himself
he said that 1t was Sunday night and
he could not buy a revolver so ht
wanted to borrow one.
The witness said he loaned the sen.
ator his gun and the senator said he
did not know how to use 1t. Vertres
told him it was self-acting and all he
would have to do was to pull the trig.
ger. The gun was loaded.
The senator put the revolver In hiI
pocket. He said the gun had a rub.
ber scabbard on it when he loaned Il
to the senator.
vertres said Carmack was in 9
pleasant mood and was quiet during
the conversation.
The states attack in the Carmaci
murder trial upon the integrity OF Col
Cooper in his conduct as clerk and
master in chancery and as an asso-
ciate Of defaulting state treasurer
took the defense by surprise, but they
soon had special agents at work or
that part Of the evidence and during
last night several men from various
points in the state arrived, men pre-
sumed to be able to throw some light
upon the charges. These had been In
conference with the attorneys for the
defense before court opened today.
The states attorneys were not less
occupied. The decision OF the defense
to put Governor Patterson and Adju-
tant General Brown upon the stand
caused the states counsel to go over
last night the stenographic report OF
the entire testimony and every refer
ence to Governor Patterson and General
Brown was transcribed again for ref
erence in the cross-examination.
When court opened Colonel Cooper
resumed the stand and said: Il wish
to make one statement. My testimony
yesterday as to helping an old soldier
with money, as l read 1t in the stenog-
rapher's transcript this morning, was
misunderstood and am afraid 1t Is my
fault. I secured $1,050 from my farm
1 gave only $50 Of 1t to the old SOL
dier, but evidently everyone thought
said $1,05O. That's ALL"
Proceed gentlemen" said the court
That's ALL" said General Washing
ton. Stand aside"
A long delay followed, Lieutenan,
Pitcher of the United States army,
who found the revolver near Carmack's
body, was the next witness called. He
said he found Carmack lying In the
gutter face down. He picked up re-
volver, which he said was about eight
inches from Carmack's right hand.
Pitcher testified that he broke the
pistol and found four loaded shells and
two empty ones. In his opinion the
revolver, had been recently exploded
but he said on cross-eXamination that
he had no means of knowing how long
er. On cross-examination he said he
Sergeant Meadows Of police force,
told of going to the innrmary and get
ting from Patrolman Vaughan two re-
volvers, one Robins 80 automatic Colts
and the one found by Lieutenant Pilch-
er on cross-examination he said he
could not positively identify the guns
but they looked like the ones he re-
ceived the day of the tragedy.
Saturdays Proceedings.
Nashville, Tenn, February 27-Two
facts stood out strongly in the Cooper
Sharpe trial today for the murder OF
former United States Senator E. w.
Carmack. One was the calling by the
defense Of Governor M. r. Patterson.
The other was the failure Of the state
to oss-examine him. 1t has generally
been conceded that-however inno-
cently-Goyernor Patterson was one OF