The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-02
Jury Reached an Agreement
on the Sixth Bal
k lot.
NOTED CASE AT AN END.
Disappearance of Young Gil
bert Gates Thus Remains
mysterious.
AGED DEFENDANT CALM.
Made No Demonstration When
Acquitted Lawyers
Expressions.
AGED DEFENDANT CALM.

REPUB1ic SPECIAL
New London, Mo, Aug. l-AleAanoer 'es-
ter is free.
For thirty years a cloud has hung Hike
pail over him. but his hearts desire no" Is
attained.
On the sixth ballot Of the Jury ne was ac-
omitted, The first resulted, three for hahs-
ing. nine for acquittal; the second. thlro
and fourth ballots were the same. On me
fifth ballot. one of the three joined 1he
ranks Of the majority and the sixth oaliot
freed forever the accused
All the afternoon the crowds hung around
the Courthouse hoping to hear the verdict
The Jury discussed the case all the AFTER
noon and # was understood that they couid
not agree.
AZ sa5 n. m. the Courthouse bell rang out
on the night air and It was a signal Tor
Grand rush to the old rock temple OF JUS
tice. Judge Eby watched the jury file Slow
,y in. with suppressed excitement the audi
ence waited to hear the words that were to
bind or loosen the old prisoner forever.
The foreman. Joseph Barry, handed slip
of paper to Judge Eby. and he read this
verdict:
we. the Jury. find Alexander Jester not
guilty"
Jester Was Composed.
For q few seconds all was still as death.
Then the audience rose as one man ana
almost leaned into the air. mighty shout
went I'D that fairly shook the stone walls
Harvey Jester a1lI william Hill. TESTERS $
sons were beside him when the message OF
rest and shook hands with him warmly.
MANY crowded about him to congratulate
HIM.
If any new emotion dwelt in Alexander
testers breast, no man could tell II py ms
countenance, except, perhaps, by rant
smile. He was the coolest man In the court
house. He accepted the congratulations OF
his friends with perfect composure, almost
akin TO indifference. His daughter Alice
was not in the room. Slowly he turned ana
walked down the aisle, supported on each
side by faithful son. Together they de-
scended the stairway and walked 10 tne
Afford Hotel Every few feet tho trio
progress was interrupted by congratula-
items But a large number Of the citizens
believe him guilty. Many refused to snake
hands with him.
When acquitted, Jester said to q friend
near him. "God bless you," In q real oio
Southern camp-meeting tone.
The bell rang while the church folk were
in the midst of their prayer meetings anu
the significant sound came near causing
complete exodus.
Asked about his plans, Jester said:
am subject " tNS ohoSAS - HNs ~~'
William"
What the Attorneys Say.
Your correspondent interviewed some OIL
The ATTORNEYS connected with this historic
case Their replies are CHARACTERISTIC here
they are:
Governor Johnson: "And of such is the
Kingdom OF Heaven!"
j. win Hays: 1.-THE verdict is against the
law and the evidence"
william s. Forrest: "Good-by. am 60
ing home"
J. @. Hoffman. the Ptnkertonr "All right.
Tomorrow will be after some other cuss "
J. S. Mcintyre; ut is a righteous ana
1ust verdict that Will be applauded by the
public everywhere 1t is lesson 10 the
PinkeTtons In Missouri"
PHI Cullen: 1T is a just and a righteous
verdict by q Just and a righteous jury
J. o. Allison: 'This verdict is a vindica-
tion Of tho Old man, and, better still. 1t IS
a rebuke Of the use OF the Pinkertons anu
money In Justice"
As soon "A Jester could tear himself
away from those who crowded about to
congratulate him, he hurried to his hotel
and was soon the center of a happy group
mads up of hts children-Harvey Jester.
VIII and Alice Hill-who quietly reJoiced
Jester will leave here at once for Oklahoma
10 his old home, where he was arrested TWO
Yeas ago.
Great Crowd in Attendance.
If the crowds were dense yesterday, they
were denaer to-day. At o'clock this morn
ing they began to arrive Every seat was
quickly filled and soon every availaoie foot
OF space was occupied. They swarmed over
the clerks platform and the Judges hish
stand until they were packed like sardines
in a box. and yet there were hundreds in the
yard who could not even enter the halfway.
But it was a respectful, orderly and IN
feusely interested multitude.
The last address made in this memorable
trial was delivered to-day by William 8.
Forrest of Chicago. on behalf Of the State
of Missouri In clear-cut argument OF -four
hours and eleven minutes, all Of the time re-
manning out Of the thirty-two hours allotted
for argument, he made g mastery plea for
the conviction Of the accused Mr.. Forrest
showed a most marvellous memory OF the
great volume Of circumstances connected
with this historic trial. He did not play to
the gallery. With great ea<nestness he ar
xued with the jury.
practical Admission of Guilt"
Mr.. Forrest said: "The silence of the de-
fepse on testimony and cross-examination
with reference to the snug black rig drawn
by the two black horses. which Jester
claims carried Gilbert Gates away In HUI
len la.>e is q practical admission of guilt
Many p ople saw Jester ana the two wagons
on that road and they have been on this
stand, but not one question have these gen.
tlemen asked about that rig.
III such q wagon had traversed that road
Il would have been easy to demonstrate It
They ask no one from Middle Grove. no one
from Paris, no one from the neighborhcod
of the tragedy q single question about this
I most material fact In this case. Their 81
/ lence is most significant.
'It has been argued that these witnesses