Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-09-21
JESTER RwEARRE|EESSFED
HE was UP.FoR TRIAL, BUT THE
PROSECUTION ENTERED A
N0LLE PRosEQUI.
RELEASED TO BE ARRESTED AGAIN
He Was Taken to Paris Monday
The Monroe County Sheriff Feared
That He Would Lose Bis
Prisoner En- Route.
RELEASED TO BE ARRESTED AGAIN

Alexander Jester, alias W. A. Hill,
charged with the murder Of Gilbert
Gates in Monroe county, Missouri, on
the night Of Jan. %, 1871, was Monday
placed on trial before Circuit Judge
p. MsHughes in this city.
When the ease was called, directly
after the opening Of the court by
Sheriff Nelson, Prosecuting Attorney
T. 7. Rodes, Of Monroe county, rose
and said: "In that case, your honor,
will ask that q nolle prosequi be en-
tered and the prisoner be freed"
The motion was granted and Alex.
Jester was a..free man. With the face
OF a stoic Jester gazed II the array
Of lawyers waiting to try other cases.
he was seated against the railing
within the bar and he started per-
ceptibly when Sheriff j. W. Clark,
Of Monroe county, tapped him on the
shoulder and requested that he step
to the corridor. With q wavering step
the old gentleman walked to the door
and out into the corridor where be
sat on Q window sill and listened sl-
lently to the reading of q new war
rant charging him with the same
crime for which he had been uncer
arrest before.
While Sheriff CLARK was reading the
warrant it was to be @ that he was
greatly agitated and his hand shook
badly. When be finished Jester said:
"Well, I reckon that / am your pris-
oner now" Jester was then taken to
the county jail by Sheriff CLARK, who
retained q firm grip on the prisoners
arm.
Arriving at the jail Attorney Joseph
Mcintyre, who lie associated with P.
II. Cullen in the defense, asked Sheriff
Clark that ne be allowed a private in
terview with Jester. The official said
certainly, but 1t was noticed that be
entered the consultation room with
the prisoner and attorney and it took
some little persuasion to get the
sheriff out of the room and then he
would not allow the door to be closed.
When the jail proper was entered 1t
was found that the keys TO the cells
were mot at the jail. This added to
Sheriff Olark's discontinue, as there
was but a heavy steel door to keep
Jester from getting ont, catch a pass
ing train and hle himself to his native
heath In the wiIds OF Oklahoma.
In this corridor a LEDGER reporter
spoke to Jester in the presence OF
Sheriff Clark. The reporter was re-
buffed blythe aged prisoner, who said:
"No, I've nothing to say; you report
ers have done enough lying about me
and are the cause Of my being here
now.n
When the reporter reminded the old
man That the LEDGER had never dis
torted a n Of the very few state
ments with which be had favored that
publication, the old man broke out
afresh with, "You are all liars and al
man can't depend on you" Further
questioning did not draw even a grunt
from Jester.
When Sheriff CLARK had turned the
big key in the corridor door be breath
ed easier, but when he got outside and
saw two strangers who had been hang
ing around the court room and jail
during the day, still standing near the
corner Of the jail yard, his fears re-
turned and he made the statement
that he, Clark, might not be alive by
midnight. He was expecting apostolic
attempt ct q rescue OF the old man by
Oklahoma friends and was taking
every possible precaution to prevent
such q disaster. He said:
~ was In the war aud have been
shot at many times, but never showed
the white feather and II Jester lie
rescued the will have to go
over my dead body. rve been deputy
for eight years and sheriff since Janu-
airy and have never let a man escape
from me. 1 think that I had best not
discuss the time and method of my
departure for Paris"
It lie thought that the two strangers
who alarmed Mr.. Clark are detectives
employed by Gates to prevent q poss-
ible escape by Jester.
TESTERS APPEARANCE IN ooURT.
1t was barely half past u o'clock
Monday when Alexander Jester en-
tered the court room. Within fifteen
minutes the place was well filed
with curious court loungers.
Before many had arrived Jester ex-
ercised himself by walking about the
room. He was attired In a black coat,
vest, pants and hat; he wore q white
shirt and collar and a black string tie.
The old gentleman looked perfectly
composed and although very white
from his confinement In jail, bis skin
had a clean and healthy appearance.
He was newly shaven.
THE LAWYERS M THE CASE.
The following attorneys, who will
assist in the prosecution, we're present
in the court room to-day:
7. T. Rodes, prosecuting attorney
OF Monroe county; J.. Il. Rodes, Of
SedalIa, and Ex-Gov. Chas. P. John
son, of ct. Louis.
Messrs. P. Il. Cullen and Joseph
Mcintyre, for the defense, wer also
present.
TAKEN AWAY IN IRONS.
Although IL had been intended to
take Jester from Mexico on the el
O'Clock train Monday night, he was
taken on the 5:14 train. He was COM
PEELED to walk to the depot with hand
cuffs on and was barely able to hobble
along as it lie necessary for him to use
q cane when walking and in his
shackled condition he could gain but
slight support from his staff.
A ten year old boy could have taken
the old man to Paris without . shaekle
on him.
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