Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-07-13

JESTER WAS IN DECATUR.
DECATUR, ILL.,, July lO.-PartieB in
terested in the prosecution OF Alex
ander Jester for the murder Of Gilbert
Gates, near Middle Grove, Mo-, Jan.
%, 1871, have written to Decatur 70
ascertain the names Of certain parties
who remember that Jester, after
Gates disappearance, passed through
this city with two wagons and q buffalo
calf, which attracted considerable at
tention. Many Decatur people re-
member to have seen the calf and to
have talked with Jester. 1t IL also
learned that Jester sold a buffalo hide
TO g man named Dennis, west of the
city, and that on the hide were traces
of human blood. Jester did not re-
main long In Deeatur. He passed on
TO Indiana and later returned to Kan
sas, where he was arrested, taken TO
Missouri and indicted for the murder
Of Gates.
HANNIBAL ADDS A CHAPTER.
HANNIBAL, Mo-, July 1O.-Hannibal
has a chapter to add to the Gates
mystery. Joseph Leach, q fisherman,
says young Gates crossed the river
here In November, 1871, leading 9
buffalo calf behind his wagon, and
that in a day or two another man
came back driving the Gates team,
but he had the buffalo calf in the
wagon. He crossed the river, going
over into Illinois. Shortly afterward
Mr.. Leach and Charles Roth were
over the river hunting and discovered
the body Of q man in a brush pile on
the banks OF the Sni, about three
miles south of the present bridge on
the gravel road. The body was dressed
In q hickory shirt and blue jeans
pants. The head was severed from
the body and was found some distance
away. They came to Hannibal and
the father of young Gates was noti-
fed. He came TO Hannibal and In
company with Leach drove to the
place where the body was found, but
1t had been removed and It was never
found. Mr.. Leach says that the elder
Gates offered him and Roth $1,000
each II they would find the body, but
they we're unable to do 90, although
the reward caused them to make a
thorough search for 10.
NEW WITNESS AGAINST JESTER,
RICHMOND, Ind, July 1o.-R. b.
Martin, an aged resident of this city,
is In position to throw considerable
light on the circumstances OF the
murder Of Gilbert Gates, for which
Alexander Jester lie now under arrest
In Missouri. When Jester came back
to this county in 1871 Martin was just
getting ready to 60 to Kansas and be
accompanied Jester back. Martin
says that when Fort Scott, Kan, was
reached Jester claimed to be Ill and
remained within his covered wagon,
not daring to show himself. He pre-
ceded Martin TO Wichita and when
the latter arrived be found Jester
under arrest. Martin says it was his
opinion at the time that Jester was
under some great msntal strain and
that he seemed to be worried con-
stantIy, especially in the vicinity OF
Fort Scott. Martin was summoned
AZ a witness In the case, but Jester
made his escape and Martins appear
auce was unnecessary. He expects
to be called on to testify In the case
now pending. Martin supposed Jester
dead years ago, the report having
ratned circulation that he had been
Killed. Martin recognised q picture
of Jester appearing In one OF the
newspapers and believes he would
recognise Jester despite the fact that
twenty eight years have elapsed since
be saw him.
GUTHRIE, Okla, July s.-Mrs. Cor
nelia Street, sister OF Alexander
Jester, left Shawnee yesterday toE
,Mexico, Mo-, TO testify against Jester
she says abe knows nothing actually
about the killing Of young Gates
though she believes her brother
guilty. when Jester was arrested FOL
the murder, twsnty-eight years ago
she SAYS, oficers fonnd in her bureau