The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-31
SLAYER OF CARMACK
IS FOUND MURDERED.
AND BODY IN CREEK
ROBIN J. COOPER. WHO KILLED
EX-SENATOR IN 1908. VIC
TIM or ROBBERS

Nashville, Tenn. Aug. 30.-The body
of Robin j. Cooper, prominent lawyer
OF Nashville. who in 1905 killed former
senator Edward w. Carmack, was
found today in Richland Creek, in Belle
/ Meade Park. about 100 yards below a
bridge on which his deserted, blood
! bespattered automobile had been found.
| Mr.. Cooper's skull was crushed and the
body showed other marks OF violence.
| \ preliminary examination when the
! body was taken from the water. indlcat.
ed that Mr.. Cooper had been shot
through the head. but this proved to
be erroneous, There was also a bruisc
on the forehead. As the body was
taken from the water the left ear bled
profusoly. His coat was almost torn
from the body and the trousers were
torn and bore other evidence that the
body had been dragged over the rocks.
y more careful examination of the
body revealed that the supposed pistol
wound behind his ear was cut.
Wounds about the forehead Indicated
that the victim had been severely
clubhed Death was caused by a three.
inch fracture of the skull. There was
little water in the lungs, Indicating that
death had occurred before the body had
been thrown into the creek.
Governor Roberts has offered re.
ward of $500 for the arrest and con-
viction of the murderer or murderers.
The theory of the police is that Mr..
Cooper was murdered and robbed and
his body thrown into Richland creek.
According to W. X. Farmer. the well.
known turfman and a neighbor of Mr..
Cooper's in Belle Meade Park. Mr..
Cooper several DAYS ago drew $40, 900
from local bank. 1t is supposed that
the murderers becoming aware of this
fact enticed him from home under the
supposition that he would have a con-
siderable sum on his person.
The last seen of Mr. Cooper was on
Thursday night, when an automobile
stopped at his home in Belle Meade
Park, a fashionable suburb west OF
Nashville. The occupant OF the car
wanted gasoline and, to assist him, Mr..
Cooper got into his own car without q
hat al drove off with the other car.
Mrs. Coope''. who is daughter OF
Milton II. Siaith. president Of the
Louisville 3 Nashville railroad, is in
Louisville and her husbands disappear.
ance did not become known to the pub
lie until this morning. when his desert.
ed ear was found on bridge over
Richland creek. The car was splattered
with blood and Mr.. Coopers empty pock-
etbook was found on The floor of the
car.
The Carmack tragedy, one of the
most notable In the history of Tennes-
see, grew out OF .he Cermack Patter-
son race for governor in 1903, in which
Col. ID. Il. Cooper, father of Robin J.
Cooper, was one of Patterson's closest
advisers. In the fatal encounter which
occurred on an uptown street of Nash
Willie, Nov. 8, 1908, the son fired the
shot which ended Carmack's life and
in the shooting was himself wounded.
Father and son were convicted OF
murder in the second degree in the
lower court, but on the appeal Of the
ease 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 before leaving the capitol.
the father was pardoned by Governor
Patterson.
The case against Robin J. Cooper.
Wheh II came up again in the Davidson
county criminal court was dropped.