Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1909 — COOPERS ARE FOUND GUILTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COOPERS ARE FOUND GUILTY

Jury Returns Verdict of Second Degree Crime. PRISON FORT WENT WEARS Outcome of the Celebrated Trial at Nashville, Term., of Three Men Charged with the Murder of Farmer Senator Carmack—Attorney* for the Defense Move to Bet Aside the Verdict—Judge Announces He Will Lis* ten to Arguments Later. The jury in the case of Colonel Duncan Cooper, Robin Cooper, and John D. Sharp, at Nashville, Tenn., charged with the murder of former - Senator Edward W. Carmack, returned a verdict finding both of the Coopers guilty

Sharp had been released the previous day by a preliminary verdict. The sentence in each case is twenty years. J/lotion for New Trial. Immediately the defense moved to set aside the verdict because of the verdict of disagreement of Friday, and asked the court to declare it a mistrial. Judge Hart said he would listen to arguments on this motion later. * The court then fixed the defendants’ bonds at $25,000 each, which was acceptable to both sides. The first bondsman to arrive was John J. Greener, who signed for SIO,OOO on each bond. „ Several others bad been sent for and telephoned that they would 'come as quickly as automobiles would bring them. In a few moments Walter O. Parmer arrived and signed for the balance. “I will sign for a million for these men,’’ he remarked. James E. Cald-

well later signed for 125,000 on each bond and H. B. Chadburn and C. W. Anderson for $2,500 each on each bond. This makes the total bonds in both cases SIIO,OOO, although only $50,000 was asked. The verdict, coming after Foreman Burke's declaration of the previous day that “we are hopelessly tied up as to the Coopers," was a surprise. The defendants took it almost without emotion. Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Wilson, the daughters of Colonel Copper, were brave. Mrs. Burch sat with her arm around her brother Robin’s shoulder and Mrs. Wilson was at her father's right The suspense for the two young women bad been terrible and a verdict was 4. relief. Remarkable Murder Case. The Cooper-Sharp trial was one of the most remarkable murder cases in the history of the south, not only because of the prominence of the principals in the tragedy, but because of the reasons that led to the killing. Carmack and Colonel Cooper were the best of friends In years past bat became estranged during the campaign which resulted in the defeat of Carmack for re-election to the United States sonata. The shooting of Carmack was the result of editorials published in the former senator's paper. After a number of attacks Colonel Cooper seat the famous message to Carmack: “If my name appears in The Tennessean again, one of ns must die,"

DUNCAN B. COOPER

ROBIN COOPER.