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Show ROBIN COOPER TAKES STAND IN HIS OWN AND HIS . FATHER'S DEFENSE One of the Largest Crowds Ever Seen at a Nashville Courthouse As sembles at Trial of the Murderers of Senator Carmack Young Lawyer, in Clear Voice and Refined Accent of Educated Southerner, Tells of Incidents Leading up to Killing. "I telephoned my sister, Mrs. Burch." " How old Is your father?'' "He is C7 years of age." j "And his physical condition?" "His right hand is crippled, tho two smaller fingers of the hand aro bent in and cannot bo moved." This line of questioning indicated that the defenso will not put Col. Cooper on the stand. "What did you do then?" "I went out and looked for papa, but failed to find him. I returned to mv ofllce and telegraphed Governor Patterson Pat-terson If he knew about the trouble. I then went to tne Tulano hotel." "Why did you go to tho Tulano?" "Because Democratic headquarters are there, and papa frequented them. It was on this occasion that I was seen in tho Tulano window across from Carmack's office." "Did you get a pistol that day?" "I did. My purpose In getting it was this: The message father sent to Carmack was very strong, and knowing know-ing Carmack as i did, I feared he Nashvino, Feb. 20. The adjournment adjourn-ment of Thursday only seemed to whet the appetite of public Interest in the trial of Col. Duncan B. Cooper, Robin T Cooper, and John D. Sharpe. for ihe killing of former Senator E. V, Carmack. When the court opened to-dav to-dav one of tho largest crowds ever seen around a Nashville courthouse, awaited the arrival of the deputies. One reason was that it was rumored j that Col. Cooper would be the first, witness wit-ness for the defense. Another story had it that a mysterious witness from Missouri, who saw the shooting and who had been threatened with death If he testified, would appear for tho state. The missing state witness not having hav-ing arrived. Judgo Anderson at 11 o'clock. ald: "Robin Cooper, take the stand." A murmur of surprise and expectation expecta-tion swept over the room. The court rapped for order sternly. Some women wom-en arose, the better to see, and then deputies ordered them to remove their hats. would resent it Later, I found father at the Maxwell hotel. He said ho was to see Bradford at 3 p. in., and that Bradford would try to adjust the trouble trou-ble with Carmack." "Was Col. Cooper back at your office of-fice about noon?" , "No, sir; not while. 1 was there." . "You didn't hear him use the violent language Miss Lee says she heard?" "No, sir." "Had you received any information from Mr. Bradford as to the movements move-ments of your father?" "Mr. Bradford told me not to worry, that it could be fixed up. Father came hack at 3 p. m., followed shortly by Adjutant General Tully Brown. Then I went into the office with them." "How long did you stay there?" "Until father and I felt." "Whero did your father say he wag going?" "To the mansion to see Governor Patterson." "Why Was he going there?" "To meet Governor Patterson and j i Austin Cooley at Governor Patterson's ; request." I j "Who told your father that Cover- j ! nor Patterson wanted to talk to him?" i "General Tully Brow n." j ''Did your father want you to go ; along?" "He did not." "Why?" 1 "He did not apprehend any trouble. I as he thought it was In process ot set- tlement" ,' j I "Had you reason to believe your j I father was feeling better?" I "Yes, father said he would not. send ! ; the note he had written to Carmack." j "Had you received any information , I as to what was the result of the con- ' ference in Bradford's offlce, which 1 closed at 4 p. m?" . . ' j "Yes, papa had agreed to refrain j from sending the note and to dlsre- j I gard tho ." j j Objection sustained. Robin Cooper is a slender, boyish, clear cut looking youth. He gave his age 27. his profession as a lawyer. He said he as a son of D. B. Cooper, and inew John Shupe, the other defendant, defend-ant, very well. In a clear voice and with the refined accent of the educated educat-ed southerner, Cooper gave a brief sketch of his life. He said ho lived with his uncle, James Bradford, of counsel for the defense, and practiced law in the latter's offiJ?. He said ho came to town on Monday, Nov. 9, with this uncle, Mr.. Bradford, arriving at 9 a. to. "Did you see your father that morn--Ing?" - " ' - - "Ho came to ray office soon after ho arrived. He came into Mr. Bradford's private office, where 1 was in conference confer-ence with Mr. Davis." From tho moment her favorite brother began to talk. Mrs. Burch leaned lean-ed forward in her chair, looking eager-Iv eager-Iv into his eyes and seeming scarcHy to breathe as he talked. Col. Cooper, FeateJ next to hfs joungest daughter, Mrs. Wilson, sat back In his chair and i apparently took little interest In the j preliminary question. When his son referred to him as "Papa," the colonel smiled and played with his gray military mil-itary moustache. The jury betrayed much Interest. "I talked awhil and someone called mo to chancery court, where I had a case. Then papa told me he was afraid he was going to have some trouble i with Mr. Carmack." "I object" said Attorney General : McCarn. "It Is a self-serving conver- j Eatlon' and is Incompetent." i "Any conversation heard by Miss I Lee is competent: and anything- else j is not," said the court. i A Fharp discussion followpj and the record was appealed to as to what Miss I?e overheard-the morning of the killing. kill-ing. It disclosed that Miss Lee said she heard some expressions made by Col, Cooper concerning earmark "hav-. ing no right to use my name, and 1 j have a right to protect" myself." By Judge Anderson: "Did you have more than one conversation with your father?" "Only one. It related to but one subject" sub-ject" "Relate the conversation." "We object," shouted the state's attorneys. at-torneys. "Sustained," said the court; "you can explain the remarks heard only." "Did your father make the remark3 Miss Lee repeated''" "He did " "In what connection were they made?" VThey were made In reply to statements state-ments of mine. He said he was afraid of trouble. I asked him why. He aald. in substance, that Mr. Carmack in hla paper had been printing editorials edito-rials attacking his character and, as he put It, shoCing poisoned arrows. He said it was becoming unendurable. Ho had seen Mr. Craig the night be-iore be-iore and told him to tell Carmack that he must ceaseuslng his name in 6 paper. He said Mr. Craig returned and said he had seen Carmack, but carmack said he would agree to nothing. noth-ing. "As I remember it Mr. Craig said to Papa that Carmack was in a vicious mood. He said ho also told Craig to JtU Carmack that unless he ceased us-1 us-1 Is naie the town was not big enough .to hold them both. k-iilT greal,-v' wor-lfl 'ana said I IS. . ?y Unc,e C0H,1 brinS I"""' t0,br to show Carmack the In- nil ,f,his C0UrBC- It was then that Papa said.- 'He had no tight to use Sysefr 6 &Dd 1 haV6 a r!ght to P,otect co'uM hacfaif htlbeIieved Mr. Bradford could help in the case and would see J'me he said: Vlf i could have an in-terview in-terview with Mr. Carmack, I believe I pold settle " . The entire counsel was on their feet, W ? rt! Rrwmwt f"Mowo, as lo far oXpianatorv rPmark(S oonM Pianat on was admissible, but that the 5H iif,S t0 ColH'r's Proposed inter-" inter-" -Ah Carmack was incompetent ' nm ' I 1,1,8 vernation, what, be. me of your father?" ' b. L. J0',1 1110 ',,mcn 51,1,1 "aid he would D hack laior in tho da v. - -YLat did v0u do thn?" I |