Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-07-12
JESTER TRIAL BEGUN.
AGED PRISONER sToLIDLY MAIN.
TATEs THAT HE DID NOT
KILL GILBERT GATES.
INDICTED ON TWELVE COUNTS.
Expected That a Jury WIN Be Rsadi'
~ Obtained State Alleges
That New Evidence Has
Been Secured.

SeeoAAVa SaeS AAooS
That New Evidence Has
Been Secured.
NEW LONDON, Mo-, July s.-To-
MORO v morning marks the beginning
of one Of the greatest legal battles
fought In Missouri. The Jester
case, famous thirty years ago as the
little Buffalo calf case, will be called
at a special term Of the Rails County
Circuit Court. Visitors, lawyers and
stenographers are arriving. Jester's
attorneys are now 10 consultation
with the prisoner. Both sides are
ready for trial and both confident OF
victory.
JESTER PLEADS INNOCENCE.
The aged prisoner said to-day:
81 am anxious for the trial and glad
the day is here. have stood under
false accusation for thirty years.
The trial will fully establish my
innocence. IhAve entire confidence
that a Rails county jury will give me
q fair and impartial trial. / am
pleased with the people here, and
have received only the kindest treat
ment."
He lie over six feet tall, erect and in
perfect health. When placed In jail
here last October he weighed only III
pounds. Since then he has gained
fifty pounds. Thirty years ago he
looked like q western desperate; now
be lie like q venerable, pious preacher.
William and Harvey Jester, his sons,
are here, and his wife and daughter
will soon arrive. He is indicted on
twelve counts covering almost every
conceivable method Of murder. 1t
10 expected that q Jury will be easily
obtained from the venire of eighty
men.
STATES CASE.
The evidence win begin Wednesday
morning. The State expects to prove
that young Gilbert Gates, when Is
years old, left Turner's junction, ILL.,,
now West Chicago, on q journey to
Kansas, driving q good team hitchec
to 9 covered spring wagon, and sup
piled with sufficient food and money.
Returning he met accidentally al
Fort Smith, Kan, Alexander Jester,
who was going TO Indiana after hi
family. Together they travelled, sacf
In his own wagon, until they reached
Hulen's Lane, between Middle Grore
and Paris, Mo. There, on JanuarX@,
1871, Gilbert Gates was seen for the
last time, dead or alive, except BY
Amanda and Anna CLARK. They viii
testify that, going horseback through
the snow that morning TO Middle
Grove they met q man "a q covered
wagon, with q team tied to the rear
and drawing q second wagon.
In the fret wsgon, they declare,
they saw . body partly covered by
blankets and mStlonless except shaken
By the vahlols. Passing on, they saw
f2upBr ur rrEg asvrs rea ussoa
In a large pool Of blood, and then no
more. The State claims they win
prove that the previous night Mrs.
Irene Dulaney heard loud cries Of .
man in Agony in the camp OF Jester
and Gates near her house. When on
the morrow an explanation was de.
msnded Jester said he dreamed In q
horrible nightmare OF choking Gates
and awoke to find that he was really
choking the lad.
BODY IN THE RIVER.
A few weeks later 3 body was seen
floating down the river. Asa A.
Gates received no further message
from his son. The prosecution
promises to trace Jester and the two
wagons to Indiana and then back to
his home In Kansas. Ills family and
Mrs. Street, HE sister, who last year
revealed his identity, accompanied
him. At the Kansas home the elder
Gates found him In possession of his
sons wagon, team, watch, two chains,
pantaloons, two shirts, part Of his
trunk and the face Of > clock hal, shot
gun, powder horn, and wearing the
lads vest.
As the handouts vert slipped over
Jsster's wrists he exclaimed, "My
God, what lie this for?n
1.-THE murder Of Gilbert Gates" vas
the sherif's answer.
"oh, yes; / bought Gilbert all out"
he replied.
The goods vert taken ana the
horses and wagon sold By the father,
but no word Of protest was uttered BY
Jester.
The State alleges that much new
and damaging evidence has been dis
covered since the preliminary trial.
HGntNE AtAofAtyn heNG noNcE 0AaVH11
their hand. Their line OF defense may
be an abb, or they may rely on the
weakness of the States evidence.
The body Of the missing youth has
never been discovered. Every inch
Of the ground will be stubbornly con-
tested By each side, and : battle royal
lie expected. John W. Gates, the
millionaire brother of the dead man ,is
In Europe, but the father and mother
are expected tomorrow.
LETTER TO states WITNESSES.
The following letter was sent to al
the States witnesses:
"From Paris, Missouri, June 18th,
sir: The trial Of Alex
ander Jester is set for July Q, 1900.
The trial will take place 81 New Len
don, Rails county, No. New London
is thirteen miles from Hannibal, 80.
You will be needed ~ q witness;
prior TO July Q you win be duly sub
posnaed. Satisfactory arrangements
will be made with you with reference
to your expense. New London viii
IN abundance Of pure spring
Arrangements have been
made to supply ali witnesses with
water and excellent food. In
hnd stamped envelope for re-
ply. Truly yours, TT RHODES,
"Pros. Atty"