The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-10

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lope for reply. Truly yours, 7. T. Rhodes,
prosecuting attorney"
TESTERS two sons, Dave and Har-
vey. arrived in New London yester-
/ day from Shawnee. Oklahoma. and
his 1S-year-old daughter Alice and
her mother will arrive tomorrow. The
/ boys have created a good impression by
their quiet and manly behavior.
Cornelia Street has never made the
dramatic statement credited to her in
sensational articles, and the confessions
of Jester published are fakes. While the
story of Jester and his arrest is an old
one to most Of the Eagles readers, it
may be new to some.
Jester was an early settler of this coun-
ty, living near Valley Center, on creek
which has ever since borne his name
The Gates family lived at Turner, Ill
Asa A. Gates. the head of the family,
was then a well-to-do citizen and is stlll
alive today, at Decatur, Ill One of his
sons, Gilbert w. Gates. young man of
nineteen years, was in bad health, and his
father decided to send him off on a long
hunting trip, to build up his constitution
That was in the year 1870. The young
man, who was a good shot and fond Ct
hunting, was fitted out for I3ag Jour
ney. He had rifles, good clothing, plenty
of money and abundant supplies of all
kinds 1t was only step then from Chi
cago into the wild West, which was in
habited by Indians and infrequent pi-
oneers. Young Gates travelled West in
a prairie schooner, the conventional We
hicie Of those days, a strong wagon pro-
vided with a cover to keep # rain and
sun, and drawn by oxen. 1t served as a
dwelling place and means Of locomotion
as well.
As the young man went along he sent
letters to his parents telling them what
he was doing. He had a great deal of !
sport and many exciting adventures. He
shot several buffalo.
When he had been away for five !
months and his parents thought it time |
that he should be returning nome. he |
wrote to them from this part Of Kansas /
telling them of a. new acquaintance lie |
had made This was Alexander jester. /
Gilbert met him on the road near Wichi- i
a wheel
Of Gates wagon and Jester kindly took a
great deal of trouble TO repair it. They
then travelled east together towards Mis-
souri,
Jester took along with him. hitched
behind his wagon, buffalo calf. This
young animal was enormous, but very
tame and playful and gave great ainrse-
ment TO the people in Missouri, who were
familiar with buffaloes. Jester gave ex-
hibitions of the animal from time to time
an admission price of ten cents
a head.
Gates and Jester were together at Md
die Grove, No, where Jester gave an ex-
hloition of his buffalo calf From there
they started out for Paris. which is
twenty miles distant. That was on the
evening of January %, 1871. 1t vas the
last time Gates was seen alive. From,
that time he vanished from earth.
Along the road over which the WAGONS
passed We're noticed spots of blood IN the
snow. But these attracted little attention
1t the time, for a murder is not the first
hing that is suspected when one sees
spots of blood. They were not unnatural
y attributed to some injury to the cxen.
Jester arrived in Paris and left IT With
nut exciting suspicion. He crossed he
liver AT Hannibal. and. passing across the
tate OF Illinois, finally reached his cid
home in Indiana, where he sold the team,
hat had belonged 70 young Gates. At
Oeeateur. H., he sold a buffalo robe that
lad belonged 10 Gates. 1t was spotted
With blood, but the person who bought II
hought nothing OF that at the tine.
In the meantime the search for vo,,ne
Gates had begun. Ills last letter to b3s
parents told Of his meetings with .e,ter
Then came q long silence. His mother bs5
/ dream. IN which she saw a funeral. ana
when she stepped up TO the coffin sic
Jaw that the face Of the corpse. was -bst
i ne SON She told this 10 her husSa7d. I
md as they we're both worried about their
on's long silence, Mr.. Gates started ont :
n search Of him {
He went into Kansas and Missouri ard
olowed the route his son had taken FA
ound scores Of people who rememba-ei
ester on account Of the buffalo cat. II {
ally the father learned how Jester had 5
'een seen going into the lonely woods Al I
lsht with his son: how Jester had been {
cen driving away alone the next dav. {
nd q the Spots Of blood on the snow. I
me father naturally concluded that Jes- I
er had murdered his son. Then he set 7
az in pursuit Of the murderer which :
Toved difficult task Jester was traced
Q Indiana and then again TO Kansas.
aen Mr. Gates al last found his home,
or5A OF Wichita he was away. Gates
herefore laid trap 10 catch him. He
ola the then Mrs. Jester that he wanted
o e0y the house. and she promised 10
'Flte II her husband about 1t Jester re
#ied that he was coming home. ana she
aia Gates the day she expected him. on
aat day Gates was waiting with a sher-
and Trey arrested Jester Just as he !
fove Up 70 the door ot his house.
IN his possession were found young GIL Q
e Gates watch. his cap. ring. bowie :