The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-15
JESTER IS CHEERFUL
Revived by His Daughters
Arrival From Oklahoma.
He LIKES JURYS LOOKS
Last Person Who Talked to
Gates TeStifeS.


for quarter of a century, but who were
early citizens here, are testifying in the
Jester trial, among them ex-Justice Of
the Peace Dodge and ex-Sherif Walker.
The trial IS proceeding slowly and only
circumstantiaI evidence has been OBJ
tanned.
The last person who ever talked with
Gilbert W. Gates. as far as known, save
Alexander Jester himself, was placed on
the stand yesterday. His name is A.
". Bassett, and he resides near Middle
Grove, where the young man SO mysteri-
ously disappeared in 1871. The two trav-
elers stopped at the Bassett farm and
bought some feed for their teams. This
was the day following the night Jester
choked Gates.
The witness testified that he talked with
young Gates and that Gates told him he
had been out west and was going home.
TESTERS chief counsel, P H. Cullen, OBJ
jected to this testimony, but Judge Eby
overrruled his objection. Mr.. Bassett al
SO stated that Gates told him he did not
like to travel with the old man, meaning
Ex-Governor. Johnson, Of the prosecu-
ton, said today that the states theory
for Gates failure to leave Jester after
the choking he received at his hands, was
that he had no opportunity to do so.
Asel A. Gates, the father had this to
say on that point: 81 believe Jester
made my son believe he was dreaming
when he choked him, and as Gilbert
knew he would soon be in Paris, Mo, he
thought he would continue 10 travel with
Jester till they reached that point
The appearance Of Alexander Jester is
more cheerful since the arrival of his
daughter, Alice Kimbrough from Okla
homa. She is the youngest Of his large
family, and she is disposed TO stand by
her father. Shortly after coming into
court today, Jester remarked that he
'liked the looks Of the jury"
Captain Hugh Stewart testified that he
and his wife were riding horseback on
the road leading from Middle Grove to
Paris one day in January, 1871. They saw
a pool of blood in the snow in the middle
Of what is known as Hulins Lane The
blood was fresh. The witness saw numer-
Gus spots Of blood as he proceeded along
this road.
When near the mouth of Hulin's Lane,
Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart saw a colored man
named Bill Maxey and Tom Teaford. who
had just previously met two wagons and
their driver, Alexander Jester.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart arrived at
that point, Jester and the two wagons
were about half way to the Hulin house.
witness said The nearest timber from
direction and after Jester started with
the two wagons and teams tied together.
he went as quickly and as directly as hel
could to this timber.
It is the theory Of the state that the
corpse Of young Gates was in one of the
wagons at the time.
W. II. Walker, all the way from the
Black Hills was put on the stand Friday
afternoon. Mr. Walker was sheriff Of
Sedgwick county. Kansas, in 1871. and is
the man who arrested Jester for this
murder. He said that he and his deputy
rode out to TESTERS farm near Wichita.
Jester had just arrived from Indiana and
was out looking over his farm. Two guns
were thrown in his face at once. Jester
said: Gentlemen, what does this mean?'
"TTe then put out his hand to greet
me-" said the witness. 81 got off my
horse and put handouts upon him and
took him to Wichita, where he was
guarded there being no jail there then"
Mr. Walker said ne paid TESTERS taxes
in 1870. amounting to st2. Jester prom
ised to pay it back but did not do it.
o. C. Richards and s. I. Perrin. who
lived in Sedgwick county. Kansas. in
1871. described Jester as being very poor,
with a wife and eight children.
a P. Dodge was a justice of the peace
in Wichita in 1871. Jester had prelim-
mary examination before him after his
arrest there and he stated that Jester
showed establishment when he was asked
to try on Gilbert Gates vesY, which was
too small for him. This vest and the fact
that It had powder in the pocket IS a
strong link in the chain Of circumstantial'
evidence that IS weaving around the old
man at the bar
A private detective employed by the
friends 81 Jester. called ~ the St Louis
morgue in search OF records to show that
Gilbert Gates whom lester IS charged
with having murdered, was taken from
the river here at the time he was sup
posed 70 have been murdered
The records a. the morGue extend only
as fer back rs 1870; three years after
young Gates disappearance. The de-
tecttve Their called on several OF the old
est undertakcrs in the city. but though
some Of them had vague recollection Of
such q discovery, none II them could give
positive data. The defense VIII attempt
n show that Gates was drowned al the
time when he is said to have been muir
dered.