Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-02-25

DEFENDANT
WILL ATTEMPT To PROVE COL.
COOPER A DISQUALIFICATION.
POSE OF STATE Is I'D SHOW
THAT ooorER's WORD CAN
NOT BE DEFENDED uPoS.

| Nashville. Tenn, Feb. 25 AL
most the first thing the State did
on REORGANIZATION was to au-
nounce that t would try TO prove
that Colonel Cooper was q default
ter to the extent OF over 800, coo.
while clerk asd master OF chan
Gerry a Maury county. This prec'ps-
tated II tier light between co nsel
during which harsh words were used
and much anger displayed. Despite
the efforts OF Judge Hart to hold
the reins lightly.
| The State wen partial victory
and strasghtway sprang another sur
prise, 1t resurrected some old leg
islativs records concerning an laves-
tlgation into alleged defalcst,on OF
state Treasurer M. T. Polk In the
early eighties. They offered wo
prove that thousands OF dollars OF
the States money was invested by
Polk with Colonel Duncan d. Coop
sr AID others IN Mexican silver
mine scheme, a Walnut Log scheme
n North Carolina, and a scheme TO
buy the Nashville American.
| Colonel Cooper admitted that
there wore irregularities IN his Of
Gee of clerk and master chan
Gerry, but saTd they were due to bad
management and poor Bookkeeping
and that every dollar was made
good. Hc admitted that Polk was
his partner in tho ventures named,
but declared that he (Cooper) new
err handled a dollar OF the money,
and had no knowledge that IL was
taken from the States ctrong box.
s. Colonel c~opsr znads an excellent
witness, but one hard TO handle
even by his own counsel. Repeated
ly he urged Judge Anderson to let
the State ask ANY question on any
subject" and at times, answered
over his own attorneys objections.
Now and then he d splayed great
heat, but he d:d not contradict him
self upon any point.
Yesterdays testimony began with
Colonel Cooper's description of the
shooting.
Robin urged me TO hurry" he
said. Il told him to wait a min
ute. He and Sharp stopped and /
caught up. Then he grabbed me
and said, Lets hurry, papa" The
nervous grasp OF his arm aroused
my suspicious and intuitively turn
ed and saw Senator Carmack. In
stantly / decided TO go over and
have a plan talk with Carmack to
see " this affair which was worry
ing my friends, my children ard
myself, could not be stopped. The
impulse came over me at once when
saw him, to go over and talk to
him and have an understanding.
TELLS OF THE KILLING.
First, I thought I'D wait for
him. Then / thought that mS eht
carry some Significance, and then 1
walked toward him. / saw him
sreak to Mrs. Eastman. said Mr..
Carmack.' He threw up his head
as though he had not seen me and
at once drew his revolver and step
ped in front of Mrs. Eastman, put
ting her between us and stepping
towards the curb lie was FIVE or
six feet from the curb when / call
ed his name"
What next2"
HE had his pistol in his hand
and passed In front OF Mrs. East
man. Mrs. Eastman became wildly
excited and grabbed the old 1aan
with her. made no hostile move
ment.
What did you say?"
Il said think that rt was damn
ed cowardIy 20 get behind a wo-
man with a pistol in his hand"
Did you have a revolver out?"
Not at that time"
DID you have any purpose OF
shooting or killing him2"
mo cir"
Did you say, Il have the drop on
your"
Il did not, for l did not have the
drop on him.
Senator Carmack got around the
post and at the same time Robin
got in between us. In :. second
Carmack shot between the poles and
Robin got around them. Then for
the FIRST time r saw Robins revoi-
yer and saw him shoot"
" Did you have your pistol out?"
PUTS REVOLVER UP.
Not until after Robin shot
Then drew my gun but I saw Car
mack was down and that ROBIN
was shot 80 I put my revolver back
L.