The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-23
COUNSEL FOR THE STATE
 GETS SHARP TANGLED
Contest Between Garner and the De- fendant Witness Is Bitter and Arouses Much Interest In
 Court Room.

adjourned tonight in the midst or the cross-examination of John D. Sharp, l the honors were easy between the state | and the defense In the Cooper-Sharp trial | for the staying of former United States Senator K. w. Carmack. Young Robin Cooper, under a bitter cross-examination of nearly four hours, held his own with ease. He was always cool, careful and displayed an inclination to be absolutely fair that evidently impressed the Jury and just as evidently exasperated Attorney General McCarn.
 The next witness. and the only other one of the day, was John D. Sharp, an- other of the defendants. Sharp told his story well under direct examination and made a good impression. But he was turned over to Attorney General Gar ner of Maury county for cross-examina-
 tion. Mir. Garner has somewhat of a reputation in his own county for clever work, but he was an unknown quantity in Nashville When court adjourned for the day the defense's counsel drew a long breath and were no longer in doubt as to Gamers ability. His cross-exami- nation is of the rapid-fire order. John Sharp Rattled.
 John Sharp is a man of high temper and Garner soon had him beside him. | self. He eontradicted himself on many minor details, but never on the more in1-
 portant particulars. Once he got on dan l gerous ground. On direct examination
 Sharp swore that he saw the killing and | that sCarmaclS fell after Robin had fired three times"
 One of the bullet wounds. a neeessari- ly fatal one, pierced ehe senator's neck VTlf a4.Ffa nrafh 1H 4s.Ak
 spinal cord and came out under his
 tongue. As Sharp swore that Carmack l was facing young Cooper, aiming a
 volver at him, this wound would be i'm
 possible to reconcile with the statement.
 On cross-examination Sharp said how
 ever, that Carmack turned his head just as the second shot was fired. He did not explain how the senator could turn | his head far enough to permit the ball
 to enter the medial line of the neck on a straight line. The state pushed Sharp l hard up to nearly 6 D. m., and then
 asked that continuance be granted un-
 til tomorrow which was allowed Sharp
 left the stand with sigh of relief His
 faithful little wife who has never missed
 a minute at his side in court. sprang | up to meet him and cheered him with smiles and words of encouragement. Robin Cooper on Stand. Before the cross-examination of Robin l
 said he wished to ask one or two ques- | tions:
 What is your height, Robn2' | T think five feet, eight. Your weight l About 130 pounds" You said on Saturday that you had
 no relations with Senator carmack You
 knew him, though2'
 Yes, sir. l knew him and he knew
 me. We always spoke when we met
 Did you know where he lived?" 1 "No, sir
 You did not know how he went home
 then?' l No, sir" 1 That's all"
 The witness sat back in his chair and
 turned toward the attorney general. | You have read your testimony since
 Saturday?' was the first question, | Yes, sir And discussed it with counsel' No; not the testimony. Counsel asked
 me some questions" When were you introduced to Senator | Carmack?" Knew Carmack Well.
 T do not remember whether I ever was introduced to him. I have known l him all my life. Just before the shooting he was frequently in my unole's office on | business connected with the campaign.
 l spoke to him several times just be- fore the shooting" The testimony you gave was the first statement you ever nader" Yes, sir" You heard the testimony in the ap- | ploation for bail?'' T did
 Yet you never made statement?' No, sir You have associated since the tragedy 1 with your co-defendants You were in jail together?p "Yes, sir" "As matter of fact, you never have occupied cell, have you?" The defense was objecting to every question but this was the only one over l ruled. You have had your friends in the jail without anyone else present." Yes, sir You are a lawyer?' Yes, sir" In criminal courts?' No, slr-only one case" You did great deal of pardon workf' Pardon for Linder. 1 "Only one. l got pardon for Jesse 1 Linder." Your service then was principally to ] see Governor Patterson and the pardon | board?' II appeared before both"
 "Linder's own attorneys did not ap- pear?" No, sir z
 You got s750 for it?' "Yes, sir What was the charge against Lin- der?' Murder"
 How long did he get and how long did he server"
 He got 15 years and served about two years" The drift of the questions was evident ito show the Coopers connection with