Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1911 — KEMPER'S DEATH ACCIDENTAL, WILL BE POOLE'S PLEA. [ARTICLE]

KEMPER'S DEATH ACCIDENTAL, WILL BE POOLE'S PLEA.

Accused Jtan Talks to Newspaper Representative While In His Cell Awaiting Indictment. FOwler, June 16.—While the grand jury is hearing evidence tn connection with the finding of the body of Joseph Kemper on the John W. Poole farm at Swanington May 3, John Poole nervously paces the, corridor of his cell in the Benton county jail waiting for an indictment to be returned. When interviewed by a newspaper representative in the jail today, Poole said: “This confinement and suspense is ruining my health. lam not the man physically that I was when HI was locked qp May 3.” When told about the investigations that have been made by the authorities at his farm in Jasper county, Poole said: “I will explain to you the cause of that investigation. Sometime after 1 had buried Kemper’s body I took his clothes and went to Chicago on a hunt for his brother, who he told me had lived there and worked for an ice company. I had with me Kemper’s day book in which he had kept all his time and memorandums. While in Chicago I found lots of Kempers and Kainpers but none of them knew Joe or could recognize the hand writing in the book.” When asked why he wanted to find Kemper’s brother, he saidr “I wanted to tell him of the tragedy and give him-Joe’s clothes and the $22 in money that was in bis pocketbook. Then I expected to stand trial there If his brother cared to have me arrested. I was not able after a two days’ hunt to find anyone who knew Joe, so I decided to return home. I came back as far as the north farm and stopped there a few days. I had brought the clothes back with me and left them in the house while I attended to the farm work. Joe Frost was working for me at the time. The next day or so Frost or his wife looked in the sack and saw the bloody clothes. I was out in the field working at the time and Frost came out and told me about it. That night or the next day I took the clothes and brought them to the farm near Swanington, where I-hung them in the barn. Now since it has all been made known about the finding of Kemper’s body, Frost has told of seeing the bloody clothes and that has given rise to the rumor that there is some one buried on the Jasper county farm.”

“Well, is there any one burled there?” Poole was asked. “No, sir, there is no one buried there nor on any of the other farms and thpi authorities are at liberty to dig any place they care to, but they will never find another body, as I never killed any one but Kemper, and that was purely accidental.” “What became of the clothes?” “I had a man working for me last fall, cutting corn. He name was George Gladdon. I hired him in Lafayette and he only worked for me a couple of days when he drew two dollars and went away, I think back to Lafayette. I think he stole the clothes from where I had them hung in the barn. I wrote the chief of police at Lafayette and told him to arrest Gladdon as he was wanted tn Benton county/* “What did you want Gladdon arrested tor?” - “He had stolen my knife and I thought he might have stolen the clothes, as I had discovered they were gone.'* “When did this happen?” "It was just a month after the Kankakee fair.”

“Before you buried Kemper’s body, what did you use to cut the legs off with?" "I cut the flesh with my knife and cut, the bones with an ax.” “Did you cut the head off?” "No, sir, I did not mutilate the body except to cut off the legs.” “It is reported that you killed and burled a man on your farm by the name of Charles Clark. Is this truer* “No, sir. worked for me but that is not his right name; It Is Edgar Mills and he Is now living at Dickson City, Pa.” “When your case Is brought to trial what do you propose to pleat’ think my plea will be that it was purely accidental.” Grace Poole Is doing everything that a daughter could do for a parent She has taken it on herself to employ a lawyer to defend her father In his coming trial. She has a title to thirtyfive acres of the Poole farm at Swanington and has been negotiating with the school authorities at Fowler to make her a loan on her Interest in the farm for SSOO. The loan was made Wednesday afternoon and she Immedl-

ately retained Attorney Elmore Barce to defend her father. Since Emory Poole has learned that his sister is determined to retain counsel for her father he has left home and is living With a neighbor in the vicinity. Emory’s leaving throws all the farm work on Grace Poole and her mother. This morning they .were both in the fields plowing and taking care of the coming crops. Several men have been hired to work ’ at the farm since the incarceration of John Poole but they only stay a few days when the neigh-bors-tell the history of the farm. P is expected that Poole will ask for a change of venue. If he does the case will either be sent to Lafayette or Williamsport. Emory Poole, the son, was in Lafayette yesterday looking up two men who had worked for his father and who would have some interesting testimony to give at the trial. He also said that there would be some witnesses against his father from a long distance. He condemns his mother and sister, Grace, fb£ raising money to defend his father and says that that was the reason he left home last Monday and left all the farm work on their hands. Young Poole said that he had received several letters from his father since he has been in jail, but said, “Of course, I didn’t pay any attention to them.” When asked wh it position he would assume during the trial t>f his father, he said, “I will tell the same story I told at first” The son is apparently doing everything in his power to convict his father of deliberate murder, because, as he says, he is afraid of being caught unawares by his father and murdered. The grand jury Thursday afternoon completed its examination of witnesses in the Poole case and will report to Judge Sanderson, of the circuit court, on June 20. Poole’s confinment in the jail here is beginning to tell on him. He is losing,his energy and spends much of his time reading the bible and singing hymns. He pays much attention to the children who pass the jail. Mrs. Charles Clark, whose husband was employed on the Poole farm, has been unable to find any trace of him and writes to Marshal Bowman from her home in New York City, to send her the envelope that contained the letter her husband is said to have written Mrs. Poole from Ohio. She says she can identify the writing if it is that of her husband. Bonano is just the appetizing goodness of fully matured tropic-ripened bananas—the choicest that grow—dried, roasted, ground—served as a golden brown, fragrant beverage. No .adulteration, no artificial coloring or flavor. A healthy man is a king in his own right; an unhealthy man is an unhappy slave. Burdock Blood Bitters builds up sound health—keeps you well.