Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1911 — SELECTING A JULY FOR POOLE TRIAL IS TEDIOUS. [ARTICLE]

SELECTING A JULY FOR POOLE TRIAL IS TEDIOUS.

i VAnlFAmpn Ava Ilf wino flnn A j »vuirvuicii afv viic Aiwr I A not.hfti*——Pftfilfi 'Rtttftjpfi Pl AH of i «b»wwhti, m. Tsaawx*» w *ev»e vs Tumulty ot T«mfmotto. I - ..- . Lafayette Morning Journal. John W. Poole, the alleged slayer of Joseph Kemper, is now on trial for his life, haying been charged with first degree murder on three counts, and from the progress made yesterday the trial may last for weeks. It is apparent that it in going to be a difficult matter to fill the jury box-, as the entire day yesterday was spent |n examining jurors. Several veniremen were excused for cause and It was necessary for the court to order two nfew venire? from which to fill the jury box, the first in the morning and the second late in the afternoon. The trial began yesterday morning at 10-.3Q o’clock in the Tippecanoe countjr circuit court, with Judge Richard P. DeHart on the bench, Prosecutor Frank Kimmel and Attorney Grant Hall, of Benton county, appearing for the state and Attorney Elmore Barce, of Fowler, appearing alone for John Poole. That great interest is being shown* in the trial was manifest by the crowd that gathered in the court room yesterday morning. Among them were many spectators from Benton county and a number who are neighbors and acquaintances of the accused man. Judge DeHart had set the case for 10 o’clock yesterday morning but it was 10:30 o’clock by the time the baliffs rapped for order and the case -was called. In the custody of Deputy Sheriff K H. Carr, John W. Poole entered the court room at 10:10 o’clock and he-took his Seat beside his counsel, Elmore Barce, at the defendant’s table. His entry occasioned but a few manners among the spectators, as he has grown a large moustache during bis six months confinement in jail and but few recognized him. He' looks well and there was assurance in his step as he quietly entered the room. He was alone save for his lawyer, as neither his wife nor his daughters were present yesterday. Emory Poole, the son, the state’s chief witness, was in the city yesterday, but not in the court room.

Announcing that it was the case of the state of Indiana against John W. Poole, Judge DeHart opened the trial. Mr. Barce informed the court that the defendant would waive arraignment and he thereupon entered a plea of not guilty and a special plea of insanity. Prosecutor Kimmel and Attorney Hall, for the state, filed an answer in denial and the court ordered to the box the members of the regularly impaneled jury of the September term of cohrt. After the veniremen had been sworn to answer truthfully the questions as to their qualifications as jurors in the case, William Erwin asked the court to excuse him from

duty on account of illness of his aged mother. Judge DeHart excused him and his place was filled. For busi-

ness reasons, Calvin Cutreil asked the court to excuse him, but with the request that he get someone else to look after his business, the court ordered him to take his seat

Prosecutor Kimmel then read the indictment returned by the Benton county grand Jury June 21, 1911. It is in three counts, the first charging murder with a shotgun, the Second, with some weapon unknown, and the third, murder both with a shotgun and some weapon unknown. Alva O. Reser was then syorn in as stenographer. The' first member of the regular panel was excused for cause by the state after he stated that he was opposed to*capltai punishment on any grounds. The case then came to a sudden halt because it was agreed not to continue until the jury box was filled. Another entirely new panel was drawn and it was 4 o’clock when the case was resumed. Then several others were excused because they did not believe in capital punishment Then attorney Barce asked that court be adjourned for the day, so that he could get to his home. The court cautioned the members of the impaneled Jury not to converse with any one about the trial. Another special venire of twenty-five was drawn. The crime with which John W. Poole is charged was committed December 12, 1909. The decomposed remains of Joseph Kemper, a young German, who had been emplond by Poole on his farm near Fowler, in Benton county, completely cut to pieces and burled in a field. The son, who is bitter against his father and wants him hanged, notified the authorities of Benton county, and John Poole was arrested. He admitted to the Benton county authorities and to

a Morning Journal reporter that he killed Kemper, accidentally shooting him while he was hunting rabbits. He admitted cutting the body to pieces and burying it, because, he said, he had been in so much trouble that he feared his neighbors, if they learned of it, would lynch him. After the coroner’s inquest the Renton county grand jury was called and indicted him. A change of venue- was taken to Tippecanoe county, and since June 21 Poole has been a prisoner in the county jail awaiting