Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-10
Attorney for Coopers and Sharp
Makes i Applicable to News
paper Writers.
HAD FORMERLY Hello TO CONTRARY
In Fervor Of oratory, General Meeks
Takes Position Opposite to One
Assumed During Taking Of Teeti-
mony-Says Defendants Finest
Types of Southern Aristoeracy
CIV Associated PreSs.)

(By Associated PreSs.l
NASHVILLE. TENN, March O.
The upwritten law was extended to-
day 20 cover editors who attack
private or public men by General
M,-eks. of counsel for the defense III
IN" Cooper-Sharp trial for the MUIR
der OF United State Senator +. w
CaTmack.
The senaticn was sprung by General
Aecks in his speech TO-DAY. Previous
~ he had expressly discllimed the
belief that any editorial justified kill
ing the writer But when warmed
up TO tn subject with burst Of
,l0Qucn nee he said:
You talk OF the libe:;y OF the
press. Why. gentlemen. no man
live who believes more firmly in the
liberty of the PISS than | do. But
when a man in an editorial posi- ion
turns the liberty of the press into
license. and undertakes to defame
and defile you and Your family. what
are you going to do? The prosecu-
ton will tsll you YOU have your re-
course in the courts. Yes. and you
get judgment for $4,000 against
a man nc; worth the price Of plug
G.. tobacco. Is that satisfaction? Oh
gentlemen. tell YOU that the streets
of this. our city. have run red be-
fore with bl-oG of men who impropsr-
" used other mems names in the
public print
Five Hour Speech
General Meeks devoted five hours
to the spec ch. He painted the de
PENDANTS as the finest types Of South
ern es-istocracy and breeding. DE
clared no crime had been commit
ted when Senator Carmack was shot
10 death and closed with dramatic
appeal to the jury to turn loose this
gallant cid soldier-Colonel Cooper.
Throne Endangered Building.
So great was the thrOns which
tried 70 crowd into the court ICON
this morning that the architect of the
building appealed to the judge and
declared that there was danger OF
serious accident.
Judge Hart hurriedly sent deputies
into the corridors and soon cleared
them.
The argument began by colonel
Meeks saying that Colonel Cooper
was sbamefully treated by Captain
FitzhIugh.
He accused him" said Meeks. 'of
rot paying his debts. They tried
to make you believe that he embez-
lid funds as clerk and master OF
chanccry. What has that to do with
the killing Of Carmack?
The State has charged he said.
that the defendants knew the route
that Senator Carmack went when he
lief. for his apartments. Vow how
could the DEFENDANTS Know this time
Or route? Senator Carm 'ck's cwn
ST. ,ographer said he did not know
where Senator Carmack lived.
The carmack Editorials.
As 10 the CaImack editorials Cen
sral Mex said:
When a MN sits as Cirmack
sis behind the editorial CONNER IF
a paper and whites. day after day.
editorials that attack and assault
min who Is not himself in an cdi-
to-aI position. he deems insulting,
thor is no greater inSul pc Ssihlc,
The attorney mex; went into the
incident Of the pistol scabbard in
Carmack's ovcrcoat pocket. and de-
u unced The Sta:e's attorneys for in
siuuating that the counsel f~- tn
defense placed" ibe scabbard there.
He read the statement TINT Major
ycr;rcss Icancd SSnaior CaTmack
,cvcjyrr with the scabbard on u.
We have .ruven." he went on. thai
tho meeting Of the parties was pur'-
l.. accidental. We hold that IN"
emil, or Innocence Of the defendants
INNS. rest on the State Of mind thy
xere in at tho time Of tho meeting.
ccoper's Note to carmsek.
err sci described the ate that
Cc.p.r indicted 10 Carmack but did
M. send and said: "Tha: note vas
n no the declaration Of war. and until
thai no, was sent by Cooper and rc-
.csycd IN Carmsck. CooTsr nnder'