Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-12-27
JOSEPH POOLE HANGED
Graphic Account Of the Execution
at Dublin.

DuprIN, December 1s.-Joseph Poole
was hanged for the murder OF John
Keuney. within the walls of Richmond
Prison, at sos o'clock this morning:
Poole slept at intervals last night, and
arose about 6 o'clock, when he had
light breakfast. He then busted himself
with his devotions, reading from the
"Key of Heaven" and "The Lives OF
the Saints" and praying whenever he
laid G the book aside. After a short
time he appeared refreshed and in
fairly good spirits. He then pro-
ceeded, with two attendant warders, 10
the chapel, which is situated about
the center OF the prison, and close to
the cell which he had just quilted. At
the chapel he was met by Father Done
gan, and the trio knelt and prayed. The
last sacrament was here administered to
the condemned man. A few minutes
later a signal was given by the chief
warder, and Father Donegan led the
doomed Fenian to the corridor outside,
where Jones, an amateur executioner
from Belfast, fixed straps pinioning the
elbows. The procession was then form
ed, and consisted OF Mr.. James Camp
bell, the sub sheriff: Henry Philpotts,
governor of the prison; Mr.. Clegg, tie
deputy governor; DR.. Burne and
several wardens. Father Donegan
walked on one side of Poole, and
warder on the other, the hangman,
Jones, Just in front. Twenty PAGES
broughtthe to the prison yard, where
the scaffold stood, the dreaded moose
thrown lightly over the beam. AS Poole
walked the few yards to his place of
death in the dim morning light he ap
peared to more advantage than when
seen in the dock, with his short but firm,
| welf.knit figure, firm and erect, and his
| manly countenance pale but determined.
Once on the scafold the hangman guided
Poole directly under the beam, and,
placing the moose in position, moved
rapidly to the lever in the corner.
An instant later the bolt was drawn,
the victim disappeared, and the rope
jerked and shook violently, indicating
that struggle was going on beneath.
In little while all was quiet, and the
career of Joseph Poole had ended. The
black flag was run up as soon as the trap
gave way, aud the watchful crowd out
side the walls gave vent to wailing cry.
The men mumbled prayers and the
women crossed themselves again and
again. Some of the latter, more fervent
than the rest, fell upon their knees.
Soon, however, they quietly began to
| disperse, as the weather was damp and
drizzling.
Poole's bearing while approaching
and standing on the ecaffold was firm
and very dignified. He asked the prison
| chaplain to be allowed to kiss tie cruci-
| fix, and the request was granted. The
drop was seven feet. The victims
struggle lasted but few seconds.
There WAS no disturbance whatever.
The scaifoll las only been recently
erected, but is in the nature OF perma-
nent structure. Only one man has been
executed on il before.
The murder of John Kenney took
place in Dublin on the morning of July
| 4, 1882. He was killed because he was
suspected of giving information con-
cernlng the Phoenix Park murderers.
Joseph Poole and two others were arrest
ed shortly afterward and Poole was held
for trial, while the others were dscharg-
ed. On September 10, 1882, Poole was
released, but was re-arrested on Novem-
ber 28th, at the funeral of Detective
Cox, and on November 29th was held for
trial charged with being implicated in
the murder Of Cox. at the trial of
conspirators in Dublin on January
~, 1888, William LAME, Poole's broth
er-in-law, testified to Poole being a
member of a vigilance committee of
Fenians which "1emoved certain par
ties. On February 9Th P. Bowling was
convicted of the murder of Cox, and
Poole was again released. On May 4th,
at the trial of Gebney and Kingston,
two conspirators. LAME testified that
Poole came to him on the night of the
murder of Kenrey and gave him full
account Of how the deed was done.
On June Sth Poole was again arrested
for the murder OF Kenney, and arraigned
for trial November 10Th; the jury fail
ing to agree November 18th, he was re-
manded for retrial. The second trial
was begun November 10Th and on No
vember Goth he was convicted and sen.
fenced to be hanged December 18th.
|