Raymond Batson, 1938 March 30

entered Judge Rabenau's court room and, after screaming "You forged
my name at Clayton," he shot the Judge four times killing him instant
ly. He then fired a bullet at Deputy Constable Jacke Nece who was in
the courtroom and this bullet grazed the constable and struck Dr,
William Edward Poole, a Kirkwood dentist, in the abdomen, inflicting
a wound from which he died the next day, As Batson fled, Nece shot,
him in the arm. Batson went to the offices of the Relief Association
and when he entered demanded that the employees call "the Federal
men,"' They all fled the building and thrrty minutes later the police
dislodged him by firing tear gas into the building. Tried first for
the murder of Dr. Poole, his conviction and death sentence were re-
versed on appeal because the trial judge had failed to instruct the
jury on second degree murder, His second conviction was for the

~ death of Judge Rabenau and he was again sentenced to die, This con-
vietion was affirmed on appeal and on March 30, 1938, Batson was as-

physiated at the Missouri State Prison,

ST,’ LOUIS POST=DISPATCH, Dece 29, 193lte
RAXMXXRXURX 96 SOUTHWEST ERN (ond) 383 116 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 35

entered Judge Rabenau's court room and, after screaming ‘You forged
my name at Clayton," he shot the Judge four times killing him instant.
ly. He then fired a bullet at Deputy Constable Jack Nece who was in
the courtroom and this bullet grazed the constable and struck Dr,
William Edward Poole, a Kirkwood dentist, in the abdomen, inflicting
a wound from which he died the next day. As Batson fled, Nece shot
him in the arm. Batson went to the offices of the Relief Association
and when he entered demanded that the employees call "the Federal
men,"' They all fled the building and thirty minutes later the police
dislodged him by firing tear gas into the building. Tried first for
the murder of Dr. Poole, his conviction and death sentence were re-
versed on appeal because the trial judge had failed to instruct the
jury on second degree murder, His second conviction was for the
death of Judge Rabenau and he was again sentenced to die, This con-
viction was affirmed on appeal and on March 30, 1938, Batson was as-
physiated at the Missouri State Prison,

ST.’ LOUIS POST=DISPATCH, Dec. 29, 193K.
XEXNRERMURX 96 SOUTHWEST ERN Cana} 38h; 116 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 35

entered Judge Rabenau!s court room and, after screaming "You forged
ny name at Clayton," he shot the Judge four times killing him instant
ly. He then fired a bullet at Deputy Constable Jack Nece who was in
the courtroom and this bullet grazed the constable and struck Dr,
William Edward Poole, a Kirkwood dentist, in the abdomen, inflicting
a wound from which he died the next day, As Batson fled, Nece shot
him in the arm, Batson went to the offices of the Relief Association
and when he entered demanded that the employees call "the Federal
men," They all fled the building and thirty minutes later the police
dislodged him by firing tear gas into the building, Tried first for
the mrder of Dr. Poole, his conviction and death sentence were re-
versed on appeal because the trial judge had failed to instruct the
jury on second degree mrder, His second conviction was for the
Geath of Judge Rabenau and he was again sentenced to die, This con-
viction was affirmed on appeal and on March 30, 1938, Batson was as~
physiated at the Missouri State Prison,

ST.’ LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, Decy 29, 193he
ROOMAAHANRX 96 SOUTHWESTERN Cena} 384; 116 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 35

eek ees ar

‘intawaar 56 sormunst toed Hay"106 srmssre (2) 36

BATSON, Raymond J. | 30/5 so |

Batson, a 29-yeareold black man who resided with his wife, Luella, at
321 Fillmore Avenue, Kirkwood, Mo,, was an unemployed chauffeur who
was a client of the County Relief Administration at 129 E, Argonne,
where he was considered a troublesome recipient of relief having, on
one occasion created a scene when refused a pair of dress shoes for
Sunday wear and, on another, having written to President Roosevelt
complaining of the treatment accorded him, Batéow, whose plea at his
second trial for murder was insanity, undoubtedly had delusions of
grandeur and considered him an expert on the law, having, at one time,
had some stationery printed with the letterhead "Ray J, Batson, In-
vestment Specialist and Nrawer of Negotiary Instruments," He frequent«
ly appeared before the Justice of the Peace Court of Judge Philip Hae
benau at 140 Kirkwood Road to argue cases invokving himself, members
of his family and his friends. On December 13, 193, he appeared in
a case in which his wife and her aunt were charged with disorderly
conduct and both were convicted and sentenced to 30 days in jail. On
the morning of Dec, 28, Batson was in the County Circuit Court com-
eee of the treatment he was accorded.in the Justice of the P age.
ourt when the District Attorney showed him a recognizance purportedly
signed by him in the case involving his wife and her Aunt, He immed-
lately pronounced it a forgery and left. After arming himself, he

BATSON, Raymond J. H30f/ GSS

Batson, a 29-year-old black man who resided with his wife, Luella, at
321 Fillmore Avenue, Kirkwood, Mo,, was an unemployed chauffeur who
was a client of the County Relief Administration at 129 E, Argonne,
where he was considered a troublesome recipient of relief having, on
one occasion created a scene when refused a pair of dress shoes for
Sunday wear and, on another, having written to President Roosevelt
complaining of the treatment accorded him, Batéen, whose plea at his
second trial for murder was insanity, undoubtedly had delusions of
grandeur and considered him an expert on the law, having, at one time,
had some stationary printed with the letterhead "Ray J, Batson, In-
vestment Specialist and Nrawer of Negotiary Instruments," He frequent-|
ly appeared before the Justice of the Peace Court of Judge Philip Ra®
benau at 140 Kirkwood Road to argue cases invokving himself, members
of his family and his friends. On December 13, 193, he appeared in
a case in which his wife and her aunt were charged with disorderly
conduct and both were convicted and sentenced to 30 days in jail. On
the morning of Dec. 28, Batson was in the County Circuit Court com-
Bauce wien the piecetene iecoonee ehevelcnin Bieter esse’ purcee Safty
signed by him in the case involving his wife and her Aunt. He immed=
iately pronounced it a forgery and left. After arming himself, he

BATSON, Raymond J, F209 535)

Batson, a 29-year-old black man who resided with his wife, Luella, at
321 Fillmore Avenue, Kirkwood, Mo,, was an unemployed chauffeur who
was a client of the County Relief Administration at 129 F, Argonne,
where he was considered a troublesome recipient of relief having, on
one occasion created a scene when refused a pair of dress shoes for
Sunday wear and, on another, having written to President Roosevelt
complaining of the treatment accorded him, Batéem, whose plea at his
second trial for mrder was insanity, undoubtedly had delusions of
grandeur and considered him an expert on the law, having, at one tine,|
had some stationery printed with the letterhead "Ray J, Batson, In-
vestment Specialist and Braver of Negotiary Instruments," He frequent]
ly appeared before the Justice of the Peace Court of Judge Philip Ra@
benau at 1,0 Kirkwood Road to argue cases invokving himself, menbers
of his family and his friends. On December 13, 193l, he appeared in
a case in yhich his wife and her aunt were charged with disorderly
conduct and both were convicted and sentenced to 30 days in jail, On
the morning of Dec. 28, Batson was in the County Circuit Court com-
laining of the treatment he vas accorded.in the Justice of the Pea
jourt: ‘when the District Attorney shows im a recognizance purportet
signed by him in the case involving his wife and her Aunt, imned=
iately pronounced it a forgery and left, After arming himself, he

eee ee