Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-25
ELDER DEFENDANT A OEfAulTER
Prosecution Alleges That He Embez.
lied Over 100000 from state-ob.
iect Is to Show That caustic Ed.
toriaIs Couldn't Have Wounded His
Sense Of Honor and Self Respect.
NV Associated Press.)

->HSiN ik<CS. C.<.<.. TNb' ~
After a day replete with exciting in
Sharpe trial. fAr the murder OF For
mer Senator Carmack. closed with
the aged defendant. Co.Unr! y. y.
Cooper. still on tn" stand.
The direct examination of the col
nnel, which began early yesterday
morning. iast"d lntil nearly noon to-
day
Almost the frat thing the state
did on GRO s examination Was to an
nounce that ii would try To prove
that Colonel Cooper was q defaulter
to the extent of over 100000 while
clerk and master of chancery In Maui
~ county.
This precipltated a bitter fight be-
tween counsel. during which harsh
words were used. and much anger
displayed. despite the efforts of Judge
Hart to hold the reigns tightly
Victory and Another Surprise.
The state won a partial victory and
straightaway sprung another sur
prise.
II brought forth some old legisla-
tive records concerning an investiga-
ton into an alleged defalcation Of
State Treasurer NJ. r. Polk. In the
early eighties.
They Offered to prove that thou
sands OF dollars Of the states money
was invested .ty Polk with Colonel
Duncan b. Cooper and others in a
Mexican silver mine scheme. a walnut
log scheme in North Carolina and a
scheme to buy the Nashville Ameri-
can.
Admits Irregularities.
Colonel Cooper admitted that there
were irregularities in his office of
clerk and master in chancery. but
, said they were due to bad manage
ment and poor bookkeeping. and that
every dollar was made good.
He admitted that Polk was his
partner in the venture named, but
declared that he Cooper never hand.
led a dollar of the money. and had
no knowledge that 1t was taken from
, the states strong box.
Repeatedly Colonel Cooper urged
Judge Anderson to let the state ask
any question on any subject" and
at times answered over his own at.
torney's objections.
Real Battle Comes Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the state should reach
, the actual killing.
1t is likely. from the length to
which the state Il. going on the col
onei's cross examination. that the
, witness will be on the stand all day
tomorrow.
Today's testimony began with Col
onel Cooper's description Of the shoot.
ing.
Robin urged NE to hurry" he said
Il told him to wait q minute. ne
, and Sharpe stopped and ! caught up.
. Then he grabbed me and said: Let's
| hurry, papa. The nervous grasp Of
his arm aroused my suspicious and
instinctively I turned and saw Sena-
tor Carmsck Instantly I concluded
to go over and have plain talk with
Carmack TO see il this affair. which
was worrying my friends. my children
and myself. could not he stopped. The
impulse came over me at once when
I! saw him 10 go over and have a
tall, with him and come TO an under
standing.
walked Toward csrmsek. -
First I thought Id wait for him
Then I thought that might carry some
significance. SO I walked toward him.
~ saw him speak to Mrs. Eastman.
u said: Mr.. Csrmack' He threw up
his head just as though he had not
seen NE and at once drew his re-
voiver and stepped in front OF Mrs.
/ Eastman. putting her between us and
stepping towards the curb. He was
five or six feet from the curb when
I called his name"
What next"
! He held his pistol in his hand
and passed In front of Mrs. Eastman.
Mrs Eastman became wildly excited
and grabbed the old man with her. ]
made 10 hostile movement"
What d. II saw?
4 said | thought 10 was damned
cowardiy to get behind a woman with
his pistol in his hand
Did you have revolver OUT
! No; at that time"
I Did you have any purpose OF
shooting or killing him
/ No sir.
Did Won ssy 7 have the drop On
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