The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-12-23
BE RIfD
YOUNG MAN SERVING LIFE SEN
TENCE is BEING TRIED
AT STURGlS
DID NOT KILL SWEETHEART
Has Always Declared His Sweetheart
Took His Revolver From Him
and Ended Life by Her
Own Hand

Sturgis-One of the most interesting
murder trials to take place in South
Dakota this year will be the new trial
OF Oscar Jacobs, a young man Who
is serving a life term in the Sioux
Fails penitentiary for the murder OF
his sweetheart. Miss Elba Robe IS,
which was begun in the state circuit
court of Meade county last Tuesday.
Jacobs, several days ago was taken
from the ~penitentiary to Meade county
so he would be able to consult with
the attorneys whom he engaged to
represent him at the new trial and
prepare for his defense. In the event
that the jury again convicts him he
will Immediately be brought back to
the penitentiary.
ia, obs is charged with having at
about $50 o'clock on the evening o
January IS, 1909, fired the shot which
killed Miss Roberts. Stureis w TIE
scene of the killing. The girl met her
death in the MILNE Y establishment
OF Mrs. John f. White. where she was
employed. Jacobs and the girl wee
alone in the front part OF the bui d.
iUS DIT Eilt l.if't. ia 't' s1ASN -
heard by persons in the rooms back
of tie millinery establishment an BY
others who were passing along the
sidewalk in front Of The bid ng.
AS soon as it was called 4 at the
! young woman had been shot and III l.
ed the excitement became intense, and
for a time Ia obs was in DANGER or
being lynchcd.
The dead girl was not Guito - wears
Of age and went to Stureis ahO-t SIX
months before her tragis death End
entered thp employ of Mrs. White. n
tending TO learn the millinery t7a'e
At the time Oscar Jacobs was on Y "a
years Of age. He arrived at Surg S
less than three weeks before the death
of Miss Roberts, coming from Steele,
s. y.
He was a sutton for the hand Of the
girl. having known her several wears
before either went to SturaiS The
theory of the authorities always has
beer that because his hah'rs had be-
come such as to meet with the strong
disapproval of the girl she had re-" SCI
to MARRY him. or have anrthing fur
ther to do with him, and that When
she so informed him IN the millinery
store he shot and killed her.
One OF the important witnesses To-
the prosecution at the first trial. rs
he Will he at the new tial VIII b 8
to Tuesday. was John F
White. husband of the woman b"
whom Miss Roberts was emp'0vef.
White. who was m the 'ivfn@ apart-
ments of himself and wife aid Mis-
Roberts in the ~par os the b"i}d 0e
was suddenly aroused by a scream, 2
shot and a noise as trough Soneon
had fallen. Running into the front
room he found the hodv of tie @i~'
on the foor and Jacobs standfne near
bv The woanon Law on the fNor.
When searched Jacobs had in }|s
pocket nothing hut a poclotkn} @
With was taken from him. That he
CONTEMPLATED committing suicide was
indicated by the fact that three time
while being ta'ten to iai' he demand
ed that TIE knife he returned to Vim
Al his first trial Jacobs a17e~ed thai
the girl tool tho gun from his pocFet
end shot herqo1f. It IS believed a
at the now trial tho same sort ~ q
defense W.T. no made and an efor'
made to convince the fnrv that tie
girl secured possession Of the W anon
and shot herself. ana that .1acCfs 'N9e
in no way rnsoonsihle for tie trago
death Of the girl.
Jacobs first trfa1 took Mace il .Irnc
of last yea and resulted in lis con-
viction and the imposing of Il Il c
sentence.