The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-09
Aged Prisoner Stolidly Maintains
That He Did Not Kill Gill
bert Gates.
INDICTED ON TWELVE COUNTS.
Expected That Jury viii Be
Readily Obtained-State Al
leges That New Evidence
Has Been Secured.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

fsF-f I fisiC SfEClAi-
New London. Mo. July S. Tomorrow
morning marks the beginning of one of the
greatest legal battles ever fought in Mis-
souri,. The Jester case. famous thirty years
ago as the little Buffalo Calf case. will
be called at special term OF the Rails
County Circuit Court. Visitors. lawyers
and stenographers are arriving. TESTERS at
torneys are now in 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. l have stood under this false
accusation for thirty years. The trial will
fully establish my innocence. l have en-
tire confidence that a Rails County jury
will give me a fair and impartial trial.
am pleased with the people here and have
received only the kindest treatment"
He Is over six feet tall. erect and in per-
feet 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 a Western des-
perado: now he is like a 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 is expected that
jury will be easily obtained from the venire
of eighty men.
States Case.
The evidence will begin "Wednesday morn
ing. The State expects to prove that young
Gilbert Gates. when Is years old. left Tur-
ner's Junction. Ill, now West Chicago. on
l.
hitched to a covered spring wagon. and sup
piled with sufficient food and money Re-
turning he met accidentally At Fort Smith,
Alexander Jester. who was goirg to In
diana after his family. Toe.ther they trav-
eled, each In his own wagon. until they
reached Hulen's Lane between Middle
Grove and Paris, Mo. There, ON January IS
Nj. Gilbert Gates was seen for the last
time. dead or alive, except by Amanda and
Anna Clark They will testify that, going
horseback through the snow that morning
to Middle Grove they met q npan in q COW
cred wagon, with a team tied to the rear
and drawing second wagon.
In the first wagon. they declare. they saw
a body partly covered BY blankets and mo-
tionless except shaken by tho vehicle. Pass
Ing on. they saw drops OF blood in the snow
further On a large pooa Of blood, and then
no more. Tho State claims they will prove
that the previous night Mrs Irene Dulaney
camp Of Jester and Gates near her house
When on the morrow an explanation was
demanded Jester said he dreamed in q hor-
rible nightmare Of choking Gates and
awoke to find that he was really choking
the lad.
Body In the River.
A few weeks later body was seen float
ing down the river. Asa A. Gates received
no further message from his son. The pros
ecution promises to trace Jester and the
two wagons to Indiana and then back to his
home in Kansas. His family and Mrs
Street, his sister, who last year revealed his
identity. accompanied him. At the Kansas
home the elder Gates found him in possess
sion Of the sons wagon, team, watch. two
chains. pantaloons. two shirts. part of his
trunk and the face OF clock. hat. shotgun,
powder horn. and wearing the lads vest
As the handouts were slipped over testers
wrists he exclaimed. My God, what is this
forT''
THE murder of Gilbert Gates" was the
Sheriff's answer
"Oh, yes: 1 bought Gilbert all out" he
replied.
The goods were taken and the horses and
wagon sold by the father, but no word of
protest was uttered by Jester.
afe ev.dsgs has bs rsh nsw and
since the preliminary trial. TESTERS attor-
neys have never showed their hand. Their
line of defense may be an ai6i, or they may
rely on the weakness of the States evidence.
The body Of the missing youth has never
been discovered. Ever. inch of the ground
will he stubbornly contested by each side
and battle royal is 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 all the
States Witnesses:
From Paris, Missouri. June 18th. l900.-Dear
Srr-The trial Of Alexander Jester is set for July
g. 1850. The trial will take place at Ner London
Rails County. Mo New London is thirteen miles
from Hannibal. No You will be needed as a
witness: prior to July you will be duly sub
poenaed. Satisfactory arrangements will he
made with you with reference TO your expenses.
New London will have abundance OF pure
spring water Arrangements have been made to
supply all the witnesses with spring water and
excellent food. Inc:osed find stamped envelope
for reply. Truly yours. 7. 7: RHODES.
Pros. Atty.'s