The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-17
Mrs, Charles H, EaStman's s Testimony Is of Greatest h.
 terest to Spectators
WIDOW OF f, N. CARMACK
 FIRST WITNESS CALLED
One Witness Introduced Brings In the Name of John D. Sharp as an Ac- cessory to the Killing of
 Senator Carmack.

Nashville, Tenn. February 1e-F1lled ] with dramatic incidents and marked by scenes that bordered on the sensational. the first day of the actual trial of the Cooper-Sharp case closed tonight with both sides claiming to be we'll satisfied with the progress made. Whether Col. Duncan B. Cooper. Robin J. Cooper and ] John D. Sharp killed former Senator E. ". Carmack in sef-defense. or as a re- suit of a conspiracy is the great issue in the The taking of testimony began today with every seat in the big new court room occupied and with burly 1 deputy sheriffs outside the doors roughly refusing admission to enough people to
 fill 1t twice over But Judge Hart is l firm in his insistenee that only enough
 people to fill the seats shall be admitted
 The only exception to the rule Is that
 women are to be admitted at any time
 and the deputies are to call first for
 volunteers to give up seats, and lacking
 volunteers are to draft those who are
 to become victims of gallantry.
 Sensation No. 1.
 Scarcely had the attorneys been rapped
 Into order-Judge Hart has broken two i perfectly good gavels in the work thus far-than sensation number one was pro- duced. Mrs. E. W. Carmack, the slain
 senator's widow was half carried, half
 assisted into the room. She was gowned
 in deepest mourning. She is petite and
 slender Her black veil fell nearly to
 her feet. Her knees gave way as she | paa bar nd she wa mir
 she was placed in her chair. Her little
 son. Ned, aged 10, stood by his mother.
 batting her shoulder and trying to keep
 back his tears.
 Surprise number two came when the
 state called Mrs. Carmack as it's first
 witness. She was almost carried to the
 witness stand, raised platform, by her
 kinsman, Frank Lander. who succeeded
 her husband as editor of the Tennessean.
 Her little boy accompanied her. and ca
 ressed her cheek as she sat sobbing and
 moaning. few questions asked
 her, but she became hysterical and was
 excused. She was not in Nashville at the
 time the tragedy happened anyhow, and
 had no direct Knowledge of it's causes. Sensation number three followed Mrs. 1 Carmack's leaving the stand, as MT.
 Lander and her sister half carried the
 fainting, sobbing little woman to her
 chair, Ned Carmack turned souarely to-
 ward where the defendants sat and fixed
 upon them a look as full of hate as 1t
 is possible to imagine
 Mrs. Eastman Testifies.
 Next came the testimony of Mrs. East
 man, the star witness for the state, and
 one off not the only-eye-witness of the
 staying Mrs. Eastman is nearly 50 years
 old Her hair is snow white but her | features are those of a girl, her com
 pexion is the envy of many belles and
 she is slender, graceful and active. When
 called upon to do so she seized the
 revolver said to have been found near l the dead editor'g Sody and re-enacted the l tragedy. Every action, every gesture. | every tone of voice from entreaty to l bitter arraignment from denunciation to | appeal was duplication of what occurred
 upon that November afternoon. until
 when she had finished her breathless. | spellbound audience seemed to feel that l 1t had witnessed the tragedy and at | least one spectator broke into applause l Just as she began to testify some one l turned an electric switch From the great l chandelier suspended above her and from | the border lights on the wall around | the bench a score of electric lamps l blazed out Mrs. Eastman was on her feet black clad and agile She pushed back the chair and on the raised plat | form initiated in every detail the move ments of the principals in the tragedy 1 Her cross examination was severe, but l she held her own, smiling and calm. fore l ing even the defense's attorneys to tacit- | ly admit that every question put to her ! only strengthened her testimony. So they | excused her graciously and she left the stand with a graceful bow to court and | attorneys to hasten to the side of the l Widow Carmack.
 Crowd Limited By Court. l Long before the hour set for court to open the crowds gathered outside the 1 new courthouse. The sheriff had large l force of deputies on hand and the throng
 was forced to form in line. At a. m. the | doors were opened, and in orderly pro 1 cession the first corners were permitted l to enter. When the parquette floor chairs 1 were filled the line was diverted to the : balcony which also filled very rapidly. l When the comfortable theatre chairs on | both floors were occupied the doors were 1 closed and hard-hearted deputies refused
 admission to those not fortunate enough 1 to get there in time.
 1 When Judge Hart arrived he made one 1 exception to the ironclad rule, and 1t was l dictated by southern chiValry.
 Any ladies who wish to attend" he l remarked to the sheriff. are to be taken l care of if we have to throw out a few | able-bodied men" There were few won- | en among the early arrivals, however, and ! these found comfortable seats within the bar.
 | Judge Hart arranged the space within l the bar so that the jurors sat with their l backs to the auditorium facing the wit | ness stand, which placed directly be- meath the judge. The attorneys were placed opposite one another on either | side
 Defendants Arrive. Colonel Cooper entered the courtroom | accompanied by his youngest daughter,