The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-02-26
(Hy J. /. FlNNEY.)

Daily Herald Staff Correspondence.
Criminal Court Room, Nashville
Tenn, Feb. 22.-Again Governor Pat
terson's name and politics played a
most conspicuous part in the trial OF
the Coopers and Sharpe for the muir.
der of Senator Carmack. First the
Governors name came in incidentally
when defendant Robin Cooper on
cross examination admitted that while
he had never had but one criminal
case since he came TO the bar that he
had received fee of $3.50 for obtain
ing a pardon from Patterson for one
Under convicted of murder. Cooper
was employed by an uncle of Under,
Albert Benham, former member of the
legislature from Shelby county and
one of the Governors lieutenants. 1t
developed that the extent of Cooper's
services was to draw the petition for
the pardon, argue the case before the
Pardon Board and then before the
OONCl AOA' liz OOboAASN NhS RaAA 0OAA'
Cooper also testified that he discussed
the trouble between Col Cooper and
Carmack with Governor Patterson
twice on the day of the tragedy, that
the first time was at the Tulane, then
at the Arcade about noon. When
witness saw Patterson the first time
he was not armed but the next time
witness discussed the trouble with
Patterson he was armed. On cross
examination defendant Robin Cooper
appeared slightly more nervous and
little less positive than in his direct
examination on Saturday, He resort
ed more to the use of the qualifying
terms About" and Il think than
when in the hands of his own counsel.
He was subjected to a gruelling cross
examination by Attorney General Nc
earn, being taken from one part Of
the story to another with almost light
ning-like rapidity, jumping from one
phase Of the tragedy to another. |
Despite this, however, the witness
chung colsely to the story which he
related on direct examination last Sat |
urday. Answering a question from
the state Robin Cooper said Carmack
was standing erect In front of him
when he first shot and that he fred !
three times as rapidly as possible,
stopping when he saw deceased reel
to fall. This leaves the question of !
how Carmack came to be shot in the
back unsolved.
It developed in cross examination
for the first time that the defense will
probably have two eye witnesses to
the tragedy.
Young Cooper was asked II he saw
his cousin Henry Stockell looking out
a window of the Polk fats when the
shooting occurred. He did not He
was also asked as to whether he saw
a niece of Maj. e. C. Lewis in the
Polk fats when the shooting took
place He did not see her. From
these questions It is apparent that
the state believes the defense has al
legged eye witnesses. Interest was
even greater today than on Saturday
on the part of the public, the court
room being packed at 1880 this morn.
ing. The doors had to be closed and !,
the officers were warned to admit no
others.
Defendant displayed most remark. ;
able nerve and an absolute lack OF
emotion, when, taking the pistol with .
which he killed Carmack, he showed !
the jury how he did the shooting. Very =
calmly he acted the part he says he
did on the fatal day This complacency 6
was manifest when he put on the gar E
ments worn on November 9th. .
According to Robin Cooper's story, I,
AS told on the stand Saturday, he came :,
70 his Office in the Noel block about 9 p
o'clock on Monday morning and in a 8
very few minutes his father arrived. =
They had a conversation lasting some VI