The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-23
SLAYER TESTIFIES
Young Man Who Did the Actual
Killing Describes the Tragedy
Makes Strong Impression on
Jury and Spectators
X-Ray Brought in
to Use.

Lily was tuo uC1S41CC OoOy Ill tue
trial Of COL Duncan B. Cooper, Robin
J. Cooper and John D. Sharpe charg-
ed with the murder Of former United
States Senator Edward W. Carmack
Only one witness was examined, the
boyish defendant, Robin J. Cooper
and he made a splendid witness
When court opened it was expected
that the State would offer one OF
more Of its missing witnesses. At least
three arrived last night, but the at
torney 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 defence asked for thir-
ty minutes indulgence and took an
hour and a half. It was presumed
that conference was on, but in real
ity the time was required in order
that an X-Ray photograph might be
taken to learn if the bullet which
Robin Cooper received in the should
er was still there. DR.. Fort thought
it was and so testified. However, the
day after the shooting Robin Cooper
found bullet in the bed near his
knees at the st. Thomas Hospital. It
was a 38-cahbre bullet. The gun
found near Senator Ca1maek's body
with two empty shells is 38-eah-
bre. The defence evidently wanted
to be sure that the X-Ray showed no
bullet in Robins shoulder before
they produced the missile found in
the boys bed. In this connection the
State has an interesting theory that
the revolver found near Carmack' s
body was not the one forced upon the
dead editor by one Of his staff few
hours before he was shot. The one
picked up is blue stell 38-cahbre.
Col Cooper's revolver, secured day
or two later, is a niekeued 38-cahbre,
and apparently had never been dis
charged.
A Good Witness.
As soon as the X-Ray plate had
been developed and disclosed no trace
Of bullet the defence announced it
was ready and called young Cooper
to the stand. The boy is a slender,
erect, clean-cut, highbred type of a
young man. His features are deli
cate, almost feminine, but he carries
himself in an erect and manly fash
ion, and there is nothing effeminate in
his manner. His voice is soft and
well cultivated. He speaks slowly,
almost with drawl. He answered
every question with a deliberateness
and caution that at times seemed to
exasperate his counsel, Judge Ander-
son, and put him in the light Of an
unwilling witness. But thare is no
doubt that his evident sincerity and
disinclination to take advantage of
situation made a very strong impres-
sion on both jury and spectators. His
cross-examination was postponed un-
til Monday, when it will consume pro-
badly most of the day.
He said that he practiced law in the
office of his uncle, James Bradford,
and that on November 9, the day Of
the Carmack shooting, his father call
ed at Bradford's Office in the fore
moon. Young Cooper, who gave his age
as twenty-seven, referred to his faith
-er as "papa."
"When papa told me-" he testi-
fled, she was afraid he was going to
have trouble with Mr.. Carmack. "
After a long argument of counsel,
Cooper was allowed to explain such
parts Of his conversation as had been
previously testified to by Miss Lee,
who said she overheard parts Of the
conversation. The witness continued,
speaking Of his father:
Carmack Attacked Elder Cooper.
"He said he was afraid of trouble.
asked him why. He said in sub
stance that Mr.. Carmack. in his pa
per, had been printing editorials at
tacking his character, and as he put
it, shooting poisoned arrows. He
said it was becoming uncomfortable. He
said he had seen Mr.. Craig the night
before and told him to tell Carmack
that he must cease using his name in
his paper. He said Mr.. Craig return
ed and said he had seen Carmack, but
Carmack would agree to nothing.
Gas I remember it. Mr.. Craig said
to papa that Carmack was in a VIC
ious hu1nor or mood
Robin said his father also told
L.