Description:John Poole was an excavator by trade, a job which took him all over the country. He had worked in the USA for a period, and as a result had the nickname 'American Jack'.
In 1866, he was lodging with his father at Croxall when he was murdered on January 10, aged 49. The culprit was 27 year old George Bentley, a deserter from the 17th Regiment of Foot who was thought to be an acquaintance. The two men shared a drink at the inn at Offley Brook, where Poole paid with a sovereign. Poole continued walking towards Eccleshall, followed shortly after by Bentley. Poole fell asleep by the side of the road, and as he slept Bentley murdered him for the rest of the sovereign, his waistcoat and his boots.
Bentley was apprehended in Eccleshall. He was convicted of Poole's murder and hanged in Stafford on 27 March 1866.