The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-20
JESTER IN ILLINOIS
Sold Buffalo Calf in Spring
field but Recovered 1t.
SAW A FLOATING BODY
w. c. Riley Adds Important
Testimony in the Trial.
SAW A FLOATING BODY

grams coming frol different parts Of the
United States, inqu ring about the defen-
dant and his alleg ID victim. 1t is said
that if Jester is az quilted, and that is
what the defendant and his attorneys
claim to be confident of, he will not go
back 10 Oklahoma, but he will travel and
exhibit himself
The state has traced Jester through
Kansas and Missouri and today it is fol-
lowing him through Illinois. Senator
Sylvester Allen, citizen. OF Scott county,
Ill, testified that in 1871 he resided near
Naples, H., on the state road leading
from Naples TO Jacksonville. The witness
said that in the winter of that year a
man, who he afterward learned was Alex
ander Jester, stopped at his house over
night The stranger was driving one
team and leading the other, He had a
buffalo calf Senator Allen said that Jes-
ter attracted his attention by his pecul-
lar demeanor. He wViId not eat meat.
Mr.. Allen had meat for supper, but Jes-
ter brought from his own wagon some
jerked buffalo meat and gave the Allen
family some Of it. When eating Jester
used a large dirk knife to cut off bits of
the meat. lie would not sleep in the
house, but slept in his wagon
Herman Hofferkamp, who was in the
livery stable business at Springfield, Ill,
said that in 1871. Jester and his teams
stopped at his barn and stayed there
about one week. When he departed he
left very intelligent shepherd dog which
fa "a ba
posed to be the dog that belonged to Gill
bert Gates. lIr. Hofferkamp testified at
this place Jester sold his buffalo calf for
part cash, the balance to be paid on the
following day. When Jester failed to re-
ceive the balance due. he called on the
purchaser, a man named Still, for the
buffalo calf. Sun refused to give the
animal up willingly and Jester took it
anyway. Still had Jester arrested. At
the trial Jester was acquitted
HartwelI Durham testified that IN 1871
Alexander Jester sold three buffalo hides
to a man named A. Dennis, Of Decatur,
Ill, who is now dead. Dennis took the
hides to Dunham's father to be tanned.
The hides We're put into the vat Some
time after, A. a. Gates came along on
the track Of Alexander eJstar. who, he
alleged, had killed his son. The hides
We're examined and blood was found on
the hairy side Of one of them The theory
is that this was the blood Of Gilbert w.
Gates
Mrs. Matilda Dennis corroborated
Dunham's testimony. She remembers her
husband telling her about buying three
r. bloody hides from Jester.
witness put on the stand this after
noon, swore that she saw body in Jes-
ter's wagon as he passed near the
Thomas Rutledge farm in Monroe coun-
~. The witness. Mrs. Josephine Clark.
said one day in January. 1871. she saw
man with two wagons and a buffalo calf
pass her home on a by-road and in the
front wagon she noticed the form of a
man lying upon the floor. She saw the
face OF the man sticking OUT Of the cover
Ing Of the wagon. Mrs. Clark made q
very strong witness for the state and the
defense tried to break down her testi-
mony, but without much success.
Judge Eby's desk was adorned with
flowers Thursday morning. the ninth dav
OF the trial testers daughter. Mrs
Alice kimbrough, came in and pinned
tube rose on the lapel Of testers coat
lie smiled upon her as she took q seat
beside him.
w. {. Riley of Audrian county said he
NEed in Monroe county in 1871. and that
while he was standing on the bank of
Reece creek. the heavy rain Of the night
before having raised the creek. he saw
a body floating down stream in The ice
and water. Part Of the body. which was
Heating face downward, was visible He
saw part OF the face ana long dark brown
hair fio2Jed around the head. The Wit
ness was years old at the time. and re-
menbered the day because a child was
born at Thomas Rutledge's that day.
l saw two teams and wagons mass
through the GiGdiugs farm in February
ISL and 'he teams were driven by Alex
ander Jester said J. b. Atkinson. HE
was following the road 10 Paris. and said
he was going 10 Illinois"
Arthur 5 Dry also saw Jester and tba
teams pass that day. lie remembered il
~was the 18th Of January. 1871. because a
child was born at Thomas Rutse7ss.s tbs-
day. There was a buffalo calf in the
wagon
George Grtton saw the teams and vac
i '''N''S tilE lN@b tiial cay, but did
not see driver because the curtains
were pulled down too close TO see in. The
mornings work Of the Alexander Jester
case was continuance Of that of YES
lernay The only variation Of imDort3nca
being an apparent change in the posifiop
OF the two wagons. some time lust before
noon and after leaving the Hulen lane
witnesses for the day We're positive thar
after Il in the morning Of January - the
larger wagon was in front. the wagon in
which most Of the witnesses previously
examined claim they saw the body and
which M 10 certain point some dis
rance from the HuIen lane was faUoy-in-
the W9son Jester owned ANA was driving
On the part Of the state this is not re-
Eards3 as vital matter. as thew claim,
i was easy 70 exchange places with the
wagons not only for deception. but nos
s.hl'y to more closely guard the remains
of-young Gates. The Tial has developed
three distinct statements. having bean
made by Jester and others. which viii
be shown TO the jury later.
Jester stopped ut Vetnore's l;vsrv
stable in Paris on the evening Of Ta7rar,,
? $50. drove his team in and ate sun.
yer in the Office Of the stable. He was
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