Who is Elmer Karr from Spoon River Anthology and what is their importance?

Elmer Karr asks the reader what it could possibly be but the love of God that caused the residents of Spoon River to forgive him for the murder of Tom Merritt and take him back into the fold. Somehow the people of Spoon River managed, though. Karr tells the reader he became penitent after being taken back. He went to church and rejoiced in the sacrament of Holy Communion.