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About The Augusta daily herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1908-1914 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1909)
THE AUGUSTA DAILY HERALD THE AFTERNOON PAPER PRINTS THE NEWS THE DAY IT HAPPENS—IN THE HERALD YOU GET THE NEWS WHILE IT IS NEWS VOLUME XIV., No. 78. COOPERS GUILTY OF MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE; SENTENCED TO TWENTY YEARS IN PRISON; ADMITTED TO BOND IN SUM OF 525,000 Verdict Came As Great Surprise—Motion for New Trial Made and Will Be Argued Later. ON TECHNICAL POINT Asked Court To Call Mis trial Owing To Disagree ment Announced By Jury Friday—Penalty Was Af fixed To Jury’s Verdict. NASHVILLE, Tenn— Guilty of murder in the second degree with twenty years imprisonment as a pen alty was the verdict of the jury Sat urday in the case against Col. Dun can B. Cooper, and son Robin Cooper, charged with the murder of former Senator Carmack. The jury Friday acquitted John D Sharp, thb co-defendant. Immediate ly the defense moved to set aside the verdict because of the verdict of dis agreement of Friday and asked the court to declare it a mistrial. Judge Hart said he would listen to the argu ments on this motion later. He then fixed the defendants bond at '525,000 each, which amount was accepted by both sides. The verdict, coming as it did upon the heels of Foreman Burke's declara tion Friday that “We are hopelessly lied up as to the Coopers,” was a de cided surprise. The defendants took it eooly, al most without emotion. Mrs. Burch and Mrs. Wilson, the young daughters of Colonel Cooper, were brave and aside from tearful eyes, restrained I heir emotion gamely. 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 had been] hearirending and any verdict how ever unfavorable was a relief. The jurors looked worn out and when the court remarked: “I thank you, gen tlemen, for your patience, and devo tion to the state and dismiss you to your homes and your personal avoca tions,” the entire twelve sprang from their seats as one man and hurried ly left the court room. The defend ants and their counsel remained to complete the bond preliminaries and motion for new trial. When the jury came in Judge Hart said: “Have you agreed upon a ver dict. gentlemen?” “We have,” replied Foreman Burke. “Advance, Mr. Foreman, and read the verdict.” “We, the jury find the defendants, Duncan B. Cooper, and Robin J. Cooper, guilty of murder in the sec ond degree, and assess their punish ment at confinement in state peni tentiary for a period of twenty years.” The court then thanked the jurors and dismissed them. Judge Anderson of the defense rose at once, exclaiming: “Your honor, we move the case be declared a mistrial because of the verdict yesterday. Wo contend that yesterday’s verdict, was the only one and that it acquitted Jno. Sharp but declared a disagreement on the other defendants We also ask that the defendants be admitted to bond at once.” “The verdict of the jury makes it a bailable case,” was the court’s retort. THE WEATHER. FORECAST: For Augusta and Vicinity: Rain to night and Sunday. For South Carolina: Rain tonight and Sunday. For Georgia: Rain tonight and Sun day, cooler Sunday. Be Sure and Ask For SUNDAY’S HERALD SUNDAY’S HERALD SUNDAY’S HERALD All News Stands, Dealers and News Boys Phone 297 For Home Delivery Petrosino's Wife and Baby Picture of the wife and baby of Police-Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino, the New York detective who was slain by the Mafia at Palermo. A fund has been raised by smypathetic New Yorkers to place Mrs. Petrosino and her child beyond the reach of want. FRENCH TROOPS TO TAKE PIRT IN STRIKE PARIS.—The French cabinet took decisive steps to end the general strike which started with the tele graphers of the post office depart ment. Troops have been ordered to patrol railroad lines where there was indiscriminate wire cutting Friday night. The committee of rights of the trades unions declared itself ready to call out all trades unionists in France unless the authorities set tle wYth the strikers. FLORIDA INTERESTED IN TUBERCULOSIS WAR PENSACOLA. —A request has gone out from the headquarters of tlfe tuberculosis campaign asking that ev eryone in every part of the state who holds a meeting or forms a commit tee or does anything else in connec tion with tuberculosis, should send in a report so that the folks here may know what is being done. All cor respondence should be addressed to the American tuberculosis exhibition, Pensacola, Fla., with the assurance that their communications will bo be ceived promptly. BURSTING TANK PLAYED HAVOC Killed One Man, Probably Fatally Injured Four Others and Destroyed Property. PARKERSBURG, W. Va. —One man is missing, four perhaps fatally in jured, forty houses practically wreck ed and damage amounting to $300,000 resulted when two water tanks on Prospect Hill of this city bursted. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 20, 1909. WIFE MURDERER COMMITTED SIM RICHMOND, a.