University of South Carolina Libraries
tHM flTMTKJl W ATCIIMAN, Estabi IV! ?ol Mated Au?. 2. 18S ?br SWattbman nnb ?outbron. Pnbflthed Wednesday nuU Saturday ?BT? MTEl.ll PUBLISHING COMPANY SU1ITBR. 9. C. Termaa: 11.10 par annum?In advance. Advertisements: One Square first Insertion.$1.00 ?eery ?ubsequent Insertion.60 Conti acta for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which sub? serve private Interests will be charged fee as advertisements. Obiti arte? and tributes of respects will he ehsrged for. miWS SLATER TESTIFIES ROBIN J. COOPER ON WITNESS STAND SATTKDAY. Yoeiig Man Who Did the Actual Milling Deerrthes the Tragedy Enacted on the Streets of Nashville Lass November??Makes Strong Im. peeea on en Jury end Spectators? X-Ksy Brought Into Use. Nash/llle, Tenn.. Feb. 20.?This was the defence's dsy In the trial of Cok Dtncan B. Cooper, Robin J. Cooper and John D. Sharpe. charged with the murder of former United States Itenator Edward W. Carmack. Only ore witness was examined, the boyish defendant. Robin J. Cooper, and he made a splendid witness. When Court opened it was expected that the State would offer one or more of its miming witnesses. At least three arrived last night, but the Attorney General decided either not to use them at si) or to save them for hie conspiracy fight In rebuttal. Both sldee eeemed sparring for time st the opening of the day'e session. Finally the dsfence asked for thirty minutes' Indulgence and took an hour and a half. It was presumed that a con? ference was on. but in reality the learn If the bullet which Robin Cool? er received In the shouldsr was still there. Dr. Port thought It was and so testified. However, the dsy after ths shooting Robin Cooper found a bullet n the bed near his knees st the St. Thomas Hospital. It was a Si-calibre bullet. The gun found near Senator Carmack a body with two empty ahells Is a 38-callbre. The defence evidently wanted to be eure that the X-Ray ahowed no bullet In Robin's ahoulder before they produc? ed the m(a?!le found In the boy's bed. TO this connection the State has an iatereetlng theory that the revolver found near Car mack's body was not the oae forced upon the dead editor by one of his staff a few hours before he was ehot The one picked up Is a blue steel tl-callbre. Col. Cooper's revolver, secured a day or two later, is a nlckvlled 18-callbre, and appa? rently had never been discharged. As soon as the X-Ray plate had been developed and disclosed no trace of s bullet the defence announced It was resdy and cslled young Cooper to ths stand. The boy Is a slender, erect, clean-cut, high-bred type of a young man. His features are deli? cate, almost feminine, but he carries himself In an erect and manly faah lon. snd there Is nothing effeminate in his manner. His voles Is soft snd well cultivated. He speaks slowly, almost wlfsj a drawl. Hs answered every question with a dell beratenes* and caution that at times seemed to esasperste his counsel, Judge An? derson, and put aim In the light of sn unwllllna witness. Put there Is no doubt thst bis evident sincerity and disinclination to taks advantage of a situation made a very strong 1m preaiinn ?n I '?th Jury and spectators. Ills cross-examination was postponed until Monday, when It will conaume probably most of the day. He said thst he practiced law In the office of his uncle. James RraeV ford, and that on November t, the dsy of the Carmack ehootlnx. his lather called at Bradford's office In the forsnoon. Young Cooper. who gave ht? age an twenty-seven, refer? red to Iiis fsther as "papa." ??Whin papa told me," he testified, "he wait Sfrald he wna going to have trouble with Mr Carmack." Aftsr a long srgument of counsel, Cooper was sllowed to explain rack parts of his conversation an hud been previously testified to by Mis* Lee. who said she overheard parts of the conversation. The witness continued, spooking of his father: "He said he wss sfrsld of trouble. I asked him why. He said In sub? stance thst Mr. Carmack. In his pa? per, had been printing editorials at? tacking his character, snd as he put It. shooting poisoned arrows. He said It was becoming unendurable* He Wutchmnn ltd ?Be Just and Fear not?Lot all the ends Thou Alms't nt be thy Country's, Thy God's and Truth's/' THE TRUJ SUMTER, S. O.. