The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-03-24
FOUND GUILTY
of Murder in the Second Degree
in Cooper Case
IS VERDICT OF JURY


The Jury Fixes the Punishment OF
the Two Men at Twenty Years
Each in the Penitentiary at Hard
Labor-Wiu Argue This Week for
New Trial.
Nashville, Tenn, March 20
Guilty of murder in the second de-
gree-punishment of 20 years I'M
prisonment-was the unexpected YER
dict rendered by the jury against
Col. Duncan B. Cooper and Robin ].
Cooper when court opened TO-DAY.
The jury yesterday acquitted John
D. Sharp, indicted with the Coopers
for the Staying of Former United
States Senator E. w. Carmack.
Everything moved swiftly from the
moment the verdict was rendered.
Immediately the defense moved TO
set it aside because of the verdict
of disagreement of yesterday and
asked the court to declare it a mis-
trial. Judge Hart said he would
listen to arguments on this motion,
probably next week. He then fixed
the defendants bonds at $4,000
each.
Although Judge Hart fixed the
bond at $4,000, there was rush
to sign it on the part of wealthy citi-
zens of Nashville, which fairly
swamped the clerk of the criminal
court. In vain he protested over and
over again that more than enough
sureties has signed, but the inva-
riable answer was, We want to put
our name on that bond, too
1t seemed as though every friend
of the Coopers considered it incum-
bent upon him to sign the bond
When there was no more room for
names at the foot of the document
| the new bondsmen indorsed it across
the face until it was difficult to de-
cipher the signatures. When filed
the bond totaled nearly s1.500,000.
The Coopers returned to the jail
this afternoon late and removed their
personal effects For the present
Col. Cooper will make his home with
Mrs. Burch and Robin will return
to his old quarters with his uncle
John C. Bradford.
Tonight the father and son re.
tired to the home of Judge J. c.
Bradford and discussed the next
move in the case.
Large Crowd Present.
Various and insistent runors that
the jury had agreed were RESPONSE
bic for a crowded court room this
morning and for the presence Of at
torneys on both sides long before
the usual hour for converting.
AS soon as Judge Hart entered
court and after he removed his coat,
he ordered the defendants and the
jury brought into court.
''I understand they have agreed"
he remarked to the press table, 'and
am sending to see."
In almost a moment, at 1925, to
be exact, the u men entered the
| room and took the same seats they
have occupied for nearly nine weeks.
Have you agreed upon ver-
dict, gentlemen?' said Judge Hart.
eve have" replied Foreman E.
NJ. Burke hoarsely.
Advance, Mr.. Foreman, and read
the verdict
''We, the jury, find the defendants,
Duncan B. Cooper and Robin J..
Cooper, guilty of murder in the Sec
ond degree, and assess their punish
ment at confinement in the State pen
itentiary for period of 20 years. :"
so say you all, gentlemen"
$50 say we ALL" in chorus.
81 thank you, gentlemen" said the
court, "for your patience and devo-
ton to the State and dismiss you to
your homes and to your personal
employment
At the conclusion of this remark
the entire II sprang from their seats
as one man and hurridly left the
court room.
The verdict, coming as it did up
on the heels of Foreman Burk's
declaration yesterday that we are
hopelessly tied up as to the Coopers, -
was decided surprise. The defend
ants took it cooly-almost without
emotion.
In second after Judge Hart ceas-
ed dismissed the jury, Judge Ander-
son of the defense was on his feet
exclaiming:
Hold 1t a aIistrial.
Your honor, we believe that the
case should be declared mistrial
because of verdict; we contend that
yesterdays verdict was the only one,
and that it acquitted John Sharp,
but declared disagreement on the
other defendants. We also ask that
the defendants be admitted to bond
at once
'.The verdict of the jury makes it |
a bailable case" was the courts re-
tort, "hence I will fix the bond of
each at $4,000 unless there be some
objection In that event I will hear !
"It is satisfactory to u.s. said At
:orney General McCarn.
and to u.s. retorted Judge An
ierson.
There seems to be nothing left
,ut for the court to pass sentence
Ldded Judge Hart.
81 do not think that necessary"
aid Judge Anderson. eve move
hat iud ement be suspended and that