—Henry C. Wheat ley, a confessed wife murderer and incendiary committed suicide in the Culpeper jail by hanging himself with a towel. Wheatley, for spite, sot fire to a tenant’s house then killing his wife with nearly severing her head. NEGRO ARRESTED FOR STEALING CHICKENS Tried To Sell Councilman Adams Fowls He Had Just Stolen From Him. Andrew Carnes, a negro, charged with stealing chickens, was given a preliminary hearing ’by Recorder Picquet Saturday morning. He was bound over to the city court on three charges. His bond was fixed at $250. Councilman Adams, of the Third Ward, testified to seeing Carnes go in his back yard. A few minutes later Carnes came to the front door and tried to sell Mr. Adams two hens that he had just stolen from him. Dr. A. .1. Deas and a negro bov testified to seeing him steal tho hens from *Dr. Deas’ yard Capt. .1. J. O’Connor testified to going in his back yard just in time to make the negro drop two hens. Carnes escaped. His de scription was given to Detective Bartley, who arrested him Friday night. Mr. Bartley had a man go to the front door of Carnes’ house and knock. He went to the back door. When the man knocked on the front, Carnes tried to escape through the back, only to land in Mr. aßrtley's arms. MACON U. C. T. BANQUET. MACON, Ga -Saturday nlghj the local council of the United Commer cial Travelers will have their an nual banquet, at the Brown House and a jolly good time Is expected. The local council Is a very strong one and has prepared an excellent program. A reception will be held from 8:50 to 9 o’closck and the ban quet will then begin. IN WANTED FOR ASSAULT IS CAUGHT Special to The Herald. SPARTANBURG, S. C. —A young white man by the name of Ball, who is wanted in Waynesville, N. C„ on the charge of attempting to make a criminal assault upon a young white woman at that place, was arrested at Sxon, near here, Friday afternoon. The authorities at Waynesville have been notified of Ball's arrest and it is expected that an officer will he sent here for the prisoner within the next few days. Young Ball denies the charge and says he will be ahle to prove his innocence. wlis* OF PETRONSINO CAPTURED ROME. —The officials here state that the assassins of Petronsino at Palermo are now captured and will be tried before the tribunal of North ern Italy. Indications are that the murder was committed by Black Hand agents coming directly from New York. SEPIs ICCEPTS POWERS’ ADVICE io pm ST. PETERSBURG.—The Belgrade correspondent of the Bourse Gazette says Ihr foreign minister, t old him that Servfn has acceptpd the advice of the powers to disarm. THREE KILLED US GANGWAY BROKE BARROW-IN-FURNESS, England The gangway connecting the battle ship Vanguard with the wharf at Vickers Son-Maxim yard collapsed. Fifty workmen were precipitated to the dock. Three of them were killed and forty Injured. NOISY NEGRO ADDED TO HIS TROUBLES Charlie Dee, a negro, was before Recorder Picquet. Saturday morning charged with disorderly conduct, and larceny after trust. After being ar rested for the larceny case, the mun cursed the officers, and made a great commotion in his cell. Recorder Picquet. fined him SIOO or 90 days for disorderly conduct. He also bound him over to the superior court under a bond of S3OO for lar ceny after trust. John Thomas, a negro, hired Dee to move some wood i'or him. Dee took the wood and sold -it, and spent the money. He said i n court that he intended to pay the money back. GAVE CLERK LAND FOR FAITHFUL SERVICES Special to The Herald. HEPHZIBAH, Ga.—Mr. J. B. Fryer has just surprised his clerk, Mr. Jim Jenkins, by making him a present of a deed to the house and half acre of land where Mr. Jenkins lives. The deed states that It is for the faith fulness of Mr. Jenkins, LITTLE BOY DIED SATURDAY MORNING Robert H. Harper, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. .(. R. Harper, died at the home of his parents, No. 1331 Fenwick street, at 2:30 o’clock. The funeral took place from the residence at 3:30 o’clock Saturday af ernoon. Rev. O. P. Gilber will of ficiate. The Interment was in the West View cemetery. The child was 5 months old. He had been sick about a week. MRS. CHRISTINA BEST DIED EARLY SATURDAY Mrs. Christina Best, the widow of Mr. John Best, died at o:4s_o’clock Saturday morning at the Mary War ren Home Mrs. Best was 63 years old. She had been sick four days. The funeral services will be con ducted from the Mary Warren Home at 9:30 o’clock Sunday morning. Rev. E. F. Dempsey will officiate. The interment will bo in tho «»iue tery. LEEHER HELD FOR TIE mOROER OF IS. WHITTLE Young Man is Thought To Be the Man Who Beat and Robbed Mrs. Whittle and Her Husband Tues day Night. ATLANTA, Ga.