The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-03-19
VERBAL ATTACK ON
GENERAL M'CARN BY
DAVIDSON SHERIFF
soRUM RESENTED STATEMENT
MADE BY PROSECUTING ATToR-
NEY REGARDING HIMSELF.
SHOWED COOPERS FAVORIlISM
"Permitted Them to Occupy Same Cell
And to Converse With Callers With
out Espionage."-Fight Seemed
Probable.


NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 15.-A
serious dificulty was imminent just
after adjournment of court Saturday
afternoon, when Sheriff Sam Borum
waited for Atty. Gen. JEFF McCarn at
the head of the steps outside the
courtroom and accused him of delib-
crate falsehood. A heated reply or a
blow would have precipitated a riot,
for friends of both men were close at
hand, and the atmosphere was sur.
charged with feeling.
Gen. McCarn had ceased speaking In
the courtroom from sheer weakness,
and twice had been compelled to sit
down and rest for few moments be-
fore being able to proceed. For five
hours he had made powerful and
telling speech, under which more than
one person in the courtroom had
writhed. One of these was Borum,
who took offense when Gen. McCarn
charged that contrary to the laws OF
Tennessee, the defendants from the
very day they were arrested were
allowd to talk privately to each other
and to any friends they desired, with
out the presence of an officer, and
that they had been given. apartments
together instead Of separate cells, like
ordinary prisoners.
During this charge and the contro"
versy it provoked, Borum glared
ferociously at Gen. Mccain and when
court adjourned waited in the cor
ridor outside He was talking to At
torney Charles Burch, of counsel for
the defense, close to the head of the
steps when Gen. McCarn appeared, a
friend holding him by the arm on ac'
count of his weakness.
In three strides Borum was con-
fronting him at the head of the steps,
passing Witness s. j. Benning as he
did so.
"McCarn, l want to say just one
thing to you" said Borum.
All right, couple of them If you
like" replied Gen. McCarn, pleasant.
| ly.
81 want to say that If you"
Gen. McCarn here interrupted, see
ing that Borum was angry, and had
got as far as well, be careful what
YOU say" when Borum broke in.
Il want to say that If you say !
treated those men any differently
from what / would any other decent
prisoners, you are telling falsehood."
We'll, you know my condition" re-
piled Gen. McCarn, who was hardly
able to stand, and added: Il said
you had violated the laws of Tennes-
see, and you have"
You know my condition, too" re-
piled Borum But you have no right
to misrepresent me before the public.
If you can show me where have vio-
lated the law, I'll apologize"
well, then, you'll have to apollo
gize," replied McCarn. If you'll step
in here and get code, I'll show you
the law"
Il don't want to talk to you now,
said Borum
mo, you don't want to see the law,
retorted McCarn, and Borum walked
away.
In the meantime, friends we're press
ing closely about blocking the head
of the stairway. The air was tense
with excitement and a single blow or
high words would have precipitated
trouble of dangerous proportions.
Gen. McCarn remained upstairs for
few moments, and then left. accom-
panied by friends On the way to the
steps he again met Borum, but neither
gave notice that he had seen the
other.
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