The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

Montgomery County. Nd. learned OF
its fourth tragedy within ten months by
the discovery yesterday afternoon Of the
body Of Henson Poole, twenty-three
years old. which had been nailed up in
the closet Of the bedroom in his lonely
home at Travilah.
The condition OF the body indicated
Poole had been dead for nearly three
weeks.
The back OF the head of the murdered
man had been crushed IN with a blow
from a hatchet. In addition, the skull
was pierced with three bullets. two of
which entered the top Of the head and
the third the lower left side. near the
ear Any one Of the bullets would have
caused death. as would also the blow
from the hatchet over the right eye the
bone was broken and spllntered.
In the kitchen Of the house hatchet
was found, the hammer head Of which
fitted the deep hole in the skull. estab-
fishing IL as the weapon used
In the room the body was found was
a .22-caliber rifle. OF single-shot pattern.
Near 1t, on the floor. one empty shell
OF the same size as the rifle bore was
picked mp. Examination proved. how
ever. that this was not the weapon used
20 kin the man. as the holes In the head
are much larger than the rifle ball II
is thought a revolver, probably OF %
caliber. was used. and carried from the
scene by the murderer
a search was made OF the clothes OF
the dead man. which were lying on a
chair They had been rihed Pbole's
watch, a valuable gold timepiecefa dla-
moad ring. and his money were gone
Poole was known 20 have been IN the
habit OF carrying sums OF money, as ne
was a thrifty farmer, The fact that his
valuables are missing points strongly
TO robbery as the motive for the crime.
Poole Lived on Knoll.
Poole lived some distance from the
road on a small knoll He rented the
farm from Charles Pennihu. a fisher
man at Pannihn Lock. Muddy Branch
Though young. he had already accumu-
late considerable money. and was known
as one Of the most prosperous young
farmers IN the district.
He was last seen three weeks ago.
Little attention was given by the people
of. the community when Poole was not
noticed about the farm. The farmers
drove by his place daily 10 and from
town with no suspicion Of the tragedy.
Poole lived less than two miles from the
home of Mrs. Harris. VINO was assaulted
by her nephew three days ago. The
searching parties must Of necessity have
passed close 10 the house where lay the
body Of Poole. nailed up In closet in
the bedroom.
Yesterday. however, Jackson Poole.
father or the murdered young man. who
lives at Nuddlebrook, became anxious as
TO the welfare OF his son.
He drove 20 PennifH Lock. where he
saw Charles PennihH. and asked him II
he had seen his son Henson. PennifU
replied he had seen him about three
weeks ago. but could not recall having
either seen or heard Of him since. Poole
then suggested that they drive to the
home OF his son and investigate.
Drove Up to Cottage.
II was a little after o'clock when they
drove up 20 Poole's cottage All was
quiet There was no evidence OF a human
being. no sound Of a man at work in
Darnyard or nearby garden
Opening the door with his dunlIcate
key. Pennifin entered. and the elder Poole
followed The men walked through the
house, which was all in order: but there
were no signs OF it's supposed occupant.
They called his name. and the empty
room responded with the echoes of their
voices.
They went upstairs. Going first into
the bedroom. they saw there had been
violence. Poole's cot was empty. but his
clothing was spread on a chair at the
bedside. The mattress had been pulled
on and was thrown against the door of
the closet.
Pulling this away. the men discovered
the closet door had been nailed up.
Tools were secured, and the door was
forced open. exposing to view the ghast-
ly body OF Poole. disfgured and almost
unrecognizable The men hastened from
the sight. and drove away. Coroner
]. A Han was notified and he. with
DR.. W. T. Pratt, Of Potomac. hurried
20 the scene of crime
careful search was conducted and
an examination OF the body by DR..
Pratt told the story OF the murder. the
robbery the hasty thrustlng OF the body
into the closet the mailing no OF the
door, the placing or the mattress 10 con !
ceal the crime. and the escape OF the
murderer.
Return TO Town.
After convincing themselves that moth /
ing more could be learned at the scene I
the men returned to town. Justice oe the
Peace Hall called an inquest. to meet
at the house Of Poole. at 7:9O o'clock.
The summoning Of the Jurors for this |
inquest spread the news OF the murder |
throughout the nelghborhoOd, and crowds |
~ r.nnr.ln % thnrna Of .hn NM L. |