The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-13
TlE COOPER TlIIL.
CAPT. rIrzHUGH OPENS FOR
the STATE.
- Argunseat Was . Hitter Arraign-
~eas - Defendants. Coupled with
Aastsrts Iseseatasiou OF Evidence

Na~Avals. Tenn. March s.-After
Capt Ettshssh had completed the
~peolRg srgumeht for the state this
ao>nrosss la. the case against Col
ouncaa y. Cooper. Robin ,. Cooper
~ soha ID. Sharp. charged with the
U~rdsr "a former United states Sem
afer =. ". carmack. Judge william
Hart ordered the jury withdrawn and
ehankee the spectators for their good
~an1r.
Capt Ntzhugh made strong and
striking argument. 1t lasted over
ave hoSfs. and when he concluded he
49, exhausted. The court room was
sacked to sunocation. the ventilation
vas poor and even the spectators felt
che effects of the vitiated atmosphere.
@tishugh is q dramatic orator, and
Ah sxerstions left him nearly physi-
cal wreck when he concluded. The
young Mcmphis attorneys speech Is
rcnsidsred masterpiece OF logical
ARGUMENT and bitter invective and It
hnd noticeable effect, upon the su-
\ rors. who leaned forward and listen
"a brc"thlessly to every word s,ois-
sn- Fitxhugh was a close friend of
Ssnator csrmack. and he Is In the
cess at the special request of Mrs.
Carunck- His peroration was espe-
cially dramatic.
"There viii be many arguments
made to you." ne said. Ito touch your
heAftA rou will be asked to be gem
>rocs and sympathetic. They will
enR 90 yos Of this boy Why. gentle
men. ne h 81 years old. and some of
&hs grestest achievements of men
mare been accomplished before they
wss~ -. And they will point to Col.
Coopee a. . gentleman OF the old
eohool ~ the last flower of the old
Sosthsrn chivalry.' Do you believe |?
Ss No . gentleman whom he used
tAat avis, language In the presence
q Mis- Ieer And when they talk
% 'rou % sympathy. Just look over
'sh~s rou see In sable garments the
WlAsw ef 10. w. Carmack. You see
on lnsr arm the fo-year-old boy. who
was the pride Of n. w. Carmacx's
life. Dtd Duncan Cooper or Robin
GeoDer think Of this widow or this
'ooU when they shot down the hus-
asD1 ~ <he fatherf Would It MT
nave been better II Robin Cooper. Ia.
|sutsad Of shooting the senator. had
'said 10 his father. Father. do not Kill
A. eaxher Of this httie boy. do not
'o,ay tks husband OF thln fond wife.
tuf Ne dtd not Tho question 10 to
ts 9>ctded nv You. II murder II to
~ committed In the streets OF our
-eleSss without fear Of punishment. car
-ysa teu VINO will be the next victim?
Ylae very liberty Of tie press IL a.
stake. the security of the comm, n
g,sopie u an rests with you and iu-
- yor Nsnds place u unreservediy.
rsntirae~. thank you"
After the necessary preliminaries In
Ir~cntiss the states case. Capt.
11ssAusA said:
II Pave shown you that It II MUIR
@ser wis~a man tsLcs a life upon
sudjca impulse How much more is
d ,nuces whn u mans heart Is 80
full Of malice and revenge that he
spsnds an day Sunday and most Of
lasn<asy devisins the way and means
~ taking the life Of the man he hates
40 bitterly"
Capt. Fytzhugh then took up the
ahrests OF Col. Cooper against Car
mack. with dramatic force ne re-
l>eated Cooper's words TO Craig:
"1f my oarae appears In The Ten
areszeaa again. Carmack or I must
sii>.'
Think OF II. gentlemen. this man
'sho L. q sc,f- contested lobbyist for a
iraSiroad: this man who IL charged by
rspstsbie raen with having embezzi. d
money intrusted to his care: this man
whose name had been banded about
ithe State: this man whose dark and
devious ways have now been uncover
-. dared to send to an honest and
uprfxht Journalist the threat that IL
ab name appeared In The Tennes-
ssan again. one of them must die
Think of a.,
-Asd when the tragedy was over
ehs defesdants began to look for a
eassc. Aad what did they find? That
senator Carmack had referred to
tAat little baid-headed angel Dune
c~opsr.' Had asked did the angel