The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-03-25
THE JURY ACQUI1S SHARP
ExONERATED OF CONSPIRING TO
KILL CARMACK.
Jury Cannot Agree as to Guilt or In
nocence of the COoperS-Order.
ed Back to Room.

cu DdSA ~ 4sOc1As
Nashville, Tenn, March 19.-When
the jury to-day returned a verdict of
acQuittal for John D. Sharp, charged
with the murder of Former United
States Senator E. w. Carmack, and
declared it was "hopelessly tied up as
to the Coopers," it was generally con-
ceded that the end of the famous
case had been reached. Nothing
daunted by the expressive flrmness of
Foreman Burke's declaration of a
disagreement, Judge Hart sent the
IL men out for further deliberation
and announced that he would not
discharge them until he was abso-
lutely convinced that an agreement
could not be reached.
Judge Hart fully expected a YER
dict to-day. Several times during the
morning he consulted with the jury
deputies and when he had concluded
the days docket at noon and sent to
ask the jurors if they had anything
to report, the reply nothing" came
back. Evidently the judge had
some information, however, for he
ordered the prisoners brought into
court and instructed the sheriff to
carry in the jury"
Instead Of S. J. Hyde, to whom
the charge was given, E. VI. Burke,
the first man chosen, carried The pa
pers and acted as foreman. In re-
sponse to the judges question as to
whether verdict had been reached,
Burke replied: 1--WE are tied up
tight Els to the Coopers. but we find
John D. Sharp not guilty"
The verdict as to Sharp was an
nounced at 1882 p. m.
lis there any reason, Gen. McArn,
Why John Sharp should not be dis
charged?" asked the court.
None, your honor"
"Mr. Sharp, you are discharged
from custody, acquitted" said the
court with smile.
Sharp sat still and Indifferent. Not
40 with his wife. When she had
grasped the significance of the ver-
dict her eyes filled up and she caught
her husbands left arm with both her
hands and seemed about to break
down.
eve want the exact words Of the
record" said Judge Anderson, OF the
defense. 1--WE understood the report
was hopeless tied
II do not recall the exact language,
but I am told by the clerk and a
newspaper man that those are the
words. Let the clerk so record
them"
'Is that a verdict, your honor?'
said Anderson.
l., int 1nhn
Sharp is concerned, but it certainly is
not as far as D. B. and Robin Cooper
are concerned. I sent the jury back
for further consideration.
The defendants counsel advised
together a while and assented. Then
Judge Hart adjourned court until 2
2. m.
Sharp, accompanied by his wife
and sister-in-law, father and mother,
the latter two reaching the jail after
the verdict, went to the room he has
occupied for several months in the
Jail and there held little reunion
with the Coopers.
As he left the court room, Reid
Sharp, youngest brother of John, re-
marked: This is not the end Of this
case.''
The jurors looked tired and worn
and i'll at ease. From the loud talk
ing heard in the room they have been
having a strenuous time. They are
chafing under the restraint, too, but
evidently are determined to vote with
their convictions. They sent word to
the sheriff late this afternoon that
their room was poorly ventilated,
that the plumbing was defective and
that several of the men were i'll from
the confinement. The room is quite
small and the sheriff decided to let
them sleep tonight in the quarter
of the Jail set aside for woman's
hospital, which has no tenants at
present. ,
The jurors put in the afternoon
celebrating, but after supper at 6
p. M, devoted the balance Of the
evening to amusing themselves with
cards and songs.
Near Death in Big Pond.