The Career of Edward Ward Carmack and the Cooper-Sharp Trial

The subject of this thesis was suggested to the writer in October 1931, by the History Department of the Western Kentucky State Teachers College. The writer at that time was considering a number of other subjects, but seeing that material could be located easily, and that the field suggested by the subject had not been covered, this subject was chosen. When much of the material had been located and examined it was clearly seen that the material in the field could be grouped under two heads and given this title, “Career of Edward Ward Carmack and the Cooper-Sharp Trial”. Most of the material was found in the newspaper files of the Tennessee State Library of Nashville, Tennessee, which had the Nashville Tennessean, Nashville Banner and the Nashville American on file for the period involved. Some secondary material was also found in this library. The Peabody Library of Nashville also furnished some materials, such as speeches and a few other articles from secondary sources. The Louisville Free Public Library furnished some of the material, mostly secondary material which covered other phases of the history of the state through this period from 1858 to 1909. The Library of the Western Kentucky State Teachers College furnished some source material such as Congressional Records, Historical Society reports and papers, and also a good supply of secondary material. It is the aim of the writer to give a good historical account of E.W. Carmack’s life and the stormy times in Tennessee surrounding his death. The effort was made to secure as accurate information as could be found. However, it may seem, the material upholds the statements made in all cases noted