Shot Man -For A Thrill

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 235, 5 October 1936, Page 3

Shot Man -For A Thrill

LURED THEIR VICTIM TO LONELY SPOT Members of the Black Legion, American secret society, had no grudge against Charles Poole, a Government relief worker. But Charles Poole was a negro. And Black Legion leader wanted “to see how it felt to shoot a negro.” Of all tho negroes in the States Poole was chosen and was shot—just to provide a thrill for the legionnaires. This is the confession alleged to have been made by Dayton Dean, self-styled “trigger man” of the Black Legion. Dean told tho police: “It did not matter who the man was, so long a 3 fie was coloured.” The leader he referred to is at present iu custody accused of murdering Poole. According to Dean, Poole was lured to a lonely spot on tho pretext that lie was going to collect some back pay. When the negro was placed facing the members of the legion one of them fired first and “then the rest of us,” he said.

At a previous inquiry Dean was alleged to have said that Poole was shot because it was said that he had ill-treated his wife a few days before his son was born.