The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
C0OPERS CONVICTED
GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MUIR DER SAYS JURY AT NASH
 WILLIE. TENN.
SENTENCED 10 20 YEARS IMPRISONMENT
Col Duncan B. Cooper and His Son, Robin, Will Appeal if Their Motion to Set Aside the Verdict Is Denied- Verdict Decided Surprise to Both Sides.

Nashville. Tenn, Mar. 21.--Guilty of murder in the second degree with 20 years imprisonment as the penalty was the verdict of the jury in the case against Col Duncan E. Cooper and his son, Robin Cooper, charged with the murder of E. w. Carmack, ex-United States senator. The jury acquitted John D. Sharp, co-defend- ant Friday.
 Immediately the defense moved to set aside the verdict because of the verdict of disagreement of Friday and l asked the court to declare it mistrial. The defense contends that the jury re- ported a disagreement as to the Coop CTS when It brought in the verdict in favor of sharp The foreman said at that time that the jury was hopeless ly tied np."
 Judge Hart said he would listen to arguments on this motion later He then fixed the defendants bonds at s25,000 each, which amount was ac- ceptabIe to both sides.
 The verdict, coming as it did upon
 
 tion, was decided surprise.
 The Cooper-Sharp trial, just com- pleted has been one of the most re- markable murder cases in the history of the south, not only because of the prominence of the principals In the tragedy. but because of the reasons that led to the killing.
 Col. Duncan B. Cooper, an officer in the Confederate army under Forrest. and a man active in Democratic state politics, once lived at Columbia, Tenn In that town also resided rdwaru Ward Carmack, young lawyer who also did some newspaper work. Cooper bought the Nashville American and Induced Carmack to go to Nashville as It's editor.
 Whether the men ever were in thor ough accord is disputed point. Car mack's friends say not. Col. Cooper swore on the stand that they were close friends until Gov. Taylor opposed Carmack for reelection to the senate. This fight was long and bitter A fea- ture of 1t was series of joint de- bates and Carmack lost. Cooper sup ported Taylor, but Robin, the boy who killed the senator, supported the lat ter.
 Malcom R. Patterson was governor of the state at the time of the Car mack-Taylor fight and he announced his candidacy for reelection. Car mack, 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 Democrats nomination was the most Again joint debates were arranged. and again the feeling between the fac tions grew very bitter. In these de- bates. Cooper charged that Carmack assailed the colonels good name. Cooper was an ardent Patterson man Cooper was an ardent Paterson man the governor on the stand described him as my closest personal and poli- tieal advisor" Again Carmack lost. and a month before the election, be- came editor of the Nashville, Tennes- see. 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-called statewide liquor bill. The state witnesses say that carmack was shot down from behind, while he was in the act of raising his hat to a lady, Mrs. East man. The Coopers swore that they walked across the street to reason with Carmack and that he opened fire at once, wounding Robin, who, there upon and in selfdefense, fired the shots which killed the editor.