Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-31
CARMACK'S SLAYER
IS MURDER VICTIM
Body of Robin ]. Cooper Found
in Creek Bearing Marks of
Violence.
ROBBERY THOUGHT MOTIVE
Mysterious Men Seeking Supply
of Gasoline Nov. Objects of
Police Search.
LBy Associated Pres..l

NASHVILLE, TENN. August 30
Robin j. Cooper. a Nashville attorney
whose trial for the killing of former
United States Senator Edward w. Car
mack during the celebrated pistol duel
between his father. Colonel d. B.
Cooper, and Carmack in 1908 attracted
countrywide attention has been muir
dercd here under mysterious circum-
stances.
Cooper's body WIS taken from Rich
land Creek today soon after his blood
stained automobile had been found on
bridge near his home in the fash
ionable Belle Mead Park section The
skull had been crushed. but there were
evidences that violent struggle had
taken place before the fatal blow was
struck
4 coroner's inquest late today de-
murderers. but the police are proceed
ing on the theory that Cooper was
lured from his home by persons de-
A preliminary examination indicated
that Mr.. Cooper had been shot through
the head, the bullet coming out at the
the forehead. AS. the body was taken
from tie water the left ear bled pro-
fusely HIS coat was almost torn from
the bod. and the trousers were torn
k.i been dragged over the rocks.
Murdered and Robbed.
The theory Of the police is that Mr.;
Soop nndv was mgrde n fnd robbed and
According to w. Q: Palmer, the we'll
k no sp5smaR and e neishbeE Of Mr.,
Gooper ssvsfairdsys, ago drew $4,000
that the murders: SeeomiIis aware
under the superstition that he would
have a considerable sum en- his person
An automobile stopped at the Cooper
TO the police. the occupant, sought a
fresh supply of gasoline. Mr.. Cooper.
without ma. or coat, got out OF his own
He had n"s been seen since. but eariy
today his automobile was found near
The ere, +.
body was made in an undertaking
establishment in Nashville. This re-
vealed that the supposed pistol wound
Cooper had been dubbed over the
head. There was little water in the
lungs, which led physicians to believe
sank in the creek. Governor A. II.
Roberts this morning offered reward
OF $500 for the arrest and conviction
o: the murderer or murdererS.
Missing Automobile Found.
Mrs. Cooper, who is a daughter Of
Louisville and Nashville Railroad. is
visiting in Louisville, and her hus-
bands disappearance did not become
known until his automobile was found
The Carmack tragedy. the most no
table in the history of Tennessee grew
out of the Carmack Patterson race for
Governor in 1905, in which Colonel n.
Is. Cooper. father OF Robin J. Cooper.
was one of Patterson's closest ad-
visers. In the fatal encounter. which
occurred on an uptown street OF Nash
Vile November Q. 1905, the son fired
the. shot which ended Carmack's life.
and in, the shooting was himself
Father and son were convicted Of
murder In the second degree in the
lower court. but on the appeal of the
case TO the Supreme Court, the verdict
was reversed as 10 the son. the judges
standing three TO two. The verdict as
TO Colonel Cooper was sustained. three
70 two, but before leaving Nhc Capitol
ire 1ather was pardoned by Governor
Patterson The case against Robin
j; Cooper: when it came up again in
tie Davidson County Criminal Court,
*as dropped.