The Detroit times., 1909-02-23
CARMACK FIRED
FIRST SHOT, SAYS
SHARPE
Co IN MURDER
TRIAL coRRoeoRATEs TEST.
MoNY OF ROBIN cooPER-olD
NOT CONSENT TO SENATOR'S
MURDER.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Feb. 23.-John
D. Sharpe. ex-sheriff OF this county,
no, with Col Duncan b. Cooper and
Robin Cooper, is charged with the
murder OF United States Senator Car
mack, related the story of the murde9 {
o the jury yesterday afternoon. He
Denied any conspiracy 10 Kill Car
mack. and said he did not consent,
Even in thought. To the killing. sharp
,orroborated the testimony or Robin
Cooper that Carmack fired the first
shot.
Mr.. Sharpe, corroborated Robin
,ooper's story from the time he first
met Co Cooper and his son late ~
he afternoon untii the meeting took
place and Carmack was killed. he
said he knew nothing as TO any i'm
mediate prospective trouble between
col Cooper and Senator Carmack.
After telling OF meeting the Coop
rs, sharpe detailed the movements
II the party mp To the time they met
6enator Carmack. Sharpe said when
H. saw Col. Cooper crossing the
treet:
Il turned my head To the left. look
ng down the street
why did YOU look down the
treet?"
We'll. many things came 10 my
mind. | knew there was an unpleasant
feeling between Col Cooper and Sen
ktor Carmack. | turned 10 see what
hight be the result OF the meeting.
Carmack Shot First.
81 saw Ave people. man and
Col.
Cooper was on the sidewalk, Robin
Was i'm the street and Senator Car
mack Just beyond the man and WON
n. near the poles. | saw the senator
tep out towards the curbing. his hand
brown back to his hip pocket, this
Eay ClustratingD. When he got IN
nv line of vision again outside the
oles. | saw he had pistol In his
and. Robin had turned in towards
he sidewalk As Robin got near the
|ole. Senator Carmack nred
How many tines"
"Carmack shot twice"
What did Robin do?"
"He Jumped inside the pole, swung
round It and as he did SO. saw a
eapon in his hand.
What did he do?''
"Hc shot.
How many tines
Three times.
What them
What them"
"Carmack fell after the third shot. y
This answer pleased the state. for
ne wound was in the back OF Senator
armack's neck and must have been
red either from behind or as the
enator reeled and fell,
Where was Col. Cooper"
standing near the poles.
Did Not Abet Murder.
did you anticipate any trouble that
ay?"
NO. sir"
did you bear Senator Carmack
ny malice"
None, sir: but opposed him very
trongly in his campaigns.
Were you friendly"
PERSONALLY. yes. He called me
Ohm when We met. and often con-
ulted me about train schedules on
olitical trips"
Did you aid, abet. counsel com
hand or procure either OF the defend
hts to kin Senator Carmack?"
No, sir"
did YOU. even In thought. consent
b the killing of the senator"
Il did not, and on the other hand. |
egretted 1t very much"
The witness denied specifically ever
aving said that Carmack should have
cen dead and in hell for 20 years He
aid he always opposed Carmack po-
tically and probably said some hard
hings about the senator's political
hethods
On REORGANIZATION the first ques-
Ions elected that Sharpe and the
oopers were close friends. The wit
ess declared he never saw the re-
Oliver Robin Cooper used until the
oy was using It, and had no knowl-
dye of Robin wanting TO borrow a
istol. The states theory is that the
utomatic revolver is John Shapes
nd three times II has had the mum
Ter of the weapon entered In the rec
rd.
The witness was closely pressed
bout his sight Of Carmack's pistol de-
mite the cloudy day, and his CONVEX
alton with Miss Skeffington. He adj
,itted that he had not turned back
the scene OF the killing until he
adj met Miss Skeffington, who was
he only living witness to prove he
as not actually at the scene OF the
booting the moment lit occurred. He
ext went around down town and
topped at n number OF places. lie
enied that he did this TO establish an
|libi.