Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-24
JURORS Ac0UIT SHARP AND ARE
HoPELEssLY TEE UP AS TO
cooPERs.
JUDGE WILL NOT DISCHARGE
THEM UNTIL \ CONVINCED
THEY CAN'T AGREE.

OF dcQullldl IOT JOuu II. kohoi y, She'i SOu
with the murder of former Senator
Carmack, and declared it was hope
lesssly tied up as to the Coopers, II
was generally conceded that the END
of the famous case had been reached.
Judge Hart sent the jury out for fur
Their consideration and announced
that he would not discharge them un-
til he was absolutely convinced an
agreement could not be reached.
Sharp was Immediately discharged
from custody.
History of Case.
Nashville, Tenn, March The
The Cooper-Sharp trial, just complet-
ed, has been one of the most remark
able murder cases in the history OF
the south, not only because OF the
prominence of the principals In the
tragedy. but because of this reasons
that led to the killing
Colonel Duncan P B. Cooper, a
former officer in the confederate
army under Forrest and man very
prominent in democratic state pol
itics once lived at Columbia, rem.
In that town also resided Edward
Ward Carmack, a young lawyer VINO
also did some newspaper work.
Cooper brought the Nashville Amer
lean and induced Carmack to come
to Nashville as its editor. whether
the men ever were in thorough &C
cord, is a disputed point. Carmack's
friends say not. Colonel cooper
swore on the stand that they were
close friends until Governor Taylor
opposed Carmack for reelection to
the senate. This fight was long and
bitter. A feature of it was a series OF
Joint debates, and Carmack lost
Cooper supported Taylor, but Robin,
the boy who killed the senator, sup
ported the latter.
Malcolm R. Patterson was govern
or of the state at the time OF the
Carmack-Taylor fight, and he an
nounced his candidacy for re-elec-
ton, Carmack, just beaten for the
senate, was urged into the race for
governor against Patterson. This
was last June and the fight between
the men for the Democratic nomina-
ton was the most spectacular ever
seen in Tennessee. Again, joint de-
bates were arranged and again the
feeling between the factions grew
very bitter. In these debates, Coop
er charged that Carmack assailed
C1nOnPr
was an ardent Patterson mantle
governor on the stand described him
as my closest personal and polit-
ical adviser" Again, Carmack lost,
and, month before the election, be-
came editor of the Nashville Tennes-
seean. He had made the race on
the prohibition platform, and while
he did not get the nomination, he
did secure enough representatives to
assure the passage of the so-cal1ed
state wide liquor bill.
In the meantime, Governor Pat
terson and former Governor Cox,
once deadly enemies, were recon
ciled The Tennessean charged that
Colonel Cooper brought this recon
Citation about, and referred to it in
a humorous and sarcastic vein in its
editorial columns Carmack also in
timated that, to save Governor Pat
terson, the democratic leaders were
preparing to trade Bryan for the
governorship Colonel Cooper was
chatting under the comment, and be-
coming more incensed every day
On Sunday, November 8, the day be-
fore the killing. the following edito-
rial appeared in the Tennessean:-
"Across The Muddy Chasm."
I'VE trust there will be no ribaldry
on the part of the base vulgar con-
corning the happy reunion of long
sundered hearts which was accomp-
lished in the joyous reconciliation
of his eXcellency, Hon. NJ. R. Patter-
son and his excellency, Hon. John
Isaac Cox. All honor to that noble
spirit, Major Duncan Brown Cooper,
who wrought this happy reunion OF
congenial and confuxible spirits sep
arated by evil fates although born
for each other. All honor TO Major
Dune and may the blessing of the
peacemaker be upon him. May he
be heir to all the beatitudes, and
especially to the blessing reserved
for those who hunger and thirst after
righteousness. And there goes also
a blessing to his excellency-for as
he has been merciful un.o Cox. so
shall he obtain mercy.
But the choicest blessing. as is
right and proper. are for Governor
Cox himself For if there be any
reward for meekness, and any for
enduring persecution for righteous
ness sake, he shall inherit the earth
and his is the kingdom of heaven.
ar -Th