The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-11
TELLS HIS STORY
Ezra Cooper TeStifies to Shoot
ing of Burt l.. Hunt.
Claims DespOiler of His Home
Died by Accident.
SAW MAN UNDER The BED
Knew He Had Revolver and
Feared He Would Shoot.
Widow Sat Thru Trial Listening
to Tales on Husband.

Ezra Cooper, charged with the muir
der of Burt L. Hunt, alleged despoiler
of his home, told his story on the wit
ness stand in the district court today.
He told of the discovery of his wifes
disloyalty, of his discovery of Hunt
under his bed, and of the shooting in a
calm, straightforward manner that
had its effect upon the courtroom
audience. He reiterated the statement
made by his attorney, w. E. Atchi-
son, Tuesday that the shooting was
| accidental.
His story fits in well with the story
told by Mrs. Cooper on the stand Tues
| dav afternoon. She told in detail of
| her two years of intimacy with Hunt.
| She told how she finally broke down
and told all the facts to her husband
and how he agreed, because of the
| children, to forgive and to forget as
| far as possible, if she would cease even
| speaking to Hunt.
Cooper told his story in answer to
questions by W. E. Atchison and ]. j.
Schenck. Robert Carver, for the
state, cross examined him in detail
| but was not able to shake his story
IN any important particular Having
| heard Mrs. Cooper's sordid story the
| court habitueS were waiting only for
| Cooper's testimony and when that was
| completed there were plenty of seats
| in the court room.
my wife had promised me, after
telling me of her relations with Hunt
| for two years, to have nothing more
to do with him. said Cooper. Il
agreed that if she kept away from him
and (Nln't even speak to him that
| would forgive her because of the chill
| dren.
| He Tells His Story.
Il suspected nothing that morning
when 1 left home nor when 1 drove
back home with a load of wood about
10 O'Clock When l went in the back
asked her what was the matter. She
| said nothing l went on down into
the cellar and asked her where my
pinch bar was. Then 1 came up and
found her very much excited.
| Il thought l heard a noise in the
next room and went in there. 1 looked
under the bed but there was nothing
| there. L went on into the next room
| and there, sticking out from the foot
of the bed was pair of feet with
where my wife was and asked:
| "'Who is that - - in
| there under the bed?'
she said, I reckon it's Hunt
Il walked right to the door and
| took my shot gun down from over it
and went back in. Hunt had started
out the door. l had the gun part way
under my right arm, had it cooked
and had my finger on the triggers. 1
stood that way as Hunt started off the
me from the side or back, 1 couldn't
see which, and threw her arms around
me and said, My God, Ez, don't
shoot.
An Accidental Shooting.
when her arm struck my arm the
gun went off and the charge struck
Hunt in the leg"
Then" said Atchison, 1.-The shot was
fired accidentally p"
1T was replied Cooper.
Cooper testified as to his familiar
ity with shot guns and declared he
could have shot Hunts head off as
he went thru the door if he had want
ef to- ,
said. Il got the shot gun to protect
myself. 1 knew Hunt carried a re-
VolVer and knew when he was under
my bed he was where he did not be-
long. I expected, when he came out
he would start something and if he
had come towards me 1 would have
shot at him to kill him. But he didn't
come at me and 1 didn't shoot at him .
After Cooper's testimony was all in
the defense put on witnesses to show
Hunts reputation. They testified to
numerous escapades with women dur
ing the last ten years. The witnesses
ranged from street car men to bar
| bers.
The state followed with a dozen or
more character witnesses for Hunt
Many of them testified that Hunts
general reputation in the community
in which he lived was good and that
| Cooper's reputation was bad.
Mrs. Hunt sat thru the hearing to-
day unmoved. Os@e witness after an
other testified to alleged escapades of
her dead husband of which it is i'm
probable that she had heard before.
But she gave no evidence of shock or
embarrassment.
Mrs. Cooper told of her shame Tues
day afternoon and was in the court
room again today. But she remained
only long enough to hear her hus-
court house.
The case will probably go to the
jury late today and most people who
have attended the trial do not expect
the jury to spend a great deal of time
celebrating. Friends of Cooper con-
,fidently expect an acQuittal He is