The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-18
SHOT
BY HIS SON
George Poole Of Taunton,
Mass, Was the Victim
SHOOTER IS ARRESTED
Declares That He Committed the Act
to Protect His Mother from the
Attack Of an Insane
Man.

taunton. Mass, Jan. Ia tragedy
took place last night at the home 81
George Poole, ono OF the city's most
prominent merchants, when MFR. Poole
was shot and m0rtally wounded by his
l7-year.old son, Howard M. Poole, who
fred at his father 10 save his mother
from harm. Poole had quarrelled with
his wife and finally had seized her by
the throat to punish her for her attempt
20 secure his commitment To an insane
asylum on the ground of insanity, when
the son. responding to the screams of
his mother, rushed to her assistance and
defended her hg sending a bullet into his
fathers brain. The elder Poole died
about two hours after the shooting. The
son, who was arrested, justifies his act
by claiming that bis mothers lie was
in danger and that II was necessary for
him to shoot his father in order to
save her.
After the death of Mr.. Pooie's part.
ner, Edward II Roache, about month
ago, Poole's condition Of unrest and ire.
sponsihilty became aggravated and the
members Of his family grew fearful az
the future Finally Mrs Poole consid.
cred IL wise TO have her husband placed
under restraint. With this end she Wis.
tied the district court about week ago
relative 10 the possible commitment Of
her husband on the ground Of insan-
ity
Her husband learned of this step and
is said to have made no mention OF It
until dinner last night. He then broaeh.
ed the subject to his wife and she adj :
fn.N hns IL - n l.
reached across the dinner table and shook
her violently, according to other mem
bers Of the family.
Mr. Poole was greatly excited after
the incident at the dinner table. but at
that time did not attempt to assault
his wife further However, the assault
at the dinner table so alarmed Mr..
Poole's son, Howard, that the latter,
according 10 Bis statement 10 The police
last night, went to his bedroom and pro.
cured a revolver which. two weeks ago.
he had removed from his fathers sleep.
ing room. The boy put the weapon in
his pocket and rejoined the family in
the library
Suddenly, about $50 D. nl Mr.. Poole
again attacked his Wife The woman
ran from the library 10 the front hall
way Ia an endeavor to escape her hus.
band. Poole, however. followed her quick
ly and grasped her by the throat. Then
be piHioned her against the wall. Mrs.
Poole screamed repeatedly and cried out
that her husband was killing her. How
ard ruahcd into the hallway. and a. soon
as he had observed the situation quickly
drew the revolver from his pocket and
fired one shot His father fell to the
floor atonce, unconscious and bleeding.
The bullet passed through his right ear
into the head.
The shooting was witnessed by two
other younger children, boy and a girl.
Mrs. Poole tainted from the shock.
The procedure of the boy, Howard,
after the shooting, was a deliberate as
his act in going TO the rescue Of his
mother First lie called up the central
police station on the telephone and in.
formed the officer IN charge that d trag.
edy had taken place and asked him to
send officers at once.
Then he telephoned to DIR. A. F Milot
and TO Or. Thomas + Clark and asked
them to hurry 60 his home. Police and
arrived together and after a
hurried examination the wounded man
was taken to the Morton hospital There
it was found that the bullet had peae-
trsted the base Of his skull The doc
tors united in the opinion that Poole
could not liyes He died shortly before
II o'clock lFis had been unconscious
from the moment Of the shooting.
The victim of the tragedy has long
been prominent in the affairs of Tam
ton, The silyerware mandatory, Of
which he was the controlling force, is
one Of the largest in the city. Last year
AIr. Poole was appointed by the mayor
20 be license commissioner, but on ac-
count of III health ne resigned bis posi-
ton after one month Of service. He
was 81 years Of age, and was prominent
in Maternal organizations.