Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-23
FOLLOWED on STAND BY SHARPE
Younger Defendant Stands His Orig.
nal Ground Fairly We'll. But Sharpe
Loses His Temper-Latter Also
Contradicts Himself Upon Many
points-one OF Importance.
(By Associated Press.)

When court adjourned tonight in me
middle Of the cross examination OF
John d. Sharpe. honors were even
between the state and the defense
in the Cooper-Sharpe trial for the
staying Of Former Senator Edward
w. Carmack.
Young Robin Cooper was under
bitter cross examination OF nearly
tour hours.
The next witness and the only
other one OF the day was John ID.
Sharpe, another of the defendants.
Sharpe told his story we'll under
direct examination, but he was turned
over to Attorney General Garner OF
Maurey county, for cross examina-
ton.
MIR. Garner has somewhat of a rep
utation in his own county for clever
work, but he was an unknown quanti-
ty In Nashville.
When court adjourned for the day
the defense's counsel drew long
breath and were no longer In doubt
as TO Gamers ability. .
His cross examination is OF the rap,
i'd fire order
John Sharpe is a man Of high tenn
ner. and Garner soon had him beside
himself. He contradicted himself on
many minor particulars. Once he 60,
on dangerous ground.
On direct examination Sharpe
swore that he saw the killing and
that "Carmack fell after Robin Cooper
had fired three times"
One Of the bullet wounds. n nee.
essarily fatal one. pierced the sena-
tors neck within one sixteenth OF
ar inch of the spinal cord and came
out under his tongue A Sharpe
swore that Carmack was facing young
Cooper. aiming revolver at him.
this wound would be impossible to
reconcile with the statement.
On cross examination, however.
Sharpe said Carmack turned his head
just as the second shot was fired.
Could Not Explain.
He did not explain how the sen.
ator could turn his head far enough
to permit the hall to enter the me.
dian line Of the neck on straight
line.
The state pushed Sharpe hard up
to nearly o'clock D. m, then asked
that continuance be granted until
tomorrow when 1t was allowed.
Sharpe left the stand with q sigh
OF relief. His faithful little wife. who
has not even missed a minute at his
side in court. sprang up to meet him
and cheered him with smiles and
words OF encouragement.
Before cross examination began
Cooper testified to his relations with
Carmack, which he said were limited
to speaking acquaintance.
coopeT's Cross Examination.
The cross examination by Attorney
General Mccain then began.
As matter Of fact you have never
occupied q cell. have you?"
Objection sustained.
In reply to question, witness said
he was lawyer.
You did o great deal Of pardon
work."
Only once: got a pardon for
'.Your service then was principally
to see Governor Patterson and the
pardon board?"
II appeared before both"
He said Under got fifteen years
and served about two.
influence With Governor.
The drift Of the question was evil
dent to show the Coopers' connection
with Governor Patterson and how in
fluential they were.
Attorney General McCarn suddenly
switched to the dag Of the tragedy.
"When did you telephone Mrs.
Burch. your sister. to find your "a
herr"
About $40 a. m"
And you wanted your sister TO
keep him off the streets,"
Yes sir
still your father had only left you
q moment before!
Yes sir
When did Won learn that your
father was armed?"
when he reached my office that
morning"
Several rerolvers were broueh. In
aEt Robin was asked which one his
fsthcr had carried on the day OF the
fskco,ine.
lido no, know" he said. the nickel
plated one looks like u. 7 only
Slanced at it,
Wer Revolvers exehansedf
The states contention 10 that the
eun said 20 have been fo1nd sear
Csrmack's bcdv vas IN reality Coop
er's. suir't';r'ed for the one that Car.
Dpek carried.
YC1ng Cooper said that the auto
! N>Afic revolver he shot Carmack with
mas the first rne Of It's kind he ever
~ IN bis hand
Il devecped too tina, While lookins
~ his father the day OF the TRAGEDY
eeeen met Governor Pss.erpoa and
vn9ee1 throvsh the Arcade With him
- testified 70 IN direct exaaiss