—Following the death of Mrs. Lizzie Wittles, who. with her husband was beaten and robbed .Tuesday night. Charles Lec her. aged 21, is held for the murder. Immediately after her death, the body of Mrs. Wittles was taken to the undertaking establishment of Greenberg, Bond & Bloomfield, from whence U was taken in the afternoon at 4 o’clock to the residence, and from thence to Oakland cemetery. LITTLE DAUGHTER GIVES TESTIMONY. The coroner's Jury heard first, from little Tene Wittles, 12-year-old daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Wittles, who was in the room at Ihe time of the as sault upon her mol her and father. She made a straight statement of the affair as she knew it. She said she saw a man answering Lecher's de scription in the room in I lie act of striking her father and mother, ami that she cried out and scared him away. MAN WORE MASK. She said he was small and wore a mask over Ihe lower part of his face, and had on an overcoat and rags over his head, with no hat. She said her mother had S6O of her father’s money secreted in her bosom. The money was missing after the assault, and the sum of s4l is said to have been found on Lecher. The little girl said she had been to the station house, and that she thought Leeher was the man she saw In the room. She further said her father was afraid of Lee her, who had worked for him eight days during December. Sam Ginsberg, who resides next door to the Wittles home, on Gilmer street, said he was at. home at 10.30 o’clock that night, and saw twice a ■short statured man peeping over (ho hack fence in the direction of his home. He said he went out and call od to the man, but there was no re sponse. Another witness swore that Wittles had (old him his suspicion pointed to Leeher. Detectives Harper and Dorsett, who worked up the evidence, were present, and presented the state’s side of the case. Without hesitation the coro ner's jury recommended that the man under suspicion be held. LEEHER MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE. During the whole Investigation since his arrest, Leeher, who is a na tive of Plnsk, Russia, and lately from New York city, has maintained Ills innocence. He has been visited with periods of despondency. Early Thurs day night ho began to sob and cry out against tho outrage, as he ex pressed it, of his incarceration. He began to talk of the oppression of the poor, and the elevation of the weal thy, and said ho could not hope for justice under the present state of so ciety. LEEHER VIOLENT IN HIS CELL. After the midnight hour he became more violent, and It was necessary to confine him In a slick cell. "If I was John D. Rockefeller, Gould or Pior pont Morgan, or any other rich man, I would not be in here. Money Is all. The poor have no chance. I am homeless and penniless, and nobody cares. You are keeping me in here charged with murder and you are killing me by degrees.” Throughout his discourses he talks in a deep, strong voice, and as if addressing an audience of persecu tors, and beats his breast, in anguish. The man’s philosophy on the "pres ent state of society,” "rich people," and the "poor and oppressed,” has led the officers at the police station to believe that ho has at least anar chlstlc beliefs and tendencies. His words are full of bitterness and de spair. A young man placed In the ward with I/«oher is said to have learned several things from him. He says Leeher confessed to a misunderstand ing or quarrel with Wittles, and that he had several times contemplated suicide because of his destitute con dltlon. LEEHER HAS GOOD EDUCATION. Leeber has a very good education, having attended for two years an ag ricultural college In New Jersey, where he says he engaged In athlet ics, notably football. He Is said to speak several languages. His trade is mainly farming, but he says he has worked some tlrrie as a painter and lately as a peddler. He will probably be represented at his trial by Attor neys Jesse M. Wood and Sam A Boor stln. Inquiry at the Grady hospital de velops the fact that John Wlttles, also seriously Injured, Is able to con verse and will probably recover. DAILY AND SUNDAY, $6.00 PER YEAR. IWS.HI BALES TOM m CHOP WASHINGTON.—Running bales of cotton numbering 14.405.541. of the average gross weight of 505.8 pounds all equivalent to 13.563.942 Still-pound bales, with 27.587 ginneries operating was the final report of the census 190s' 0,1 ' cotton crop gown in The report includes 344.970 Unters and counts round as half bales. The final 1907 crop report was 11.325.582 round bales, equivalent to it. 375 -till 500-pound halos, with 27,592 ginneries operating. Included in 1908 figures are 93,- 085 bales, which the ginnors esti mated they would turn out after the time of the March oanvass. Round hales included in today’s reports are 242,305 for 1908 and 198,549 for 1907. Sea Island bales included are 93,848 for 1908 and 86,895 for 1907. The crop by states, in running bales, including linters, follows: Bales. Alabama 1,358 339 Arkansas I.OIBTOB Florida 71.411 Georgia 2,023,828 Kansas, Kentucky and New Mexico (Including linters of establishments in Il linois and Virginia) .. .. 