Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-26
DEFENSE RESTS ITS CASE.
Evidence in the Jester Murder Case
Crcdibility of Witnesses.

! ENluchce IN the Jester Murder case
Crcdibility of Witnesses.
St. Louis. July Pa special to tn,
Post Dispatch from New London, No.
says
The defense IN the trial Of Alexander
| Jester charged with the murder of
Gilbert Gates, today. put on the stand
a number Of witnesses 90 impeach the
testimony Of VIM. s. Shrewsbury. who
testified that he saw the murdered
mans body In defendants wagon near
Hulen Lane.
Omar Webb, a druggist OF Jasper
Mo. was the first witness.
DO you know w, s. Shrewsbury
asked Attorney cullen, testers chief
counsel
Yes SIR"
What Is his reputation for truth and
morality"
1T is bad, replied the witness
On cross-eXaminatlon Webb admitted
that be webb put up prescriptions
without being a registered pharmacist.
The next witness was W. $. Ward He
resided on a farm near Jasper and was
acquainted with Shrewsbury. he tes-
tilted that his reputation for truth and
morality was not very good. His testi-
mony was mistaken on cross examina-
ti0n by Forrest.
Al this point the defense asked the
court for the privilege OF reading a
portion OF testimony OF s. NJ Gates be-
fore the justice OF the peace al Paris.
Mo, on May 20. lS1l There was no
objection and Mr. Cullen read the por-
ton which related 10 A. NJ. Gates find.
ing a portion of his sons trunk az Jes-
ter's home IN Kansas.
Some OF the witnesses for the State
swore they saw Jester burn this trunk
en- route TO Kansas on his return from
Indiana.
The defense also read from this long
ago testimony Of Mr. Gates. where he
swore that he wrote for Gilbert 10 sell
his team and come home and not TO
let any one know he had the money.
Mr. Forrest asked the court for the
prlyfgN - leading the whole testi.
mony Of Mr. Gates. and II was granted.
The last witness for the defense was
Dr. c. II. Graves, OF Center. Mo, who
gave expert testimony on floating ques.
ton. The question was put 90 the
physician by Attorney Allison Sup
pose person dies or Is killed on Jan.
uary &c. 1871, when there Is is inches
of snow on the ground, and 10 remains
until February LIST Of that year. then
goes of with rain which causes the
creek 90 rise and the ice 10 go out with
the water would that body float under
such conditions
This question was objected 20 by the
state. but the court overruled objeC-
uun and the witness replied that
body would not float under such tenn
perature as decomposition could not
have set in
on cross-eXamination Dr Graves said
that some bodies would float In one
day. IL depended on the gases caused
by decomposition. When the last ques-
ton was asked and answered by Dr.
Graves, Attorney Allison stated that
the defense rested its case.
The state Immediately put on testi-
mOny In rebuttal 20 prove that W S.
Shrewsbury reputation was good The
first witness was Park CrutCher Of Van
Buren,, Ark. where Shrewsbury re-
sides. He swore that Shrewsbury's
reputation az home was god
ON CrOss-eXaminatiOn the witness adj
mitted that he had received $3.50 from
detectives for which 10 get witnesses
10 testify to Shrewsburys good reputa-
ton
Frank Warren Van Buren,. Ark, tes-
titled that he knew Shrewsbury. and his
reputation was good lie had heard his
reputation discussed and he believed
II. 5. Fltzhugh also OF Van Buren,.
Ark, who is State senator. swore that
he knew Shrewsbury and that his rep
utation was good. He was associated
with Shrewsbury in a brewery