The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-30
A. F. POOLE'S ALIBI.
It Fades Into Ethereal Mist When
Sought.
THE GREATEST OF CHICKEN THIEVES
Has a Hearing Before Judge Hazen
and His Bond Fixed at $1,000,

Has a Hearing Before Judge HAGEN
and His Bond Fixed at $1,000,
A F. Poole, who is credited with being
the boldest and most successful thief
that ever operated in Shawnee county,
endeavored to get free in the district
court yesterday afternoon on writ of
habeas corpus, but the writ was denied
by Judge Hazen.
Poole asked for the writ on two
grounds, the first being that he is inno-
cent and the second that the bond fixed
by Justice Furry in the sum of $1,000 is
exorbitant
The attempt at an alibi was a dismal
failure in the eyes of the court, and be-
fore the case was half tried Judge Hazen
called stop and ordered Poole back to
jail.
The prisoners wife and child and a
neighbor woman joined him in testifying
that he was at home on the night the
thefts were committed north of town.
Poole accounted for his covered wagon
and double team being found with the
$50 stolen chickens on the theory that his
clerk, a man named Alden, had taken it
that night
Alden appears to exist chiefly in Poole's
imagination. Nobody knows him, or
ever saw him, or ever heard of him. The
prisoner doesn't know anything about
him.
He was questioned closely as to why
he made such a desperate effort to escape
when Chief Wikerson endeavored to ar
rest him. He ran foot race from the
chief from his home on Topeka avenue
to Shunganunga creek, south of Wash
burn college.
"Why did you rum"
81 wanted to get away from Wilker-
son."
"If you were innocent why did you
wish to get away?"
81 didn't want to be taken away from
my family and locked up over Sunday"
"Why did you think Chief Wilkerson
wanted to arrest your
II heard during the day that he want
ed me. Besides, this man Wilkerson has
bothered me good deal and made lots
of threats"
''Whom did he make these threats TOP"
"Me, and some of the heighbor
women"
"What did he say?"
''He said he was going to send me to
the pen, no matter what it cost him"
Poole described his attempt at escape
by saying merely, II got up and got"
To disprove his testimony two of the
4nALdCAo W41O pal I'LL pdbC0 III LuO CudoO
af er the thief On the night of the rob-
berries north of town, swore that Poole
was the man who drove the wagon con-
tanning the stolen chickens. Their
/ Identification was too positive to be
shaken, and this settled the case in Judge
I Hazen's mind.
ut is unnecessary to proceed further.
gentlemen" the judge said. 81 have
heard enough of this case. The testi-
to warrant me in holding the prisoner,
even if there were no more Witnesses"
Poole's attorney, j. S Ensminger, said:
"The bond in this case, your honor, is
$1,000. We think it is entirely too high,
and we would like to have the court re-
duce it."
"The bond will not be reduced" re-
piled the court. 'If had had the max
ing of the bond l would not have fixed it
at less than $1,000 He is charged with
a felony which may send him to the
legitimate business in Topeka for four
years, as he claims he has, he ought to
have no trouble in getting $1,000 bond"
Poole is a man past 80 years of age
In court yesterday he wore new tan
| shoes and white bow tie. His clothes
were new. He is not pre- possessing. His
| eyes are set deep in his head and his
| forehead is inclined to incline. His
mustache is short and stubby.
He talks fuently and his man
ner is confident. The mans record
as a wholesale chicken thief in Shawnee
county has been ventilated more than
once. The first time he was arrested he
was sent to Nebraska to be tried for an
old offense. His crime was barred by
the statute of Limitation and the pr ose-
cution was dropped. He has been sus-
pected of many robberies, chiefly OF
fowls, but as it is almost impossible to
identify chickens, the officers only
chance was to catch him in the act
They believe they have succeeded in
! this at last