The Tupelo journal., 1909-03-26
COOPERS CONVICTED
SHARP ACQUIT TED

Cooper trial, at 1905 Saturday morning,
reported the following verdict:
Duncan B. Cooper, guilty, second de-
gree; penalty, 20 years.
Robin ]. Cooper, guilty, second degree;
penalty, 20 years.
The trial just completed has been one
of the most remarkable murder cases in
the history of the South, not only be-
cause of the prominence of the princi-
pals in the tragedy, but because of the
reasons that led to the killing.
Sharp Acquitted.
Nashville, Tenn.-John d. Sharp was
Friday acquitted of the charge of muir
dering former United States Senator f.
w. Carmack, but the jury reported that
an agreement had not been reached as
to the two principal actors in the now
famous tragedy, Robin and Col. Duncan
B. Cooper.
The receiving of the verdict as to Mr..
Sharp came after a morning of nervous
ness and suppressed excitement in the
courtroom. Judge Hart opened court
promptly at o'clock and began his us
ual grind of hearing criminal cases. The
court had announced soon after court
opened that there would be verdict in
the Cooper case during the day, but it
was quarter after IL before his honor
turned his attention to the case and
sent the sheriff to bring the jury into
the courtroom. The jury, instead of ac-
companying the court officer on his re-
turn, however, sent word that they were
unable to agree, and saw no necessity
for their appearing in court.
But Judge Hart summoned them any
way, and soon the result of the delib-
erations of the twelve men was known.
As soon as the court had heard what
the jury had done, he ordered the dis
charge of Mr.. Sharp, and ordered the
jury to return to their room for fur
ther elaboration. This occupied but
few minutes, after which court was adj
journed until 2 p. M. The verdict in
Mr.. Sharp's case was received with in
difference by the defendant, but once
outside the courtroom he was compelled
to hold an impromptu reception and re-
ceive the congratulations of his friends.
Judge Hart sent to ask the jury, at
IL minutes after noon, if it wished to
report. Promptly the word came back
that no agreement had been reached. The
court considered moment, and said:
81 will bring in the jury anyhow.
Bring in the defendants"
There was a hustle and scurrying of
deputies through the corridors, and the
defendants entered. The courtroom was
nearly empty by this time, the throng
gradually as it seemed that
there would be no report. Mrs. Burch
and Mrs. Wilson, pale and wan, were
with the Coopers, and faithful Mrs.
Sharp was, as always, at her husbands
side.
The jury was polled, and Judge Hart
said: ash
"Have you reached verdict, gentl
menu"
1--WE are hopelessly tied as to the
Coopers," said Foreman Burke, 'but we
find John Sharp not guilty"
"You will retire, gentlemen, and re-
consider further as to the other defend
ants. Is there any reason, Gen. McCarn,
why John Sharp should not be dis
"None, your honor"
"Mr. Sharp, you are discharged from
custody-acquitted," said the court, with
a smile.
Sharp sat stolid and Indifferent. Not
so his wife. The foreman spoke in low
tone, and for minute she didn't grasp
the significance of it. When she did,
her eyes filled up, and she grasped her
husbands left arm with both hands, and
seemed about to break down. Her sis
ter soothed her, and others seated near
them shook hands with Sharp.
eve want the exact words of the jury
said Judge Anderson, of de-
Tense. "We understood the report was
tied?"
Il do not recall the exact language,
but am told by the clerk and news
paper man, that those were the words.
Let the clerk SO record them"
as that a verdict, your honor" said
Anderson.
at is verdict as far as John Sharp
is concerned, but it certainly is not as
far as d. B. and Robin Cooper are con-
cerned / sent the jury back for further
The defendants counsel advised to-
gether for awhile, and assented. Then
Judge Hart adjourned court until 2 p. m.
Sharp, accompanied by his wife and
father and mother, the lat
ter two reaching the Jail after the YER
dict, went to the room he has occupied
for several months in the Jail, and then
held little reunion with the Coopers.
With tears of disappointment in their
eyes, the two daughters of Cooper still
the Sharps heartily upon
their good luck, and listened in return to
the good wishes in their own behalf"
A., B. & A. RECEIVER NAMED.