The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-12-23
OBETR|FDACAIN
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-0ne of the most interesting
murder trials to take place in South
Dakota this year will be the new tria'
Of Oscar Jacobs, a young man who
is serving a life term in the Sioux
Falls penitentiary for the murder o.
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 even
that the jury again convicts him he
will Immediately be brought back to
the ~penitentiary.
Jat obs is charged with having at
about s:36 o'clock on the evecing o
January Is, 1909, fired the shot which
killed Miss Roberts. Sturgis W s the
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 but d.
ing at the time, but the sbet al
heard by persons in the room back
of the millinery establishment an bv
others who were passing along the
sidewalk in front of the build ne
AS soon as it was realized that the
young woman had been shot and XII J.
ed the excitement became intense, and
for q time Jacobs was in danger OF
being lynched.
The dead girl was not quite 19 years
Of are and went to Stursis abort SIX
months before her tragis death and
entered the employ Of Mrs. Write, m
tending to learn the millinery tra'e
At the time Oscar Jacobs was on y "a
years Of age. He arrived at Sturgs
less than three weeks before the deatN
of Miss Roberts, coming from Steele,
S. d.
He was a sutton for the hand OF the
girl. having known her several years
before either went TO Stur~is The
theory Of the authorities ALWAYS ha'
been that because his hoh'ts bad be-
come such as to meet with the strong
disapproval of the girl she had ref Sc
to marry him. or have anvtNing flu
Their 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 70"
tho n~rosecution at the first trial, as
he will he at the new I ial with s
to commence Tuesday was Jchn F
White. husband of the woman b"
whom Miss Roberts was EMPLOYED.
White. who wae in the 'ivino apa~t-
ments OF himself and wife ard Mis-
Roberts. in the rear Of the b"i'd'ne
was suddenly aroused by a scream a
shot ard a noise as though someone
had fallen. Running into TIE front
room be found the bodv of tie gil
on the floor and Jacobs stond'ng near
by The wearon Law on the floor.
When searched Jacobs had in us
pocket nothing Int a pocte'kniee
With was taken from him. Tat he
contemplated committing suicide was
Indicated bv the fact that three time
while heinx tahen TO iail he dernand-
ed that the Rnife be returned 20 him
At his frst trial Jacobs ane~ed thai
the girl took the guu from his nocret
and shot herself. rt Is he'ieved ia
nj the new trial the same sort ~ a
defense will he made ana On ef"r'
made 10 convince the jurv that tNe
girl secured possession OF TIE voaoon
and shot herself. and that J"cohs was
In no wav RESPONSIBLE for TIE trag'c
death OF the girl.
Jacobs FIRST trial took mace in Jrne
OF last year ard resulted in his con-
viction and the imposing OF a II
s~entenfe.