The Washington times., 1909-02-27
Closing Steps Taken by De
fenoantS in Cooper
Trial.
LONGE SIEGE TELLS
ON ALL CONCERNED
Thought Probable Today That
Case Will Reach Jury
This Week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Feb. 27.-Govern-
or Patterson was the first witness called
when the trial of the COopers and form
er Sheriff Sharp. charged with the muir
der Of Senator Carmack. was resumed
today.
ernor Of Tennessee for two years and
Is now serving his second term, Cow
ernOr Patterson said;
7 knew Senator Carmack and Colonel
Cooper. went to the Tulane Hotel on
November Q, to find Colonel Cooper at
the request Of his daughter, Mrs.
Burch, who had telephOned me to see
her father. [ was with my secretary,
colonel. l went from the hotel to the
WaUtauga Club, and then back to the
Tulane. Finally l went to the Max
wen House, where I found the colonel
Il talked with him, about sending the
letter in which he told Nr Carmack
that il the latter continued his attacks
upon him, the town would not be big
enough TO hold both. advised him
Bradford and Robin Cooper also told
the colonel that he had letter not send
the letter.
Thought Matter Settled.
AT last Colonel Cooper agreed to let
Bradford nave the letter and we met
Bradford in his office at 8 p. m.
thought the matter was settled and
went back to my office, accompanied by
Robin Cooper part OF the way Robin
! thanked me for what a nad done and
as we parted tears were in his eyes.
advised him 10 stay with his father,
as much as he could. I also asked Mrs.
/ Williamson, who was lUnChing with
I the colonel that day 10 keep him at the
Maxwell House until the time for the
conference"
Governor Patterson said he had writ
ten 10 former Governor Cox Of his own
initiative and that Colonel Cooper was
not responsible for effecting a recon
ciliatiOn between himself and Cox. He
said the relations between him and Cox
had been friendly for some time, and
were stil so.
So far as the defense is concerned, the
evidence is practically all in. Today
only two witnesses remained to be call
ed. these being Adjt. Gen. Tully Brown
and Governor Malcolm Patterson. The
testimony Of the three defendants Is all
IN and the crOss-eEamination completed
Today it was considered probable that
the case would go 10 the jury Withi1 a
week. The defense for the first time
furnished a list Of its witnesses The
( list Of names showe5 that the majority
of the Witnesses have been examined.
seven being disposed Of yesterday. and
3
hours today.
The routine Is beginning 10 tell N
. jury, witnesses, defendants. and court
and Judge Hart apparently welcomes
the frequent applications for recess.
Finally ruling that the conversations
. between Carmack and Vertress. when
the latter gave the Senator the pistol
was not admissible, Judge Hart fore
stalled the possibility Of this incident
ever figuring in the case. Likewise.
the court ruled out the conversation
which Carmack had with Insurance
, Commissioner Thompson. shortly before
the killing. The purpose Of the State
in trying to have this testimony admit
ted. was 10 show that Carmack had
made no threats against Cooper; that
he was in peaceful state Of mind,
and apprehended no trouble.
Interest continues keen in every step
Of the trial, and a larger crowd than
usual was on hand when the taking ol
testimony was resumed today.