Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1911 — JURY WAS SECURED [ARTICLE]

JURY WAS SECURED

Thursday In the Poole Murder Trial at Lafayette After Four Days Work. The writer was in Lafayette a short time Wednesday and dropped in at the court house to see what progress was beiftg made in the John murder case, which is of considerable interest to the people of Jasper County by reason of Poole’s owning two farms here and being well known in the vicinity of Rensselaer. At the time we were in I.afayette the work of securing a jury was still in progress, and it was not until Thursday forenoon that the full quota of jurymen had been selected. One hundred and twenty-five talesmen were summoned before a jury was obtained. Several were excused because they had formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Poole, others because they opposed the death penalty. Attorney Elmore Barce of Fowler, who is defending Poole, indicated by his questions that he wanted no one on the jury who is opposed to the insanity plea. There is considers&le interest manifested in the case at Lafayette. and there were quite a number of people quietly discussing the case in the court house corridors when we were there. From what we overheard of these discussions the unnatural action of Emory Poole, the son of the alleged murderer, in being so bitter in his enmity of his father and who has located that he wanted to see him hang, was generally condemned, and may re-act in favor of Poole with the jurymen. Young Poole is the state’s star witness, and his dagemess to fasten the crime of murder on his father is so unnatural that it has caused universal comment. The whole fabric of the state’s case outside of the circumstantial evidence and the physical facts of the case hinges entirely on the boy’s This story, attorney Barce, for the defense, will try to break down. Young Poole is not on speaking terms with the other members of his family. His sister Grace, who is a teacher in the Wheatfield tp. schools in this county, is standing by her father to the extent of furnishing the money for his defense and giving him her moial support. The wife and other daughter Maud are also with the father. Young Poole’s mother and his sister Maud passed him Wednesday without even a nod, but his sister Grace spoke to him as she passed. A jury of twelve farme-s was obtained at noon Thursday and Grant Hall of Benton county, woh is assisting the prosecution, made the opening statement when the noon recess was ended. He reviewed the case from its inception and said the state would show that Poole was sane when be "killed Joseph Kemper, his farm hand, cut up the body and buried it in a shallow grave in his com field. The principal issue in the case will be whether or not Poole w'as sane. The members of the jury are: John Cunningham, William Smith, Irvin Peters. W. W. Campbell, W. F. Alexander, Aaron Rice. Pierre Kenny, Geo. W. Bringham. James P. DeLong, Harry Gladedn, George Wray and W. A. Coyner.