FATAL STREET DUEL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 14 January 1909, Page 3

FATAL STREET DUEL.

A Political Vendetta.

American Senator Killed.

New York, Nov. 13

Political vendettas still claim victims,' the latest being Senator Carmack, of Nashville, Tennessee, editor of the Nashville Tennessean, who was shot and killed in a street duel at Nashville by Robin Cooper son of Colonel Duncan Cooper, the senator’s political rival. This makes the sixth death attributed to inflamed party passions since Mr Taft was elected. Eric Mackay, who shot the New York postmaster yesterday, although he is an escaped lunatic, was, nevertheless, active in politics, and believed he had a grievance against the postmaster, who was his district political chief. As regards the death of Senator Carmack, who had represented Tennessee in the Senate from 1901 to 1907, there was little in Robin Cooper’s outlawry to distinguish him from those “ Humpty Jacksons” and “Jim Kellys,” the gangsmen protected by Tammany politicians. A lady who was walking with Mr Carmack about the time of the shooting says that Cooper accused him of “hiding behind a woman,” and that when the Senator stepped away from her the firing followed. Mr Carmack was going north, and Colonel Cooper and his son were approaching. Soon after they came in sight of one another the shooting began. Robin Cooper fired three shots and Mr Carmack one. Colonel Cooper drew a pistol, but did not fire. Mr Carmack fell to the ground, dying instantly. Robin Cooper, a lawyer, aged 26, unmarried was shot in the right shoulder, but was not severely hurt.

The trouble began at the “recent Democratic gubernatorial primary,” in which Senator Carmack was defeated. Mr Carmack resented his defeat, and has ever since been going hot and strong for Colonel Cooper. This tragedy recalls the story of how Colonel Cooper, 25 years of age, made Mr Carmack editor of the Nashville American, after he had won that paper in a poker game. Mr Carmack at that time had a considerable reputation as a newspaper writer. It is probable that young Cooper will get off lightly.