American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-03-22
r.hc rnncrnl of .Poolc.


We have seona great many very large
popular dem6nstrauonsin this City atlthe
funerals of greatand distinguished men;
but we remember none thai exceeded in
numbers that Of WilIiam Poole, who was
buried yesterday. The streets in the VI
cinity of his residence in Christopher
streeA-the large open space directly in
float of his house. the windows, piaGzas
and roofs of the adjacent buildings, were
crowded TO sulIocatlon; while Blocker ST.
Broadwayand sll the streets in this City
aud Brooklyn through which the process
sion passed, were lined by an immense
multitude ofspectators- whose appearance
and demeanor were in The highest degree
respectable and deeorus. A stranger,
knowing nothing OF the circumstances Of
the case, ,would deem it strange that tbe
| death Of a man celebrated for nothing but
his propensities and faculties for fighting,
should call out il popular demonstration 1T
least equalto that witnessed al the obso-
quies OF jackson, Clay, or Webster.
Persons familiar with this City aud tile
peculiar features Of this ease, however,
win have no difficulty in tindingan explana-
lion less discreditable TO our people than
the naked facts would imply. Poole had
a great many friends among the class 10
which he belongei comprising not only
! The fighting men and rowdies of The city,
bat the butchers, mechanics and working
men at large lie had many good qua-
ties, was holland fearless in defence OF
hisfiiends. lavish with money which he
never lacked, and was SO generally known
to the great mass Of the people that his
death underany circumstances wouldhave
attracted atten!ionand commanded sympa-
thy. But the tragedy which ended his
life was one Of the most brutal and fearful
ever known in this city. 1t startled the
public mind more Than any similar event
that has occurred for years. A gang OF
rutiians had laid distinct and premedia-
ted plot to murder him Half dozen OF
them, armed with revolvers, assailcd him
when almostalone and wholly unarmed-
aad failing to provoke him, by the utmost
insolence they could use towards him, shot
him in cold blood. His own behavior un-
der the attack was forbearing and yet man.
! ly to the last degroe. While he betrayed
no fear even in view of she fearful odds ar
rayed against him, he commanded his tenn
per with unwonted coolness, and submit
ted to the grossest insults to avoid fight.
His conduct contrasted with that Of his
ruflian murderers-and was very different,
it must beadded from his usual demeanor
under similar circumstunces--com
no slight degree of public respect: and
during the fortnight that he was suffering
from his wounds the public sympathy fol
him has been constantly increasing
A great sensation has been caused by
this event, not only in this city but in 9th
er communities whcro the parties were
known personally or by reputation. The
attack upon him was without provocatior
and was murderous, and while we would
not PREJUDICE case which must in due
time be brought before the Courts, as fal
as the facts are now known their crime
must be pronounced murderous also.
Now that the curtain has fallen upontht
death-sceno in this fearful tragedy, which
has been discernable inits incipient step,
for years past, and has been played boldly
desperately and in public view for months
until its bloody termination, we give ;
brief history of the circumstances and o
the prominent parties therein engaged
The public will not fail to recognize il
them the effective tools of unprinciplct
politicians, whose efforts for tho famo ant
spoils Of office have tended to corrupt ant
demoralize the politics of the city to an ex
tent that has created disgust and contemp
in the public mind. Bloody crimes lik
these arc bul the fruits of the hydra Of vice
which has been tolerated in our midstant
which, acting in an offensive and deGen
sive alliance, constitute fearful power il
this city. So long as rum-selling, gamb
ling, prostitution, prize fighting and thei
associate evils continue, and desperate
! fghting-men are encouraged by unscrupu
lous politicians so long we shall never b
rid of the characters who constantly hea
upon the city taxes and disgrace. Tn
schools ofyice are open, and hundreds ar
in training to take the places of those VIII