The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-21
JESTER BECAME W. A. HILL
AFTER ESCAPE FROM JAIL
Prosecutions Witnesses Trail the Prisoner
Into Texas Under the Name of Hill.
lie Applied for Pension Hill and Then Jester-BIOod
Streaks Observed One of His Wagons
His Divorce Petition

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
| New London. Mo. July o. In the remark
| able Jester trial nearly all the witnesses Re
old or ruidde-aeed. Some who testifi j il
| former trials are dead Through their for.
| NOR sworn and signed statements som "i
| The dead speak In court even now.
As the case progresses one IS struck with
the evident magnitude "f preparation q:
botf. sides
The evidence seems 70 show that Jester
has had three wives TO- eight wears. two
AZ once. and neither divorced. It Is said
he vas about 10 marry the fourth when his
arrest occurred.
While on the stand to-'1v and speaking II
Jester. Mr.. Johnson was overcome with
emotion and shed tears.
Tho State may possibly conclude It's case
tomorrow.
The I1av opened with e c. Evans recalled,
ror further examination by NJ. Allison.
Evans said he bought Doctor ChasA's book
not from Shrewsbury.
No book agent called on him January
Is. ISL. neither lid he learn from any mem
her Of his family that ara agent had been
there in hts absence ot an hour and a half.
United States Government Pension officer
George Rouaehush said that re is examin-
Ing officer In the Pension Department. II
Is his business 10 examine applications for
pensions Witness Identified several appli-
cations for pensions and the a!lidavirs
which accompanied them. He ais iler:i-
fed letters from the Pension Department
granting him authority to bring these docu-
Trcnts here. These papers were mailed TO
him from the department on July l5
Jester known H!it.
Z. F Williams gave the following evi-
dence:
81 arm Clerk Of the District Court at
Norman. ok. knew the defendant at Nor
man rs William 4. Hill | did some bust
ness for him in n pension matter and d.
yorce case"
Witness identified several atIidavits and
signatures az those Of the prisoner at the
bar, William A Hill The Court excluded
the Jury from the room and the attorneys
for the State argued the admission Of
the pension papers and the records in the
divorce proceedings.
Counsel for defense objected 20 their ad-
mission for the reason that the defendant
bore the name OF William A. HI and IL In
fact Alexander Jester. Defense also OBJ
jected because the State IS trying to prove
a separate crime and create prejudice
against the defendant in the minds OF the
jury. Defense also objected because this
evidence is irrelevant. iuTnaterial. incompe-
tent and not tending; TO prove or disprove
any issue in this case"
After a spirited discussion. the jury was
recalled and the evidence Was admitted and
read. These documents show that Jester
applied for a pension under the name OF
William A. Hill. He made no mention OF his
wife whom he deserted I'm Kansas nor
their eight children. This :ime he claims
ne is permanently disabled on account Of
lung trouble Falling in this. he applied UNI
der the name OF Alexander Jester. claim
ing to have been disabled 10y a rupture. He
wrote this explanation 20 the department
with reference to his change Of name:
'Hiil was my fathers name. Jester was
nv stepfather's name. ! was about III
years old when my mother married Jester
and l went by the name OF Alex Jester till
after the war closed, when | took my own
name. W. a. Hill"
The testimony thus far has failed 10 show
that he used any other name than AleSan-
der Jester UP TO the time that he escaped
from Jail at Mexico In iS12, and Went to
Texas
testers Divorce Petition.
The divorce petition was read TO The
Jury. Jester sued for divorce from Julia
Hill in Denton County. Texas. lie alleged
that he was married to her June IS Is7o
This was eight month"; before h left Kan
sas on his trip TO Indiana He charged his
wife With gross neglect of duty. wanting in
affection. leaving him helpless and sick for
months at Il time. refusing TO return. i
though often importuned. keeping the |
children away from him and also manifest |
Ing toward MIN for four or five years posi- !
tive dislike and total want of wifely devo- |
ton.
He alleged that she persistenly refused |
TO maintain proper relations OF wife to hus- |
band He alleged he treated her kindly 1
and provided for her well. The divorce was |
granted. |
Whether she contested IT or no: has not |
yet DEVELOPED.
NJ. e. Cope OF Denton, Tex. said: Il know
Mr.. HILL now claiming to be Jester. / saw
aim in ISL He worked for me In l.73. His
Hif.'s maiden name Was Julia Reynolds.
rhey had no children then l saw MIN
,ften near Denton during "a period o. eight
,r ten years. [ never knew has name was
Alexander Jester until his arrest last year.
know this defendant Is the man knew as
y illiam A Hin
Charles Eatns Of Denton County, Texas. |
estitied as follows: Il lived in Denton !
'ounty since ls52. ] knew the prisoner as
A. a Hil. From 1913 TO 1873 | saw him
.ften. and once in iSsS.''
Captain ]. VI. ROgrk Of Denton. Tex, said:
1 have lived IN Denton County since lsi5.
know the prisoner at the bar. His name
: William A HILL l saw him frequently
rr:ng a period of ten years. lie married
uia Reynolds
ON cross-eXamination, Mr. Allison asked: |
Who paid your expenses NJ here
The Sheriff of our county.
How much?'
Five cents a rniln-s6."