Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-02
ROBIN J. COOPER,
SLAYER Of CAR|MACk,
{ FOUND MURDERED
Police Believe He Was Shot
by Liquor PeddIers-0ne
Thousand Dollars Reward
Offered for Murderers

ing. met his death at the hands
of two or more whisky peddlers, is
the latest theory advanced by po-
lice and county authorities. Rob
berry is believed to have been the
motive.
While no arrests have yet been
made, the authorities are search
ing for the unidentified man, be-
lieved to have been a Nashville
whisky merchant, and VINO, it is
thought, enticed the slain man from
night, with the promise to deliver
to him a stock of liquor.
It was learned that Mr.. Cooper re-
Gently borrowed small amount OF
whisky from a friend with the
promise to return the amount last
Thursday or Friday. Police would
not say from what source they
gathered this information, but ad-
NIT the facts are correct.
It is said that Mr.. Cooper borrowed
the liquor for the purpose of en-
Pertaining a friend from Paris,
whom he had met on his recent
trip abroad. Mr.. Cooper is said to have
remarked to the friend that he was
expecting some liquor the latter
part of this week, but did not say
from whom the purchase would be
made.
Police are of the opinion that the
man who called at the house had
the liquor hidden g. short distance
from the Cooper nome, and had con-
cealed it near the scene Of the muir
der. Mr.. Cooper was to drive to the
hidden whisky, then return with it
in his automobile, police believe.
The police are bending every effort
to learn the name Of the party who
had been delivering whisky to the
Cooper home on previous occasions. as
they learned, they say, that several
deliveries had been made only re-
Gently.
Carried Much Money
Knowing that Mr.. Cooper carried at
least 5000 on his person when he
made the trip to the Belle Meade
park, the slayer, or s1ayers, delibe-
rately murdered Mr.. Cooper for the
money, the authorities believe.
Whether an argument or fight start
ed after they reached the scene. the
authorities were unable to say, but
are of the opinion that no argument
preceded the murder at the scene.
Body Found In Greek
Mr.. Cooper's body was taken from
Richland creek today soon after his
blood-stained automobile had been
found on a bridge near his home in
the fashionable Belle Meade park
section. The skull had been crush
ed, but there were evidences that
violent struggle had taken place be-
fore the fatal blow was struck.
The authorities assume that the
missing lawyer was lursd from from ms ms
creek and there done to death. The
condition of his CT o t =
ing indicated that he had been drag
ged some distance before he was
thrown into the water. Physicians
small amount of water found in the
lungs was evidence that Cooper was
dead when dropped into the creek.
1000 Reward offered
Mrs. Cooper, who is daughter
of Milton. Smith, president Of the
been visiting relatives in Louisville,
KY, and her absence accounts for
the fact that the disappearance OF
her husband did not become known
at first.
There was no evidence that the
Cooper home had been robbed after
the murder and some doubt has been
expressed that the murderers cou!d
have expected that the lawyer would
have any great sum on his person.
His empty pocketbook, however, was
found in the bottom of the automo-
bile.
Governor Roberts has offered re-
ward of $500 for the arrest and con-
, viction of the murderers of the law.
yer. This letter was supplemented
by offer Of a similar amount by the
family.
The autopsy over the body Of Coop
there were six open wounds, on the
head. THE ring finger of his left
hand was found IT, to be II 6rekg inid s1 bIs
head from the blows rained upon it.
Carmack Case
Mr.. Cooper came into national
notice in 1908 through his connec-
Senator E. w. Carmack. He was
prominently connected here. His
ton H. Smith, president of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad.
The news Of his murder spread
over Nashville and all middle Ten
nessee and all morning. was the sole
topic on the streets, in the stores
and clubs.
A preliminary examination when
the body was taken from the water
indicated that Mr.. Cooper had been
shot through the head, the bullet
hn 1nf
was also a bruise on the forehead
His coat was almost torn from the
body and the trousers were torn and
bore other evidences that the body
had been dragged over the rocks.
According to w. o. Farmer, the
of Mr.. Coopers in Bellemeade Park,
Mr.. Cooper several days ago drew
$4,000 from a local bank. and it is
supposed that the murderers. be-
him from home, under the suppose
ton that he would have consider
able sum on his person.
The Carmack tragedy, the most
notable in the history of Tennessee.
grew out of the Carmack-Patterson
race for governor in 1908, in which
Colonel D. B. Cooper, father Of Rob
in J. Cooper. was one 70 Patterson
closest advisers. In the fatal en-
counter which occurred on an up
town street In NASHVILLE NoNSLlDeI
9, 1903, the son fired the shot which
ended Carmack's life, and in the
shooting was himself wounded. Faith
er and son were convicted of MUIR
der in the second degree in the
lower court. but on the appeal OF
the case to the supreme court. the
verdict was reversed as to the son.
the judges standing three to two.
The verdict as to Colonel Cooper
was sustained, three to two. but be
fore leaving the capitol the father
y was pardoned by Governor Patterson
The case against Robin J. Cooper
when it came up again in the Dav-
ldson county criminal court was
Cropped. --------------