Thomas Bell Poole (1820–1865) was a lawman in Monterey County, who joined the Knights of the Golden Circle and served as a crewman of the Confederate privateer J. M. Chapman.

[1] He became known statewide for the hanging of the convicted murderer Jose Anastasio on February 12, 1858, despite the California Governor John B. Weller's order to postpone the execution.

In 1863, he conspired with Asbury Harpending, Ridgley Greathouse, Alfred Rubery, and other California members of the Knights of the Golden Circle to outfit a 90-ton schooner, J. M. Chapman as a Confederate privateer.

[6] On the next day Ingram's bushwhackers were apprehended by three lawmen including El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Staples.

One of Poole's accomplices, Preston Hodges, was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor.