The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-11-25
&c ElnALE 81 a TRAaEDY.


"A lev NasM 4@@~
ago. a citizen Of Tennessee. walking
nom his place OF business, IN the
eapital city OF this state, TO his home
was met BY two men. father and son.
and shot to death
The citizen was a man in the prime
Of life. barely 50 years Of age, a man
who had served this district two
terms in congress and one term Of
six years in the senate OF the United
States. During his public career, ne
had achieved marked distinction. One
of the few speeches which win defy
All time, he delivered during his nrst
session. when confronted with a con-
test by Hon. Josiah Patterson. Of this
city and district. His senatorial
career was one OF unblemished fealty
to his people as he saw it, and OF
brilliant espousal Of their cause.
fractional politics caused his re-
tirement from the senate in which
body especially his ability shone as
rarest jewel.
Local and state differences forced
him into q gubernatorial contest in
which he was beaten. by the force OF
hostile organisation, from the moment
he announced his entry. From the
proudest pinnacle. which he most
superbly adorned, to the attitude OF
suppliance, which his friends exact
ed of him, was sore step and one
which caused his undoing. Defeated
n second time, yet full Of spirit
which contemplated nothing short OF
the enactment of his idea Of rem
edy for HIS people, he turned his
splendid abilities to a journalistic
coreer, in which, before he entered
notifies, he had outshone all rival
Iuminaries. Az editor, with the ad-
ded experience which a political
career embracing both houses OF con-
gress had given him, he attracted the
attention of the nation.
There were peculiar political condi-
tons at the time The man by whom
he had been defeated in the demccra-
tic primaries for the office of Cover
nor. was in the executive chair. When
r. w. Carmack took charge OF the
Nashville newspaper, he became the
bette noir of the Patterson admins
tration. Behind the latter were gath
cred as a political machine the most
conscienceless group OF political dere-
licts and buccaneers that ever dis
sraced a state. One Of these, the
chief and foremost, was Duncan b.
Cooper. He was the governors poll
teal and personal mentor. BY MS
own subsequent confession, he was
broken gambler, degenerate, the
embezzler of sacred funds. 1t was
this man whom Mr.. Carmack in a
series of caustic but wellguarded
editorials, had connected with the ad-
ministration of the executive affairs
of the state. 1t was this man, who
had threatened the life of Mr.. Car
mack; who, eventually, accompanied
nv his son, shot down and killed one
who had no chance to protect his own
life.
The tragedy, over two years old, Is
none the less fresh in the pubic
mind.
The two Coopers were convicted
in a long drawn out trial in which
they had every advantage of counsel
and newspaper sympathy that money
could buy. BY only the extreme mercy
of a Jury, from which they had felt
sure of acquittal, their penalties we're
fixed at twenty years each in the
state penitentiary. Appeal was taken
to the supreme court Of the state.
The verdict of the trial court as to
the elder Cooper was sustained; that
ao to the younger Cooper was rot;
he was remanded on a technicality
for a new trial. Before the elder
Cooper could leave the capitol
grounds he had pardon from his
adviser and friend, the governor OF
the state, who declared that the
courts were unjust and that only ne
himself was just; that he had never
intended to do aught but pardon the
two slayers.
Time has dragged along; only on
Tuesday did the case of Robin Coop
er come up for a re-hearing. In the
meanwhile, there had come new
politico-judicial regime. A new pro-
scouting attorney had been chosen,
one favorable to the governor of Ten
nessee The judge who first tried the
Coopers had died and gone to the re-