The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-24
Col. Cooper, Chief Figure in
Trial, Tells Of Old
RELATIONS WITH SENATOR
shows Letter 10 Prove It--Part Of Doc
ment Admitted in Evidence After
Fight-Ruction Over the Tay-
lor Campaign.

Nashville, Tenn, Feb. 24.-When the
trial Of Colonel Duncan b. Cooper, Robin
Cooper and John d. Sharp, charged with
the murder Of former United States SEN
ator Carmack, was resumed yesterday
the state announced that ii did not desire
to cross examine Mr.. Sharp further. AT
ter few questions had been asked, Mr.,
Sharp left the stand and Colonel Cooper
was called. The central figure in tho
trial walked calmly to the stand. Tho
colonel said; Il met Senator Carmack
years ago at Columbia when he was quite
young. | brought him to Nashville as
editor of the American and he remained
with me until 1892, when he went to
Memphis"
lie said their relations were cordial
until Carmaek's race with Senator Tay-
Tor four years ago. Then they disagreed.
Witness said that when he went TO Men,
phis in 1892 he wrote an editorial thank
ing him Cooper.
The defense offered the editorial and
Judge Hart asked to see it. The state
agreed to let the entire editorial In. It
was in the paper of Feb. -, 1892. and
was Carmack's farewell, in which he
expressed regret at leaving the Ameri.
can and gratitude to the paper and It's
friends.
Colonel Cooper said their relations con-
tinued pleasant and the last.friendly let
ter he had from Carmack was in Deem
Der, 1904 Their relations were pleasant
even after that. Witness produced the
letter.
Robin Cooper Monday underwent
bitter REORGANIZATION of nearly four
hours, but held his own. The only other
witness of the day was John d. Sharp,
who gave his account of the shooting
under direct examination. Then be was
turned over to Attorney General Garner,
whose cross-examination is most rapid.
Sharp is man Of high temper, and
Garner soon had him beside himself he
oontradictsd himself on many minor
points, but never on the more important
particulars Once he got on dangerous
ground. On direct examination he swore
that he saw the killing, and that Gar
mack fell after Robin Cooper had fired
three times" One Of the bullet wounds,
a necessarily fatal one, pierced Car
mack's neck within one-sixtesnth OF an
inch OF The spinal cord and came out
under the tongue As Sharp swore that
Carniack was facing young Cooper, aim
ing revolver at him, this would be
impossible to reconcile with the state
ment On cross-examination, however,
Sharp swore that Carmaek 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 of
the ball to enter the medal line OF the
neck ON a straight line.
Durtng the cross-examination of Young
Cooper an apparent effort was made to
bring before the Jury and the spectators
the close relations that have existed be-
tween the Coopers and Governor Platter
son. This had relation to the pardon Of
man from Memphis, ]. j. Linder by
name, which was secured by Robin j.
Cooper Hnder had killed man and
was sentenced to fifteen years servi
tude. Mr.. McCarn sought to show a
pardon had been granted through the in.
tercession of young Cooper within a
very short time.