Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1911 — POOLE NOW IN PRISON [ARTICLE]

POOLE NOW IN PRISON

I : Sentence Passed Tuesday and Taken at Once to Michigan City. Lafayette, Dec. £0. —John W. 1 Poole of Benton county, convicted of the murder of Joe Kem- ' per. was sentenced to life imjprisonment at the Michigan City j-penitentiary at 8:30 o’clock yesterday morning by Judge Richard ; P. DeHart, just twelve hours aft;er the jury brought in its verdict ’of guilty, with imprisonment for '■ life. At 8:45 o’clock he was taken from Lafayette over the Monbn railway by Sheriff Frazier and

son Homer, and ?t noon was placed in the Michigan City penitentiary and entered upon life imprisonment. . His daughter Grace, who has been the only member; of his family who has been faithful to him throughout his tfouble, was in the court room when her father was sentenced and she wept hysterically. No other J members of his family were i present. His attorney, Elmore Barce, and the state’s attorney. Grant Hall, were present, as was a small number of spectators. When Judge DeHart asked Poole if he had anything to say, he talked for nearly ten minutes in a rambling and disconnected way, protesting his innocence of the crime and saying he killed Joe Kemper by accident. , It was first intended not to j sentence Poole until morning or I tomorrow, but at a conference yesterday morning between the I sheriff, the court and the attor- ; neys. it was decided to pass sentence at once. Poole left the jail yesterday morning, thanked the turnkey for the favors shown him and md good-bye to the other prisoners.

In the court room he was asked if he had anything to say. “I would like to say a few words, your honor, if I .may,’’ replied Poole. Then turning around and looking over’ the heads of the people around the judge’s bench, he said: “I want to say to the people of Indiana that my downfall began with the shooting of John Quigley. The Quigleys since then have brought about my misfortune. I never shot John Quigley. The Bullet wound on his cheek showed that the bullet bad ranged downward, and there were powder marks around the wound. Judge Thompson told me at my trial then that he did not think I was guilty. But the people have had it in for me ever since. Poole then told of his life being full of hardships. He told how he worked night and day to make a living, and all his life he had known nothing but hard work and no pleasure. “I have had trouble a’l' my life,” he continued, “something has been troubling me that other people “ don’t know about.” Concerning Kemper he said: “As- God is my judge, I killed Joe Kemper by accident. I have told the truth, but they! did not believe it. I ani very

.sorry about the affair, and I wish I could bring Joe back to life.” He expressed the wish that he would be ; well treated at prison and not imposed upon. He said he had been treated fairly in the trial and was ready to go to prison. Poole’s speech was interrupted by the daughter Grace, who threw herself forward in her chair and wept bitterly. The father, placing his arms about her, tried to comfort the girl, but she could not regain , her composure. Poole then picked up his hat and told the sheriff that he was ready t° S°- Poole shook hands with Judge DeHart, thanking him. Poole said goodbye to the judge and to his attorney, Elmore Barce, thanking him for his efforts in his behalf. In the custody of the sheriff, Poole went to the Monon station, accompanied by his daughter. ” Very few people knew of the departure, so there was no crowd there. Just before the train started, Grace kissed her father and he put his arms around her and told her not to worry. She'Watched the train pull out toward the northern prison where he father will spend the remainder of his life, sobbing as if heartbroken.