While crimes against non-whites and labor activists were often ignored by right-wing small-town police at the time, Poole was white and not involved in labor organizations and his killers were vigorously pursued.
While crimes against non-whites and communists trying to infiltrate the labor movement were often ignored by small-town police at the time, offenses agaist religious belief tended to be taken more seriously. Certainly, Poole was white and not involved in labor organizations, but his killers were vigorously pursued.