The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-09-02
SLAYER OFG. W.GATES
SISTER OF ALEXANDER JESTER
BETRAYS HIM.
Torment of Conscience-Assassin, Aged
and Infirm, Awaits Long EIudcd JUS
tice-story of a Crime Committed in
Oklahoma in 1871.

The man who twenty-eight years ago
murdered Gilbert w. Gates, brother of
John w. Gates of Chicago, has been
found. After years of silence, the aged
sister of the murderer, Alexander Jes-
ter, has made known his identity, and
he stone shaft in the Gates family
burial plat in West Chicago, which for
twelve years has accused him of the
murder of Gilbert, is to reap its re-
ward. Out of Oklahoma there has come
a confession. Mrs. Cornelia Street, in
a letter to Sheriff Simmons of Wichita,
has lived all these years under the
alias of w. Fl. Hill, and who lives near
Shawnee, Okla, so years old, infirm,
gray, and de%bilitated, is the mar that
murdered Gilbert Gates. She, his sis
ter, has been driven by conscience in
her old age to reveal a secret that she
has kept for years. Those whose menu
DRY is long recall that Alexander Jes-
ter was caught almost r~ed-handed and
taken to Mexico, Mo-, to escape the
'NASNNASS "a "a pursuing "
there he disappeared as though swal-
lowed up by the earth, and, in spite of
extensive search made persistently and
for years, he eluded all attempts at
his capture. Now the lost thread of
the story has been found. and the ev!-
dence Of the old murder is pieced to-
gether out of the past.
Gilbert Gates was 10 years old and
In bad health when in 1870 he started
out from what was then Turner juno
ton, and now is West Chicago, ILL.,, in
search of health and recreation. On
the Missouri trail, leading south from
Wichita, he met Alexander Jester, and
the two travelled on in company. The
trail which A. A. Gates, father of the
murderer's victim, was following in
the search ended at Warrensburg, Mo-,
and no further trace of his son could
be found. A few weeks later Jester
returned to Wichita alone with Gates
team in his possession and carrying the
gold watch which his victim had worn,
He was arrested, confessed, and es-
capped. Search as they might, no trace
of him could be found, and for a quar-
ter Of a century and more it was be-
lieved he was dead, until the follow
ing letter the other day disclosed his
hiding place:
ITO the Sheriff of Sedgwick County:
l wish to make a statement to you in
regard to my brother, whose name is
Alexander Jester, who was arrested
near Valley Center, Kan, in the year
1871, May 2, for killing a young man
for his team, watch and clothing. The
murder a committed in Missouri,
near Warrensburg. My brother was ar
rested for numbering this young man.
and | know Of my own personal knowl-
edge that he is guilty of the charge.
He was given a preliminary hearing In
Wichita, and was sent to Missouri.
where the crime was committed. and
broke Jail. He is my own brother,
bat | want him punished for that
crime. | hope you can and will find
on the dockets his preliminary hearing
and will notify officers of the county
where the murder was committed. Nv
brother is living here in Shawnee,
Okla, and is known by the name of
W. H. Hill. Hoping to hear from you
in reply, respectfully,
"CORNELIA STREET"
When asked to give her reasons for
disclosing her brothers Identity at this
late day Mrs. Street said:
THE Lord has prompted me to do 1t,
No one has known the load | have car
ried around for these many years.
When would tr! to forget it, it would
seem to me as If l could hear the
Lord saying, 'YCu are as much a sin
ner as your brother AS | grew older
the burden has grown heavier. For the
last seven years l have scarcely slept;
the dread of carrying the secret to my
grave has never been lifted for a mo-
ment. 1t ran through all the music
and laughter that l ever heard. When
we had guests at our home and ]
laughed and talked with friends | could
feel a chill creeping through me.
1T always CAME chasing after every
pleasant thought so close that | never
could find any enjoyment in any,
thing. l thought of it at night after
going to bed. l could not dismiss IL
from my mind. l struggled to forget
it for just a little while till l only had
a feverish headache. 1t robbed me OF