The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-21
Chief Defendant on the
 Stand, DECLARES HE SHOT TO
 SAVE HIS OWN LIFE lState Has a Theory About Editors
 Pistol. 5son Of Veteran Tennessee Politician Makes Good Impression As He Recites the story Of the Nashville Tragedy. q,

Nashville, Tenn. Feb 20.-Tnis was : 4he defense's day in the trial Of Coionei Duncan. B.. Cooper. Robin J. Cooper and John D. sharp. charged with the murder of former United States Sem ator Edward W. Carmack There was 2 only one witness examined the boyish defendant. Robin J. Cooper. and he made q splendid witness.
 When court opened. it was explain ed that the State would offer one or more of its missing witnesses At least three arrived last night bu the Ator- aey General decided either not to use them at all. or to save them for his big conspiracy fight in rebuttal.
 Both sides seemed sparring for time at the opening of the days session. Finally. the States attorneys appear ed. Then the defense asked for thir- ty minutes indulgence and took an hour and half. It was presumed that q. conference was on. but in real lty 1t was asked in order that an K ray photograph might be taken to learn if the bullet which Robin Cooper EEeceived in the shoulder, was still there. pr. Fort thought 1t was, and so testined. However. the day after the shooting Robin Cooper found q bullet in the bed. near his knees. at the St Thomas hospital. It was .Ss calibre bullet. The gun found near $ Senator 'Carmack's body with two emp ty shells=is .Ss caiibre one.
 The defense evidently wanted to be sure that the x-ray showed no bullet in Robin's shoulder before they pro- dnced the snlsslle found by tha boys bed.
 Theory AS To Pistos.
 In this connection, the State has an interesting theory that the revnlver Hound near Carmaclx's body was not 4he one forced on the dead editor by one of hig stan few hours before. he was shot. The one picked up is h olue-steeI .ss calibre. Colonel Coop er's revolver, secured a day or two later, Is a nickled .38 calibre and ap- parently had never been discharged
 As soon as the x-ray plate had been developed and disclosed no trace of a bullet. the defense announced ready and called Young Cooper to the stand. The boy is a slender erect, clean cut. high bred type of a young man. Ills 1SatuTcB are uelIcAIS, almost femIntne, but he carries himself in an erect and manly fashion and there Is nothing ef- fiminate in his manner. His voice is soft and well cultivated He speaks slowly. almost with drawl. He an- swered every question with a deliber- ateness and caution that at times seemed to exasperate his counsel, Judge Anderson and put him in the light of an. unwilling witness.
 But theFa ia m douht that hfa ax,f. dent sincerity and disinelination to take advantage of situation. made a very strong impression on both jury and spectators
 The cross examination was postpon- ed until Monday. when 1t will consume probably most of the day.
 When court opened this morning one of the largest crowds ever seen around Nashville court house awaited the arrival Of the deputies. One reason was that 1t was rumored that Colonel 10. B. Cooper would be the first witness for the defense. Another story had 1t that a mysterious witness from Mis- souri. who saw the shooting and who had been threatened with death if he testified. would appear for the State. As result the deputies had no easy time in handling the throng, but final ly they clearedA the aisles and stair ways after the chairs were filled.
 Although the attorneys on both sides had promised to be ready to proceed promptly this morning. there was a tedious delay of nearly an hour. Coun- sel for State appeared first. Then came Judge Anderson, who asked fur ther indulgence of the court for half an hour. Meantime the big crowd chatted and visited and waited patient lly.
 At 1o:sO Attorney General McCarn asked when the defense would be ready to proceed This indicated that the States missing witnesses had not arrived. At II o'clock the defendants attorneys filed in. There was a hush when Judge Anderson said:
 Robin Cooper. take the stand"
 A murmur of surprise and expect ancy swept over the room The court rapped for order sternIy. Some wo- men arose to better see and deputies ordered the ladies to remove their hats.
 Robin Cooper on stand.
 Robin Cooper is a slender. boyish, clear cut looking youth. He gave his name. his age twenty-seven, his pro- fession as a lawyer. He said he was