The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-03-25
COOPERS IRE GUILTY
Each Is Given 20 Years by
CarmaCk Murder Jury.
ARE RELEASED ON BONDS
Counsel for Colonel and Son Robin De-
clare Mistrisl Has Taken Place and
Arguments Are to Be Heard Later
Bail Is S25,ooo.

Nashville, Tenn, Mar. 22.-Guilty of
murder in the second degree. with 90
years Imprisonment as the penalty.
was the verdict of the jury Saturday in
the case against Col. Duncan B. Coop.
er and his son. Robin Cooper. charged
with the murder of former United
States Senator +. w. Carmack The
Jury yesterday acquitted John b.
Sharp, co-defendant Immediately
the defense moved to set aside the
verdict because of the verdict of disa.
greement and asked the court to de-
clare II mistrial
Released on $4,000 Bonds.
Judge Hart said he would listen to
arguments on this motion later
He then fixed the defendants bonds
at $4,000 each, which amount was ac-
ceptable to both sides. The verdict.
coming as it did upon the heels Of
Foreman Burk's declaration yesterday.
that we are hopelessly tied up as to
the Coopers.' was decided surprise
Defendants Take II Cody.
The defendants took II coolly-al.
most without emotion. Mrs. Burch
OF Col. Cooper were brave and aside
from fearful eyes, restrained their
emotion gamely. Mrs. Burch sat with
her arm around her brother Robins
shoulder and Mrs. Wilson was at her
fathers right. The suspense for the
two young women had been heart.
rending and any verdict, however un.
favorable was a relief
Jurors Are Tired Out.
After a vigil of several days the jur.
ors were tired looking and disheveled
when they came into court They
showed the effects of several DAYS of
arguing and the foreman gave vent
TO a sigh Of relief when he had spoken
the words which sealed the doom of
the Coopers The veniremen were
then dismissed and told to go to their
homes after being thanked by the
Judge.
Sharp Is Acquitted.
The verdict I'm the Coopers' end OF
the trial came after John Sharp. the
co-defendant, had been acquitted.
Judge Hart had called the Jury from
their room and asked them If they
had arrived at verdict. They told
the judge that they had acquitted John
Sharp, but could arrive at no decision
on the Coopers, being "hopelessly
tied as the foreman remarked. |
Then Judge Hart told John Sharp
that he was free, and had the clerk
enter that part of the verdict in the |
records. He then sent the yenremen |
IN fpp
ers which they did, remaining in their |
compartment all night.
Juror Tells Of Fight.
The jurors were not inclined TO talk, |
but one Of them said
"On the first ballot we acquitted |
John Sharp and disregarded the con. |
spiracy theory. On this same ballot |
We stood six for guilty OF murder in |
the first degree with mitigating cir !
cumstances, five for murder in the sec
ond degree, with 20 years, the max.
imum penalty and one for acqulttal.
The ballots all day Wednesday and
Thursday showed the same result.
Jurors Disagree Again.
Yesterday the man who voted for
acquittal went over to murder In the
second, but demanded that only ten
years be assessed. The rest of US
did not deem ten years as anything
like adequate, so we disagreed again.
OF course, all this refers to the Coop
ers, not Sharp, whom we had ac.
quilted
EARLY this morning the man who
was holding out for acquittal gave in"
Jury Enters Court.
The twelve men entered the room
and 'ook the same seats they have
occul ed for nearly nine weeks.
"Ha you agreed upon a verdict,
gentlemen" said Judge Hart. I'VE
have" replied Foreman f. NJ. Burke.
hoarsely. Advance, Mr.. Foreman, and
read the vCrdict." We the jury, find
the defenda4ts, Duncan B. Cooper and
Robin ]. Cooper guilty OF murder in
the second degree and assess their
punishment at confinement in the state
penitentiary for period of 20 years"
80 say you all, gentlemen?" so say
we ALL" In chorus. II thank you,
gentlemen" said the court, "for your
patience and devotion to the state and
dAoAhAoS yOu W yOuI uOIneS dnu 10 your
personal avocations."
Move for Mistrial..
In second Judge Anderson of the
defense was on his feet exclaiming:
Your honor, We move the case be de.
clared a mistrial because Of the Sharp
verdict. We contend that that verdict
was the only one, and that 1t acquitted
John Sharp but declared a disagree
ment on the other defendants. We also
ask that the defendants be admitted TO
bond at once"
THE verdict of the Jury makes it a
bailable case" was the courts retort.
Hence / will fix the bond OF each de-
fendant at $4,000 unless there be
some objection"
Most Remarkable Case.
The Cooper-Sharp trial was one of
the most remarkable murder cases In
the history of the south. not only be.