Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-03-04
COOPER SHARP TRIAL
BRIEF SUMMARY OF CASE As
PRKsENTKD BY BOTH SIDES.


Nashville. Tenn---Sundsy was . busy
day for counsel on both sides in the
Cooper->harp trial for the Staying of for
mer United States Senator 4. W. Car
mack. The adjournment Saturday over
until Monday was welcomed BY every
one. II concluded the sixth week of the
trial and the tenth day of actual tcsti-
mony.
The state has offered testimony to
show that Senator Carmaek received
threats that unless he omitted Col. Coop
er's name from the columns Of the Ten
nes-ean, either he or Cooper would have
to die. Its witnesses told how the seua-
tor. while IN the act of -pea king to his
friends and neighbor. Mrs. Eastman. was
startled by hearing Col. Cooper say, so.
there you are; we have the drop on YOU
Mrs. Eastman swore that the senator
was in the act Of raising his hat when
the hostile voice was heard, that he par
italy drew his revolver, that before he
could use IL he was shot and fell into
the gutter dead
On the other hand, the defense thus
far has offered testimony to show that
Col Cooper saw Carmack by accident,
while his son, Robin. tEied to lead him
away; that he turned and said he would
talk with Carmaek; that Robin Cooper
followed his father. that the moment
Carmaek heard Col Coopsr's voice, he
tCarmackl drew his revolver: that Robin
Cooper sPrang between his father and
the senator. received the bullets aimed
at the elder Cooper. and then shot and
killed Carmack in seIf-defense.
The testimony against sharp is largely
cirrum-tsntial. He met the Coopers a
few minutes before the tragedy. accom-
panied them within one hundred feet OF
the scene Of the shooting and walks-.
away. A young woman Of good reputa-
tion. Miss Skefhngton. state librarian,
swears that ss she neared Sharp she
heard the shots and asked what il was.
In reply, she claims sharp said:
That is Col. Cooper killing CarmaclS.-
On the other hand. sharp swears he
turned around. saw the tragedy, and,
when asked by Miss skef6ngton. did
not say; That i Dunc Cooper killing
senator Carmaek," but did say. That
is shooting and when the Young wo-
man asked. who is shootinxs- he said,
having seen IL. shooting between Car
mack and Cooper
The case thus far has been 50 full Of
surprises and contradictions that il Is
impossible to forecast how long the trial
will last The defense has some sixty
witnesses waiting TO be heard. while the
state has ifty-two- Haw many OF these
viii be called not even the attorneys
know The court has reserved decisions
on two points. and until these are handed
down nothing definite on either side can
be announced IL is very probable, how
ever, that it will be two weeks yet be-
fore the arguments will begin. u il
just as probable that the arguments win
last a week, for over a score of ATTORNEYS
arr engaged in the case, and each expects
to address the jury.
Meantime, the jury, made up of farm
ers, used to outdoor life, is chatting under
the restraint. and its members are con-
tiniially asking for more exercise" This
was called to the attention of Judge Hart
and he ordered the sheriff to take the
twelve men out walking each day, re
gariless Of weather.