The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-02
Mrs. Street Did Not Tell on
Her Brother to
KEEP HIM FROM MARRYING
Jester Is Weakening Under
Strain of the Trial.

suggestion came from the friends of Gates,
the prosecutor, that testers friends Sc
cured the continuance in the hope that
Jester might escape, as he did twenty
eight years ago from the Monroe county
jail in Missouri. Already some Of the Of
ficers who have been interested in the
prosecution say It is quite probable that
Jester will escape and never come to trial
again.
The persecution and censure Of TESTERS
sister, Mrs. COrnelia Street, is very severe.
Some OF TESTERS friends, it is reported,
have threatened her II she doesn't let up.
They accuse her Of writing the letter to
Sheriff Simmons here, giving her brother
away. as a piece Of malicious spite work,
the main object of which was to keep her
brother from getting married. Mrs. Street
has made another statement, in which she
says that she wrote the letter'to Sheriff
Simmons giving her brother away as a
matter Of self-defense. She says she didn't
know he was going to be married again
until after he was arrested. She disclaims
any dishonest motive.
81, Cornelia Street, sister of Alexander
Jester" she says, wish to announce to
the public that the reporter in giving in
10 the papers made many mistakes and
has not at all printed the true statements
1 made in regard to my brother. These
mistakes l beg to correct.
'In the first place 1 wish to say that
instead Of wishing my brother away, or
not wanting him 10 marry my motive for
writing that letter was simply cruel treat
ment and self-defense. knew nothing Of
his intended marriage until after his ar
rest At the time his daughter came TO
our house Is when he commenced being
so cruel and he then ordered me to leave.
God is my witness that had no selfish
motive for writing that letter. The re-
porter writes that said I never knew the
name of the murdered man. That is an
error, for did. as his father told me his
name, but had forgotten 1t. 1t was the
young mans father who identified the
team, and his clothes and watch also. I
wish all TO understand that I was afraid
of him.
"And now I wish to contradict a few of
Mr.. testers statements, as 1 am positive
he is wrong:
First, he denies ever being arrested for
murder. That is untrue. for 1 saw him
arrested with my own eyes, as 1 was at
his home at the time. His name is Alex
ander Jester, and what is more he never
had a stepfather. He has, to my knowl-
edge, been thrice married and has, If liv-
Ing at present, six children instead Of
three. His first wife is dead. while num-
Der two and three are divorced.
HE was born I'm North Carolina, in
stead of Indiana. and is nearer "A years of
age than 81.
And now will enlighten those who are |
Interested in regard to his pension. For |
years he has been trying to draw his PEN
sion under the name of w. A. Hill, but |
failed, and he drew no pension until a |
year or so ago, when his application was |
rightly signed Alexander Jester. as this Is |
his true name and no other would do.
NOW. for tbs last time. 1 wish to say |
that my true and only motive for writing |
that letter was his cruel treatment. and |
1 had to do so in self-defense, as he has |
so often threatened me. This being true, |
1 feel justified in doing as l have"
wv. GATES Is MAD.
The Announcement Of the postponing OF |
the habeas corpus proceedings in the case |
was a bitter disappointment TO John w. |
Gates, the millionaire brother Of the muir |
dered boy, and this disappointment and |
bitter feeling crops out in the 2OO-word |
telegram which he sent Governor Barnes |
at Guthrie yesterday morning. The tele-
gram reads:
Chicago. June 80.
Gov. c. NJ. Barnes, Guthrie, o. T.
lis Il possible ends OF justice can be de- 1
feated in Pottawatomle county? My iden- |
LITIGATION OF Jester was complete. He was |
also identified by Mr.. Banks, a resident |
Of the county, who was in Paris. No., at |
the time Jester was indicted. Can scarce |
ly believe there is any way by which fugi- /
tive from justice indicted for murder IN 1
first degree cannot be extradited from /
your territory upon requisition of COVER
nor OF Missouri on you and your Issuing |
warrant for such removal. 1 fear Jester |
will be taken from Jail by his friends and /
that after twenty-eight years justice will |
be defeated unless you can suggest soma |
way by which Jester can be removed to |
Missouri promptly. l understand Probate |
Judge Jennings has postponed hearing /
habeas corpus case until July July 9. |
Is there anything ] can do or you can |
suggest that will enable ends Of justice to |
be fairly met By eXtradi;ion OF this VII |
famous murderer from your territory to |
Audrain county, Missouri where he /
should be tried and promptly executed?
(SIgneO -. W. GATES"
Governor Barnes replied to the above as |
follows:
John W. Gates, Chicago, II.
81 think you can rely lp5n the court |
giving just consideration 50 the case. Can /
send agent to Tecumseh 10 orcerve and |
advise proceedings in interest OF justice /
at your expense il you wish ] suggest
that you secure seed counsel to attend I
hearing in behalf o. sheriff holding nv |
warrant.
(SigneO &C. VI. BARNES. Governor"
Mr.. Gates was obliged 70 return to Chi I
cage on account Of the urgency Of his pri- |
vate business, but he will doubtless az \
range to be back 10 the territory in time |
for the hearing Of the habeas corpus mt
ter.
Jester Is getting weak and breaking
down under the strain Of the trial. Seven /
ty-four years old and nearly thirty years 1
OF that carrying the load of 4 murderer's /
conscience. There is no chance for him TO /
prove an alibi. The testimony OF A. f. /
Finks at the habeas corpus trial ciaches |
the man.
TESTIMONY OF a. E. FINKs.
A. Z. Finks gave testimony in behalf of |
the state:
state your name"
"a. p. Finks.''
where do you reside?"
Ten miles southeast OF TecuDsCn. Pot
tawatomie county. Oklahoma"
what is your age?"
ssT am & wear old