The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-02-26
Weren't You a defaulter to

lars! Weren't you a defaulter 70
over hundred thousand dollars!
These were some of the things Col.
Cooper heard Wednesday while the
state was making a strong efort
TO get before the jury some proof con-
cernnig the past life of Col. D. B.
Cooper.
If the sensitive soul of Col Cooper
smarted at the wounds to his honor
in Senator Carmack's editorials, 1t
must have writhed in agony during
the cross-examination by Mr.. Fitz-
hugh. and the speeches made by Mr..
Fitzhugh and Gen. McCarn.
There was long contest over the
admission of this evidence, the attor-
neys for the defense making des-
perate struggle to prevent its intro
duction, but at the last the court ruled
that the witness might be asked II,
by virtue of his office, certain funds
came into his hands and he failed to
account for them. If the witness
didn't remember, the records in the
case might be shown him to refresh
his memory, but If he denied the
charge, his denial was final and an
swer ended the matter, Col Cooper
took advantage of the immunity from
investigation by his answers several
| ~ IN MT
His ADMISSIONS.
Under this ruling Col Cooper stated
that he was clerk and master
of Maury county from 1870 to
1881. resigning one year before
the end of his second term, but
as to the charges of defalcation made
against him he took the position that
he would admit nothing unless the
record was produced. He did admit
that his brother, Edmund Cooper one
of the sureties on one of his bonds
for his first term, amounting TO $4V''
600. had to pay this sum out for him,
but he doesn't recollect whether ne
had to do so as to other bonds that ne
gave or not AS to the second term
he denied that his brother was forced
to pay out $4,000 for him Bills MED
against him and his sureties in four
cases. and against his sureties in the
fifth. and the court records In regard
to these bills had to be filed against
him and the proceedings had.
; He was asked If his brother, Ed
mund Cooper, the surety on his bond
did not plead as a defense to the
bills that he had already paid Out
800 900. the full amount for which
he was liable, and the witness answer
ed that he did not remember.
He stated at this point that ne does
not admit that there was any shortage
at all in his office. He does admit
however, a very positive absence Of
business methods, but declares thai
there was no wilfull misapproprsation
OF funds or dishonesty in the matter
and that everybody that had dollar
in the Office got it out. He has re
imbursed his brother since that tune
he says. Col. Cooper also stated tna'
he had resigned to become legls
lator from that county, and that his
nephew, son of Edmund Cooper, who
had been his deputy in the ONCE, wal
DefauIting Treasurer.
The failure to account for trus'
finds In Maury county was not the
only transaction in which Col cooper
had been interested that was brought
ont nv the state on cross-examinatlon
The report of joint legislative inves
tieation committee Of the year 1855
was nroduced in which the committee
renorted that Col. M, T. Polk, the
, stote treasurer who had just defaulteC
, To the extent of several hundred thou
, sand dollars, had been engaged In
, silver mining venture with Col. coop
r err and that the same gentleman nae
been engaged in walnut lunDer pro-
/ iect in North Carolina. Col. Cooper
3 stated that in both these instances ne
did not know that the money invested
, nv Col. POLK was money of the state
t and that in neither case did he receive
/. or send one dollar to the fund. he
/. declared that he was given one
r third interest in the profits, without
! puttine up any money, for his per
sonal services in the ventures. IL
neither case, however was their any
profits. He was careful to make
> distinction between NJ. T. Polk as al
: individual and NJ. T. Polk as treasurer
t He also denied that Col. Polk nae
j. nut in $4,000 for Col. Cooper anC
/. other gentlemen to buy the contro