The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Conscience lmpeIs Her to Denouace
the Slayer Of Her Betrcthed.
THE DRAMATIC IDENTIFICATION.

The Crime Was Committed Twenty -eight
Years Ago-Murderer Writes to His
Sister For Forgiveness. But She In
forms on Him-Br6ther OF Victim
Identifies Him in Western Jail.
SHAWNEE, Okla. (SpeciaD. john W.
Gates, OF Chicago, unhesitatingly ideatInea
Alexander Jester as the man who murdered
his brother, Gilbert Gates, twenty-eight
years ago. The Identification took place
In the jail at Tecumseh under most drama
tic circumstances.
Under.Sherlff Ward had about fifteen
prisoners sitting together in the corridor
OF the jail when the party entered. With
scarcely a moments hesitation, Mr.. Gates.
after a glance at the prisoners, fixed his
eve on Jester, and, walking up to him, said:
"Mr. Jester, do you not remember me!
The old man stared at him for momept,
when he dropped his eyes and replied In an
almost inaudible tone:
"No."
"Do YOU not remember me transferring
YOU from the Jail at Paris, Mo-, to have the
papers read to you for the murder OF my
brother?" asked Mr.. Gates.
Jester made no response. His head oent
further forward. his face began WORKING
.conyulsively, and then he broke down and
began to weep. In a minute or two ne
brokenly replied he had forgotten.
"Don't you think 1t is time" asked Mr.,
Gates, "for you to repent for the foul deed
you committed when you took the lie o!
INV brother. then cut hole in the ice and
showed his pody through it?'
Jester seemed completely overcome, ana,
after q moments silence, murmured IN
broken terms: "God forgive me! God Tor
give met"
In few moments he recovered his com
posure to some. extent and begged Mr.
GATES not to talk any more about MS
brothers death.
The identiH cation OF the murderer OF his
brother rounds out what John ". Gates
has considered his life work. When they
were young men in Warrensburg, Mo-, and
OF little consequence in the world, the
bond between them was very close.
Charles Gilbert Gates was killed by Jester
because OF his attentions to the latter's
sister. He was lured into the country ana
shot. While Jester was being taken to the
Mexico City jail to avoid lynehtng ne
escaped. During all these years nothing
has been heard from him.
Meanwhile John W. Gates left Missouri
and went to Chicago. He worked as Ia
borer and then started small wire mill.
He made money rapidly and Is now one OF
the great millionaires OF the United States.
he never gave up the search for the muir
derer Of his brother. He has spent thou.
sands OF dollars trying to discover TESTERS
whereabouts.
TESTERS sister has been true to the mem.
ory OF her murdered sweetheart. She still
lives In Warrensburg, white. aired ola
woman. Not long ago she received let,
ter from her brother saying that ne hao
been converted and asking her forgive
ness. He said he had lived under the name
of W. q. Hills ever since the murder, and
his home was in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.
The sister Immediately notified the Te-
cumseh authorities that her brother was
An escaped murderer. They sent word to
John ". Gates, In Chicago, aud his law
yers telegraphed him at the Oriental Ho-
tel, Manhattan Beach. He Immediately
left for Guthrie.
Governor Barnes was notified OF the iden-
tiHcation OF Jester and Re honored the
requisition for the return OF Jester to Mis-
souri, for trial. Sheriff Nelson has taken
his prisoner to Missouri. Jester Is very
feeble and probably will not live to be
triad