The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-03-04
COOPER SHARP TRIAL
BRIEF SUMMARY OF CASE AS
PRESENTED BY BOTH SIDES.
Taking of Evidence Resumed After
Day of Rest, and a Bitter
Fight Is Expected.


Nashville, Tenn.-Sunday was a busy
day for counsel on both sides in the
Cooper-Sharp trial for the Staying of for
mer United States Senator Z. w. Car
mack. The adjournment Saturday over
until Monday was welcomed by every
one. 1t concluded the sixth week of the
trial and the tenth day of actual testi-
mony.
The state has offered testimony to
show that Senator Carmack received
threats that unless he omitted Col. Coop
er's name from the columns of the Ten
nessean, either he or Cooper would have
to die. Its witnesses told how the sena-
tor, while in the act of speaking to his
friends and neighbor, Mrs. Eastman, was
startled by hearing Col. Cooper say, $50.
there you are; we have the drop on you"
Mrs. Eastman swore that the senator
was in the act of raising his hat when
the hostile voice was heard, that he par
TALLY drew his revolver, that before he
could use it he was shot and fell into
the gutter dead
On the other hand, the defense thus
far has offered testimony to show that
Col. Cooper saw Carmack by. accident,
while his son, Robin, tried to lead him
away; that he turned and said he would
talk with Carmack; that Robin Cooper
followed his father; that the moment
Carmack heard Col. Cooper's voice, he
(Carmack) drew his revolver; that Robin
Cooper sprang between his father and
the senator, received the bullets aimed
at the elder Cooper, and then shot and
killed Carmack in self-defense
The testimony against Sharp is largely
circumstantial. He met the Coopers a
few minutes before the tragedy, accom-
panied them within one hundred feet of
the scene of the shooting and walked
away. A young woman of good reputa-
ton, Miss Skeffington, state librarian,
swears that as she neared Sharp she
heard the shots and asked what it was.
In reply, she claims Sharp said;
THAT is Col. Cooper killing Carmack."
On the other hand, Sharp swears he
turned around, saw the tragedy and,
when asked by Miss Skeffngton, did
not say: That is Dune. Cooper killing
Senator Carmack," but did say, THAT
is shooting and when the young wo-
man asked, "Who is shooting?' he said,
having seen it, shooting between Car
mack and Cooper"
The case thus far has been so full of
impossible to forecast how long the trial
will last. The defense has some sixty
witnesses waiting to be heard, while the
state has fifty-twos- How many of these
will be called not even the attorneys
know. The court has reserved decisions
on two points, and until these are handed
down nothing definite on either side can
be announced 1t is very probable, how
ever, that it will be two weeks yet be-
fore the, arguments will begin. 1t is
just as probable that the arguments will
last week, for over scor& of attorneys
are engaged in the case, and each expects
to address the jury.
Meantime, the jury, made up of farm
ers, used to outdoor life is chatting under
the restraint, and its members are con-
tinually asking for more exercise This
was called to the attention of Judge Hart
and he ordered the sheriff to take the
twelve men out walking each day, re-
gardless of weather.