5.054 Louisiana 481,691 Mississippi 1.665,695 Missouri ’ oolfiOO North Carolina 099,507 Oklahoma 703.862 South Carolina 1.239.260 Tennessee 348 582 Texas I 3,71 !U 89 Virginia 13,103 LIBERALS DEFEAT THE SHIN'S WPS CONST ANTI NOBLE. —Tho Shah’s troops have been defeated in a ha: He with the Liberals at Tahrlse, The loss of life Is said to have been heavy, the rebollng Liberals cutting down hundreds as they lied. SUING COMPANY FOR INSURANCE Company Says Man Mis represented Fact, to Them in Application for Policy CHARLESTON, S. 0. An interest ing case Is before the United Stales circuit court in the suit brought, by Hattie Johnston and A. R. Johnston, executors of the estate of J. p, Johns ton, of Dorchester, against the State Mutual Life Insurance of Georgia, for SIO,OOO, the amount of the policy car ried by the deceased, the payment of which had been refused On the ground of false statements as to the use of liquor and insanity In his ap plication for insurance. VANDALS DEFACING NEW ORLEANS WINDOWS Police Are Making Vig orous Efforts To Run Down “Jack the Scratch er“ NEW ORLEANS.- The police are malting vigorous efforts to run down “Jack the Ocratcher.” For the past, few nights scores of hlgshow windows along Canal street, have been defaced by vandals. The Part Advertising Plays In The World Today. In no other country of the world can so many people able to read and write hi- found as In this It. 3. A. In no other country of the world can so many people capable of forming correct, judgments of men and things be found as In this U. 3. A. In no other country of tho world rnn so many people earnestly endeavoring to advance them selves morally. Intellectually and financially he found as In this same U. 3. A. What brought this condition about? 'the public schools? Yes, In part. But. even more the newspapers and magazines, of which 23,000 are published In this country. What makes the issue of these publications possible? The an swer Is, Advertising. Without advertising, the great majority of news papers and magazines would go out of business entirely; the re mainder would he forced to eliminate their most (expensive and, therefore, most valuable features. Some one has said that, the ad vertiser has endowed literature and art lri America. Whoever said It spoke wisely, for the statement. Is true. The debt owed by Amer ica to the advertiser is a great one. There are some other points of interest about the U. 3. A., also about advertising In no other country of the world can an article of genuine worth he brought Into universal use so rapidly as In the U. 8. A. In no other country Is It possible for the purchaser so easily to select, the best and most, suitable of the articles which he Is to pur chase as here. What makes this possible? The answer Is, Advertis ing. When speaking of the country’s great products they used to say that cotton was king. Datterly corn has worn ihe crown. Some day some wise man with a strong and healthy imagination will compute the amount spent In these 23,000 newspapers and period icals and his figures will astound the world. Great Is Advertising! NEWSPAPERDOM. YOU MAKE A MISTAKE THESE DAYS IF YOU FAIL TO READ THE HERALD. MOIL SOON TO HEAR REPORT HP CHUM Whatever Work is Recom mended For Protection From Floods Will Be Un dertaken Soon. The sub-committee or the flood com mission met Saturday at 12 o'clock at the city hall, to go over certain de tails of their resolution which will be submitted to th ( , flood commission Monday. A lull mooting of tin* commission "ill l>< lu-ld Monday nl 12 o’clock. As all details of (-onunissioiicr Winjg llt-ld s report have now been made clear lo the sub-committee, it is ox pected that lbe commission will be .'-Me to formulate at that meeting a definite recommendation to council. I be sense of the Hood commission is that whatever work may be done should start as early as possible. In view ni bis, i meeting of city conn* ( 'il will probably bo called next week, for the purpose of considering Ibe report of the commission. The commission has now power to make an appropriation, it having only been constituted an honorary body of the city council. SHOOTING SCRAPE IN TAMM HALL NEW YORK Threatening to shoot anyone who tried to stop hint a young man created a panic at a dance at Tmunmnj hall Saturday morning early firing four shots at "Tom” Sharkey, none of which took effect. A riot followed which the police quelled. JOB! AWARDED THE JONES HEIRS 1900 The jury lu the case of the heirs of Mrs. Sophia Jones vh. Ihe Augusta Railway and Electric company, return ed a verdict giving tho heirs S9OO. The amount sued for was $12,000. Mrs. Jones was killed by a fitreot car about a year ago. The trial has been in progress since Monday. ROAD APPEALED DAMAGE CASE A certiorari in the case of C. & W. C. R. H. Co. vs. Ramsey & Leg wen was filed in the clerk’s office Fri day. Tho case is an appeal from Magistrate Strange's court. Ramsey 4t Legwen claim that the road killed a cow belonging to them. Judge Strange gave ‘hem a verdict for $35. The road then appealed the case. ' ***■ I FIRE DAMAGEB FOUNDRY. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.—Six ['buildings of the Empire Foundry were burned Saturday. The loss is a hundred thousand.
