Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-10-26
FOR CHANGE OF VENUE


Joseph Mcintyre. q Of the attor-
neys for the defense in the Jester
case, lsft to-day for Paris, where be
viii apply for a change OF venue.
r. H. Cullen, also an attorney for
Alexander Jester, on being shown to-
day what purported to be q statement
from W. s. Forrest, Of Chicago, al
leeing that Alex. Jester was guilty Of
two ether murders besides that Of
Gilbert Gates, said:
al cannot believe that Mr.. Forrest
made any such statement. I regard
him az too honorable q man and too
good q lawyer to resort to such rep
rehensible practice. There is not 81
word Of truth in the statement. How
ever, Il Mr. Forrest did give ont such
statements to the press I would sug-
geat to him that Il would be well for
him 70 prove Jester guilty OF the
crime with which he is charged before
he burdens himself with attempting
to prove independent crimes against
the aged prisoner.
"Applicatlon for change Of venue
win be nled as speedily as possible on
the grounds Of the prejudice Of the
inhabitants OF Monroe County. The
sentiment at Paris is peculiar. The
people there want the Ease tried there
for the money that II viii bring to the
town and win resist the application
for = change Of yenua on thcae e
cenary grounds. The prejudice against
Jester in Monroe County has been
nursed for 2s years; handed down
from sire to son and to try Jester In
Paris would be like walking through
q slaughter house into an open grave
yard. The intimation given out atParis
that the prisoner win apply for a
change OF venue to secure delay 10
without foundation. The defendant
answered ready for trial In Audrain
County last September and will be
ready for trial at any time after the
case is removed from Monroe Coun-
ty."
AREMARKABLE INDICTMENT.
PARIS, No., Oct. 24.-The grand jury
of Monroe county to-day returned an
indictment against Alexander Jester,
| charging him with murder 10 the first
degree.
This 10 said to be the first time in the
history Of Missouri when wenty eight
years have elapsed between a mans
alleged crime and his Indictment.
The Indictment returned to-day is
az remarkable as the case. 1t covers
twelve large typewriter pages and
includes twelve distinct counts II
was drawn in this in order to
cover the charge Of murder in every
possible manner, so that, in case 1t
develops at the Hnal trial that the al
legged crime was not committed as
charged In one count, another count
win supply the deficiency.
One count charges that Gilbert
Gates was killed with an Unknown
weapon, used in an unknown manner
on an unknown part OF the body.
Another count charges that Jester
used = knife on a part OF young Gates
body unknown to the jury.
The next count specifies that the
boys throat was cut with q knife in
the hands OF Jester.
Another count would cover the
theory that Jester shot tBe boy.
sim another count would cover the
theory Of poisoning.
One count charges that young
Gates death was instantaneous, and
the next count recites that after the
wounds inflicted by Jester he languIsh-
cd until death ensued.
The twelfth and last count simply
charges that Jester deprived the boy
OF his life.
The grand jury is composed oil
twelve representative Monroe county
farmers as follows: 7. B. Powers, ].
NJ. Dry, J. H. Moss, ]. o. Combs, VIM
q. Smiley, A. ]. Batsell, John n.
Frye, 7. ]. Miles, J. W. DIckerson, O.
X. Orutcher, VIM. Hedden and s. 7.
Outright, Jr.