Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-08-14
STORY ABOUT GILBERT GATES.


cARBoEDALE, ILL.,, Aug. 1O.-SomeI
new Developments In the famous
Jester-Gates murder mystery have
Just been brought to light which may
In the near future partially clear up
the mystery and perhaps develop one
OF the strangest traits OF human
character. 1t will be remembered
that Alexander Jester was tried and
acquitted at New London, Mo-, Of the
murder Of Gilbert Gates, a brother of
the multI-millionaire, John w. Gates.
The crime is alleged to have beca
committed IN January, 1871, about
twelve miles from Hannibal, Mo-, at
a place known as Hulin's Lane.
Jester and Gates had travelled to-
gether from near Wichita, Kan, and
the former was bound for Henry
county, Indiana, while the latter was
en- route to West Chicago, In Kane
county, Illinois. Gilbert Gates was
never seen alive after entering the
lane, unless the new developments
prove true. Jester passed through
Illinois to Indiana and later returned
overland to Kansas, and on arriving
home was arrested as he drove up to
his ranch by Azel A. Gates, the father
Of the missing boy, and deputy
sheriff.
The team, wagon, personal property
tncluding watch and clothing), all
formerly the property Of the Gates
boy, were found with Jester.
He was taken to Mexico, Mo-, jail,
and on the night OF Jan. IS, 1872, with
other prisoners, broke jail and not
until twenty-eight years after did his
whereabouts become known, and then
under unusual conditions, his sister,
Mrs. Cornelia Street, informing John
W. Gates of his location. He was
arrested, brought to Missouri, again
lodged in the Mexico jail and later
taken to Rails county, where in July,
1900, he was tried and acquitted.
The trial was one of the most re-
markable in the history Of American
criminal Jurisprudence. His acquit-
tai was looked upon as a miscarriage
of justice, although some OF the evil
dence was believed to have been per
jured, even by attorneys connected
with the prosecution.
Shortly after the trial the Rev. q. A.
Emmons, Christian minister station
ed at Mount Vernon, Mo-, and whose
reputation for honesty and integrity
stood the test OF q searching examina-
tion, wrote your correspondent most
singular letter, claiming that several
years after the crime Is alleged to
have been committed he travelled
through Arkansas and Texas with q
Gilbert Gates, who was en- route TO
Brown county, Texas.
Hlsstory was so reasonable and the
description OF the boy (his photo not
having appeared in the public press at
the time) SO accurate, except the
natural difference that would have
been expected In the seven years which
must have elapsed since the only
extant picture Of young Gates was
taken and the time that Emmons
travelled with him, that his story was
taken up and followed with view of
clearing Jester of the crime If found
| innocent.
For two years a search has been
made for clews to this Gilbert Gates.
1t has been found that several parties
recall to mind this man. He was
travelling with his wife, by whom he
had one child. Up to 1880 several
traces of him have been found and in
the fall Of that year he disappeared.
The most surprising feature of the
new developments gained from those
who are attempting to fully solve the
mystery are that If the Gates known
to have lived for eight years on the
Texas frontier was the brother of John
w. Gates, some unusual motive exist
ed for his attempting to conceal his
family relations. The motive seems
so foreign to human nature owing tC
the international prominence of the
name that it almost overcomes the
probability of its being the samt
Gate.
Jester, who resides, or did until re
Gently, with his son on farm a few
miles out from Renfro, Okla, wher
told OF the efforts being made tx
locate the Texas Gates, said, as he hai
often said before, that he never killed
lGnbert Gates and that in time hi
name would be cleared of the crime
In the coming few weeks much lighi
is expected on this, one Of the great
est of American cases.