Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-08-23
DEATH RECALLS
GATES MYSTERY
Alexander Jester Succumbs in Soutbv..,
at the Age of eo-Hid Identity "
for Years.

mas rSdCuSu ILLS CITY lA1ouSu 6OStmaStos
J. J. Burke of Norman, Ok, of ~
death of Alexander Jester, alias WINS
A. Hill, aged over 80 years. who w.
tried at New London, Mo, in july ,S was
for the murder of Gilbert W. Gatss
brother of John w. Gates, the New YC.t,
| and Chicago steel king and mnltm;
| lionaire, the crime having occurred u
February, 1871. The old man died ~
August Z at the home of his daueb>s.
Alice Jester, and was buried at Shaw
nee, Ok.
Jester in the winter of 1871 departos
from Wichita, Kan, with a 'prajTe
schooner in which was a trained hnS
falo calf, en- route to his former homa n
Indiana He left on his ranch a famIv
consisting of a wife and two children
On reaching the Missouri state line h.
came up with Gilbert Gates and tOget6.
er they travelled until reaching a small
town called Mulberry Grove in AudraM
county. At this point the young man
mysteriously disappeared and from there
on old man Jester was seen with both
his own and Gates outfit. Gates was
travelling to his home in St. Charles
H., and had written his parents that he
was en- route. His last letter to his par
ents was mailed only a few hours b.
fore his sudden disappearance.
Through Illinois and on into Indiana
Jester Travelled, exhibiting his buffalo
calf, disposing of some of the property
that was Gates, and reached Bedford
Ind. After resting a few days he re
sumed his journey back to Kansas, tax
ing with him his sister and family, they
driving the Gates outfit.
Begin Search for Missing Man.
Azel A. Gates, the father of the boy
became alarmed at his nOnarrival, and
fearing that some disaster had befalln
him, left his home in search of his son
For days he failed to find any trace Of
him, until at last it was discovered that
he was travelling with Jester, and on
reaching Hannibal, Mo, he found that
Jester had both wagons. From that
point on to Indiana it was easy to trace
the outfit. On arriving at Bedford he
found that lester had returned to Kan,
sas, and A A. Gates reached Wichita BE-
fore Jester arrived. He had by this time
concluded that his boy was dead and
that Jester was the murderer.
Jester arrived at his home late in the
afternoon, and awaiting him was the
sheriff and Azel A. Gates. Jester was
Immediately put under arrest-even be.
fore he was allowed to enter his home
The Gates wagon was with him and 50
were practically all the trinkets that the
UUF Iluu tdhSu Will 11llhs C1 tie ItdW
of one of the children was Gilbert's hat
and even Jester was wearing the Gates
boys vest. The team was taken to
Wichita. Jester was given preliminary
hearing, at which he stated that he had
purchased all the things of the Gates
boy and that Gates had gone to his
home.
Jester was taken to Mexico, Mo-, and
placed in the Audrain county Jail to
await trial. A few months later be, with
several others, escaped jail. He returned
to Wichita and remained only one night
when he left his family forever, never
seeing but one of them since. He went
to Texas, changed his name to William
A Hill, and took up life anew. He was
past so years of age. He was married
three times while living twenty-five
years in Texas. He entered the minis
try and was noted for his fervid piety
and it is a matter of record that he
dedicated at least one church. But bis
neighbors were always suspicious OF him
and many looked upon him as Grim
inal.
testers Identity Discovered.
After TESTERS divorce from his fourth
wife his identity became known to his
sister, Mrs. Street, with whom he traT-
eled from Indiana, and as she was grow.
lIlE Olu anu I'D 1uS QuIlC Il 0uAl VI A1OA|t
she agreed that if he would not mary
both of them and they would spend the
remaining days of their lives in con-
fort and ease. To this plan Jester
agreed and the property was purchased
When the deed was made, instead OF De-
ing made out to the rightful owner, Mrs
Street, Jester had it made out to HIM
self Only short time elapsed until
for the fifth time Jester began prepare
tons for entering the matrimonial state
and when the fact became known to
Mrs. Street she insisted that their com
pact be carried out, but this Jester re,
fused. Exasperated at the thought that
in her declining years she should be the
victim of her brothers duplicity, she al
dressed letter to John W. Gates tei-
ing him Of the rightful name of the &C
cused murderer of his brother and WheEe
he lived. This information was the frS
that the authorities had received OF JeS
ter since he had escaped from the AeAF
co Jail twenty eight years before.
Mr.. Gates chartered Il special tram,
took with him the proper officers, anu
succeeded in placing the old man under
arrest. At first he denied his identity
but later admitted that he was Alezan.
der Jester, and gave lurid account Oh
his life since his escape from jail
Faces Trial for Ancient Crime.
A change of venue was taken from
Audrain county and the case sent
Rails, and Jester confined in the jan al
New London, where in July, 1900 over
twenty -nine years after the crime hag
been committed, he was brought to tFlal
John w. Gates secured as counsel
prosecute Jester Gov. Charles L. JONI
son of St. Louis, w. s. Forrest OF IN.
cago, and several others. Jester had %
counsel ?. Fl. Cullen of Mexico, Mo-, j.
A. Allison of New London. and J. 5. NC,
Intyre of st. Louis, and after five WeeN
of trial was acquitted. the state behs
unable to prove that Gilbert Gates Wa'
dead the cornus deficit being lacking.