Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 281, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1911 — ACCIDENT AND INSANITY IS PLEA OF DEFENSE [ARTICLE]

ACCIDENT AND INSANITY IS PLEA OF DEFENSE

Attorney Barce Makes Long Statement to Jury to Support His Pleas on Behalf of Poole.

GEORGE W. INHELD TESTIFIES Railroad Promoter and Land Owner is First Witness of Defense— Believes Poole Insane When Harder Was Committed.

On the day of the beginning of the third week of the John W. Poole murder trial, the state examined its last witness, completing its evidence in chief, ' the defense made its opening statement and the first witness for the defense was examined. Grant Hall,. counsel for the state, stated Monday afternoon that the trial would not be finished this week-and might take up all of next week, according to the number of witnesses the defense will pre*, sent.

The sessions Monday were more interesting than any of the proceeding ones, because for the first time, the line of defense on which John W. Poole is staking his life was made known. Until Mr. Barce’s opening statement, the defense had given nn indication of its line of defense or any idea of what points it would make in the fight for Poole’s life. < .Mr. Barce’s opening statement revealed the fact that the defense will attempt to prove both the insanity plea and the accidental killing of Joe Kemper. Mr. Barce said that he would have many witnesses on the stand to prove that John W. Poole has been

insane all his life and thus establish his special plea of insanity. Scientists friends and members of the family will be called upon to testify-that the defendant is and was of unsound mind on December 18, 1909, the day Joe Kdmper was killed. . ,

Again the defense will attempt to prove that the killing of Kemper was wholly accidental. In - 4iis opening statment, Mr. Barce accounted for many of the damaging things brought out by the" state. He said that Poole’s confession of the killing of Kemper agreed* in details, to the facts of the killing as established by scientific witnesses. As to the mutilation of the body afterward, the counsel for the defense said that he would show by authorities that that is one of the surest signs of insanity.

At 10 o’clock Monday morning, after an adjournment since Friday afternoon, the trial was continued. Both morning and afternoon the court room was crowded. William Poole, the defendant’s brother, was the only member of his family near him. As Me. Barce continued with his opening statement, John Poole seemed to become more and more depressed, sinking low <n his chair. With head bowed and eyes closed, he presented a pitiable sight The morning session opened with Walter P. Clark, of the Lafayette Journal staff, on the stand for cross-exam-ination by Mr. Barce of the defense. Thomas Flemming, of Fowler, was next called to the witness stand by the Continued on Page Two