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 24, 1909. New Serie An Unusvial Opportunity For Those Who Hacve Sp?tre Time. ^ E will appoint one agent in each neighborhood. ? ' An energetic boy or girl can secure a sufficient number of subscribers to the Semi-Weekly Watchman & Southron by working a few hours in the after ternooos and on Saturday to pay handsomely ror the time devoted to the work. Next Saturday we will annouuce a list of premiums to be given agents. The boy who wants to earn a Shot Gun, a Repeating Rifle, or auy one of a dozen or more other prizes, should apply at once for appointment as our agent. Those wlio prefer cash will be paid a liberal commission on each subscriber. The Semi Weekly Watchman & Southron is the best, biggest and cheapest twice a-week county paper published in the State, and it should go into every home in Sumter and adjoining counties. It is a clean family paper, all home print, live local, State and gen? eral news, and u interesting to every member of the family, from the oldest to the youngest. At $1.50 a year it is the bargain of the newspaper field. The Agents who get to work first will reap the greatest rewards. Apply at once for an agency, watch for the next issue, select the prize you wish and then get to work. ?Osteen Publishing Co. ? *'' '^^^^^^^sWsWWsws^l^'ifaaiis ? i * . .-*?. U^^.^J^t- . Agents Wanted 1 said he had seen Mr. Cralg the night befoie and told him to tell Carmack that he must cease using his name in his paper. He said Mr. Craig re? turned and said he had seen Car? mack, but Carmack would agree to nothing. "As I remember it, Mr. Cralg said to papa that Carmack was in a vici? ous humor or mood." Robin said his father also told Craig to tell Carmack that unless he ceased using his name, the town was not big enough to hold them both. "I was greatly worried," the wit? ness continued, "and said I believed my uncle could bring influence to bear to show Carmack the injustice of his course. It waa then that papa said, 'he had no right to use my name, and I have a right to protect myself." The defence attempted to get In testimony by Robin tending to show that Col. Cooper's waiting for Car? mack the day of the killing was mere? ly to protest against the use of Cooper's name in the paper, but this testimony was ruled out. Then Jtdge Anderson, in an im? passioned plea, frankly admitted why this evidence was essential. The Court was unmoved. Robin si.id after this talk he tele? phoned his sister. Mrs. Burch, for the purpose of getting her to find his father and keep him off the street. "Why did you wish him kept off the street? ' "I feared Mr. Carmack might have resented the message papa sent him, and that there might be trouble." "How old is your father?" "He Is slxty-8?*ven years old." "And hin physical condition?" "His right hand Is crippled, the two smaller fingers of the hand are ?>? nt in and cannot be moved." ?What did you do then?" asked ('<>.jut's counsel, again taking up Robin's mo\?-ments during the morn? ing, f "I went out and looked for ppg, but failed to find h'm. I returned to my Oflloe and telephoned Covernor Pattei ma to aah him if ho knew ebont the trouble,'1 DM pgfJI gOi | pistol that day'.'" "I did. I got It from my unei. . Hobifl Jones. I called him up and asked him If he hud one. My pur? pose In getting It was this: From what papa said, from telephone con? versations, from the messages -" ' We object to his reasons." said State Attorney General McCarn. "Well, the measage father sent Carmack was very strong, and, knowing Cprmack as I did, I feared he would resent lt. I could not find papa. I know he was on the streets, so at noon my uncle brought me the automatic revolver. I determined to find my father, and he must be on the streets, to stay near him and pro? tect him." Robin testified that he found his father, and that he induced the lat? ter to stay at the Maxwell Hotel until 3 p. m. The witness meanwhile tried a case in Court. Robin said he did not hear his father using the violent language Miss Lee said she heard. At 3 o'clock he again saw his fath? er In Bradford's office. "How long did you stay there?" "Until father and I left." "Where did your father say he was going?" 