Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-07-06

jail Monday afternoon to see Jester.
The old man was lying on the cot
In his cell and seemed very feeble.
When the reporter introduced him
uelf Mr.. Jeuter, or Hill, as he prefers
to be called, said: eyes, you belong
to a body OF ~assassins OF character
which has brought me to this cell.
Once charged with the crime the
papers made me guilty.
AS he lay on bis cot Jester was q
pitiable sight; emaoiated naturally,
he looks especially bad after the
worry and travel of the past two
weeks. His face is slightly swelled
and his eyes are biood-shot. He Is
very nervous, but speaks boldly and
to the point. When asked to make a
statement Mr.. Jester, in a semi-tragic
manner, said that he had nothing to
say; that he had been advised not TO
talk any more; that he was never
quoted correctly.
"Are you guilty of the crime you
are charged withSn asked the re-
porter.
81 am here charged with a crime Of
which I have no knowledge
severe you ever in Mexico before,
Mr.. HIP"
81 thought l told you that I would
not talk any more"
"on what date did you break Jail In
Mexico2"
Jester was silent, but looked at the
reporter defantly.
"Have you retained a lawyer in
this case2n
"No,but / expect to this afternoon"
SIS 1t upon the advice Of the law
yer whom you expect to retain that
you refuse to talk2"
"Yes.n
"Have you ever been in the minis-
try9"
"Yes, ] organized a church at Nor
man, Oklahoma Territory. 1t was
under what is known as the new
light belief"
"were you ever in jail before this
year,
"No.n
Several questions yer put to the
old man at this part OF the conversa-
ton, but they only made him more
reticent and surly. He finally asked
the reporter to leave his cell.
"Were you to have been married
y~esterday2"
"Yes, | was 10 have wed a widow. !"
"Did the approaching wedding In
finence your sister, Mrs. Street, to
make these charges against your"
eyes, l think that IL did; but don't
ask me any more questions; | posi-
lively refuse TO nswer more.
The old gentleman ia indeed a
wreck and some think that he willnot
live to face q court Of Justice.
There are but few developments in
the Jester case to-day. A LEDGER
reporter called at the jail this morning
and was admitted to see the old gem
tleman who was seated on his cot eat
ing his dinner of beans, bacon and
bread. He seemed to relish the army
fare and l~aughingly remarked that IL
took him back to the time when he
fought in the civil war.
When the reporter inquired about
the old gentleman's health he said
that he was feeling much better to-
day excepting for q neuralgia pain In
his face. He thought that this would
soon leave him and that he would be
able to more easily pass away the
time with reading. He was in much
happier spirits than he has been but
still refused to talk on anything other
than general topics.
Quite a number OF visitors called to
see Mr.. Jester to-day and the old man
would talk pleasantly with each. On
yesterday, the Forth, he was more re-
firing and would see but a few. he
seems inclined to let Ter go Jester now
and does not kick against being called
that. He said that he had gone under
the name of Jester prior to the closing
Of the Civil War and believed that at
one time q good many years ago he
had been In Mexico.
Jester claims that since his arrest
at Shawnee his mind had been some
what clouded and be can not remem-
Der all OF what be had said In reply to
the thousands Of questions PROFOUND
ed to him. However, he denies most
emphatically that he had ever been
under arrest for the murder of young
Gates, and reafirms his story 10 the
effect that at no time had he known
any OF the Gates family.
Jester wishes to thank the various
lawyers OF this and other States for
their offers to take his Q free Of
charge, but states that he has employ
ed P. b. Cullen - his attorney.
JESTER SPIRITED AWAY.
SHAWNEE, OKLA, July s.-Probate
Judge Jennings, who, in the absence
Of District Judge Burweli, assumed
Jurisdiction in the habeas corpus hear.
ing Of Alexander Jester, aiias W. A,
Hill, nov under arrest for the murder
of Gilbert Gates, has ordered the ar
rest OF Sheriff Trousdale and County
Attorney Pittman, OF Pottawatomie
county, Okla, for contempt OF court
for kidnapping and removing Alex.
ander Jester from the jail at Tecum.
sch. Jennings, OF account Of per.
sistent demands from Missouri author.
tiles and the attorney Of Gates, Of
Chicago, brother of the murdered
man, agreed TO hear TESTERS evidence
Of alibi to-day, instead Of July s, to
which date the hearing was first post
poned. When the case was calico
this morning Jester was In jail in
AudraIn county, Mo.
TESTERS friends are excited and in.
dignant at the mannsr In which he
was taken away and threats, which
have heretofore In this caBe beer