The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-03-25
Motion is Made BY the De.
Tense to Set Aside
the Verdict.
BOND is REQUIRED
OF Eeach to the Amount Of
$25, 600 Brief His
tory of Case.


NASHVILLE. Mar. 1s-Shortly
after the noon hour today the jury
IN the cooper-sharp murder trial
returned = verdict in the case Of
John Sharp, finding him not guilty
and, Immediately retired again to
deliberate further in the case OF
the two coopers.
Sharp was discharged. Judge
Fart adjourned court until p. m.
In bringing In a verdict acquit-
ting Sharp, the jury announced that
they were hopelessly tied as to the
coopers They were ordered to re-
turn to the Jury room, however,
and reconsider further as to these
two defendants.
Sharp was heartily congratulated
I,by the Coopers and others in tn.
court room when Judge Hart
announced that he was discharged
iron custody.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Mar. 90
Guilty OF murder in the second de-
gree with 20 years Imprisonment as
the penalty was the verdict of the
jury this morning in the case against
Col. Cooper and his son, Robin.
| Immediately the defense moved
to set aside the verdict because OF
the verdict of disagreement yeste.,-
day and asked the court to declare
1t mistrial. Judge Hart said he
would listen to arguments on this
molten later. He then fixed the de-
PENDANTS bond at $4,000 each,
which amount was acceptable 10
both sides. Z
The defendants took the verdict
coolly. Mrs Bursch, Mrs. Wilson ana
the younger daughters OF Col. Cooper
were brave. Aside from fearful eyes
they restrained their emotion.
The jurors We're tired.lookIng and
dishevelel, and. when the court after
thanking them, said they were dis
missed. they sprang from their seats
and hurricdly left the court room.
lnounced, Judge Hart was informed the
remained in the room to complete
their bonds and preliminary motions
for new trial.
A large crowd was in the court
room. when the verdict was an
nounccd Judge Hart was informed the
jury had agreed ON Il verdict and he,
soon entered the court room and or
dered the defendants brought in.
The motion for u new trial Will
probably he argued next week.
The bonds We're later signed and
the coopers went to the Bradford
home.
The Compensatory trial, Just com
pleted, has been one of the most re-
markable murder cases in the history
OF the South, not only because. Of the
prominence of the principals in the
tragedy. but because of the reasons
that led to the killing.
Colonel Duncan b. Cooper. a for
mer officer in the Confederate army
under Forrest and n man very promi-
nent in Democratic State politics.
once lived at Columbia, Tenn. In
that town also resined Edward Ward
carmack. Il young lawyer who also
did some newspaper work. Cooper
bought the Nashville American and
Induced carmack To come to Nash.
vile as its editor. Whether the men
ever were In thorough accord. is a
disputed point. carmack's friends
say not. Colonel Cooper swore on the
stand that they were close friends
until Governor Taylor opposed Car
mack for recollection to the Senate.
This fight was long and bitter. al
feature Of it was series of joint de-
bates. Cooper supported Taylor, but
Robin, the hoy. who killed the Sem
ator. supported the, latter.
Malcolm h. Patterson was govern
or OF the State ut the time OF the Car
smack-Taylor fight. and;.he announced
his candidacy for reelection. Car
mack. just beaten for the Senate. was
urged into the race for governor
against Patterson. This was last June
and the fight between the men for
The Democratic nomination was the
most spectacular ever seen In Tennes-
see. Again. joint debates were arr
ranged and again the feeling between
sthe factions grew very bitter. In
these debates. Cooper charged that
carmack assailed the colonel's good
name. Cooper was an ardent Patter-
son mantle governor on the stand
described him as my closest per-
sonal and political adviser" Again.
tcarmack lost. and, a month before
the election, became editor OF the
Nashville Tennesscan He had made