4To the mansion to see Governor Patterson." "Why was he going there?" "To meet Governor Patterson and Mr. Austin Cooley at Governor Pat? terson's request." "Who told your father that Gov erno Patterson wanted to talk to him?" "Gen. Tulley Brown." "Did your father want you to go along?" "He did not." "Why?" "He did not apprehend any trou? ble as he thought It was in process of settlement. He did not apprehend that he would meet Carmck." "Had you received any Information as to what was the result of the con? ference In Bradford's office which closed at 4 p. m. "Yes, papa had RScreed to refrain from sending the note and to disre? gard the -" i The Itate'a objection to finishing Ulli sentence was sustained. Witness detailed the walk from Bradford's office to the scene of the shooting. They stopped at a drug ?tore, bought tome soda water and walked on up towards the Arcade, "Papa spoke to several people on the way, i saw John Tlndall, the newsboy, but neither of us said any* thing about 'getting* any one, "At the middle Of the alley inter cepting the Arcade we met John d. Bharpc arid Representative Matthews. We stop( ed and talked. I had not seen Mr. Miarpe for a long time." Witness igild they walked on in the direction o,' the Governor's Mansion, j Mr. Sharpe accompanying them. "Were you expecting to meet John Sharpe that day?" "We were not." "When we got to Vine street, or 7th avenue, I saw Mr. Carmack down on 7th avenue, near Church street, a block away. I turned to Mr. Sharpe and said: There comes Senator Car mack; don't let papa see him. I whis? pered, and then to papa I said: Let's hurry up, papa.' " "When papa came up to me I got him by the arm and turned toward the Governor's Mansion. I began to hurry, and he pulled away, saying: 'What's the matter with you,' then he turned and exclaimed: 'Say, is that Senator Carmack? Yes, I'll go over and talk to him now.' "I said: 'Oh, no, papa, you must not now.' "He said: 'I know Carmack; he knows me, there will be no trouble,' I let him go about twenty feet. I did not know what to do, then I went over to him." "If you believed his mission was peaceful why did you go with him?" "Because he was my father and I believed it my duty to protect him. as he was unable to protect himself." "Did you believe Senator Carmack knew of your father's changed at? titude?" "No, sir; I knew he did not. Father turned over and got on the sidewalk. I followed him in the street and got In the direction of the two post*. Papa was on the sidewalk, I was In i the street almost even with him. "Senator Carmack was about to pas.s Mrs. Eastman and was putting his hat back on his head. Papa spoke to him as he was passing her without expecting to speak. Papa said: 'Sen? ator Carmack,' and instantly the Sen? ator drew his revolver, j "ft came out instantly, just like this." The witness illustrated the mo? tion. "it paralysed me for a minute, and i sprang towards papa ;>s Qar mack began to hack towards the pole. "AS 1 Jumped a shot exploded in my face. The bullet struck my neck tie and went into my shoulder, i went after my gun, Which was in my over coat pocket. The second shot went through my sleeve and entered the post. I slipped around the post and found Carmock aiming at me again." "What did you do then?" "I began firing. I fired three times as fast as I could, leaning against the post with my left hand. I saw Car? mack reel and fall, and I quit firing." "Why did you stop?'' "Because I saw that he was hit." "Did your father say anything about a coward?" "Yes, sir. As Carmack drew hi revolver and got behind Mrs. East? man, he said something about a cow? ard, hiding behind a woman's skirts." "Where was your attention cen? tered?" "On Carmack and father." "Did you see a pistol in your fath? er's hand up to the time Carmack be? gan to shoot?" "No, sir." "Did your father say to Carmack, | 'pow you are here; we have the drop 1 on you?' " "No, sir; no such expression was used. The only expression was about a coward. The whole thing was over in a minute. I jumped eight or ten feet before I was shot and I moved very quickly." "Papa put his arm around me and led me away." "Did any one fire a shot before Senator Carnu.ck?" "No, sir, Carmack fired two shots first and I fired three. That was all that were fired?five shots." The witness then described his wounds and testified about the X Ray examination. Later his counsel asked: "At the time you shot Senator Car? mack, did you not believe that your life was in danger?" "I believe if I had not done so. he would have killed me. I think in an? other instant he would have shot ma again." The witness denied ever having said to Chas. H. Harwick that Car? mack "ought to have been dead and In hell twenty yeari ago." After Hobln Cooper testified that he had known Senator Carmack f< ma?i\' years and had never "had aught but friendly feelings for the Senator." the defence announced that they were through queetlonlng him, and Court adjourned. DOUbtlem their Inability tO rend will spare certain members of that Tennessee .lory some severe pangs,? Philadelphia ledger. Irrespective "f legislation, prudent ocean-going steamship llnet will equip their ships with the C. Q. D. apparatus.?Boston Journal. Our national income is ample. It is our national outgo that is foolish and wasteful.?Rochester Herald. southron, Established June, l&CS s?Vol. XXV11I. So 30 EVADING THE Iii. one OF the results of pro huhtiox in Georgia. A Citi/en Wanted "Extract," But Got "Corn" Instead and Filed a Com? plaint. Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 19.?As one of the results of prohibition in *.he S'.nto of Georgie, the interesting question tiAfl arisen as to what really eonstf tu* ??. "quart of corn" in the eyes of the la ?. ' A quart of corn is a quart of corn, be Ir Jn solid or liquid state," Justice A. D. Patterson decided. Charging that he had obtained $1 from him und:r false pretenses, Coy F isher, a painter, pros-c it-d Elbert Hryant, 14 years oid. ffho veidenee showed that Fisher had been told that for $1 a quart of "Georgia corn" might be had on the quiet. He instrusted the lad with the coin and at the appoint? ed time went to the rear of a certain building where he expect?d to ft id hu, bottle. To his keen disappointment, Fish? er found, not a quart e? ' booze," but a quart of the corn in iis orlgfSwJ form?freshly shelled from the ear. H?: appealed for the return of his Piorey, but the boy sa?d the transac? ts ?n was bona fide ar.a that l.e had delivered what the contract cabled for. "'Receiving and retaining $1 for the delivery of a quart of shelled corn is bot getting money under false pre? tenses," said Judge Patterson in de? ciding the case, "though the contrib? uting party may have separated from hif. coin under the impression that the corn was coming to him in liquid form. The transaction is held t) be a practical joke, and not criminal." Fisher paid SI.50, the cost of the prosecution. SWIFT JUSTICE IX VIRGINIA. Negro Rapist and Murderer Sen? tenced Within a Day After His Crime. Roanolte. Va., Feb. 19?Aurelious Christian, the negro, who yesterday criminally assaulted and then mur? dered Miss Mary Dobbs, the pretty fourteen-year-old daughter of yn prominent Botetourt County farmer, was today sentenced to die in the eiectrie chair in the State penitentiary on March 22. Christian was taken from Clifton Forge today to Fincastle and tried at a special sitting of the Court by Circuit Judge Anderson, who accompanied the negro and oth? ers to Fincastle. Christian was in ? dieted by the grand Jury, and Judge Anderson appointed three lawyers to defend him. At a conference between the lawyers and the prisoner, Chris? tian made a confession, and Judge Anderson imposed the death sentence. The negro said he was hiding in the woods when Miss Dobbs passed by on, her way to a store. He seized her, and after assaulting her cut her throat and stabbed her three times," to keep her from telling." Christian showed no signs of fright in court. The sentence came within twenty four hours after the crime was com? mitted, and Christian was sent to the Fincastle jail. The jail is being guarded tonight to prevent an at? tack that might be made by a mob. A mob gathered last night near Clif? ton Forge, but agreed not to attempt to lynch Christian while he "was at that place." STEEL SITUATION SERIOUS. Tariff May be Reduced?Ofiicers of Trust Hold ConfcrciMt* in New York. New York. Feb. 18.?The steel sit? uation was the absr i-bing topic in financial and other business circles today This interest has been arou>< d by reports that the traflC in steel had been disappointing, thai independent manufacturers are cutting prices r.ni getting what business there was end by the fact that the Officers ??f the Un? ited States Steel CorporaUoa and the heads of that corporation's subsidiary companies held another conference today, at which conditions and the situation SJSrs throughly discussed. On adjournment Judge Gary, chair? man, announced thai he would not have anything to say today in rela? tion to the oouforenoe, hut that he would tomorrow "make a general rtatement that e/tll hilly and frankly set forth the general conditions of the trade." Mrs. Alma LaflYrty. of Denver, is ;i member of the O? orado House of Representatives, the first woman to occupy a seat in that body for a num? ber of years.