Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1910-12-30
TOBE TR|EDACA|N.
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

Sturgfs-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
Falls penitentiary for the murder OF
his sweetheart, Miss Elba Roberts,
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.
Jacobs is charged with having at
about $3.50 o'clock on the evening OF
January 10, 1909, fired the shot which
killed Miss Roberts. Sturgis was the
scene of the killing. The girl met her
death in the millinery establishment
of Mrs. John F. White, where she was
employed. Jacobs and the girl were
alone in the front part of the build
ing at the time, but the shot was
heard by persons in the rooms back
of the millinery establishment and by
others who were passing along the
sidewalk in front of the building.
As soon as it was realized that the
young woman had been shot and kill
ed the excitement became intense, and
for a time Jacobs was in danger Of
being lynched.
The dead girl was not quite 10 years
of age and went to Sturgis about six
months before her tragis death and
entered the employ of Mrs. White, in
tending to learn the millinery trade.
At the time Oscar Jacobs was on y "a
years of age. He arrived at Sturg's
less than three weeks before the death
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 Sturgis The
theory of the authorities always has
been that because his habits had be-
come such as to meet with the strong
disapproval of the girl she had refused
to marry him, or have anything fur
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 for
the prosecution at the first trial, as
he will be at the new trial which Is
to commence Tuesday, was John F.
White, husband of the woman BY
whom Miss Roberts was employed.
White, who was in the living apart
ments of himself and wife and Miss
Roberts, in the rear of the building
was suddenly aroused by scream,
shot and a noise as though someone
had fallen. Running into the front
room he found the body of the girl
on the floor and Jacobs standing near
by. The weapon lay on the floor.
When searched Jacobs had in his
pocket nothing but a pocketkn1fe.
which was taken from him. That he
contemplated committing suicide was
indicated by the fact that three times
while being taken to Jail he demand
ed that the knife be returned to him.
At his first trial Jacobs ALLEGED that
the girl took the gun from his pocket
and shot herself. It is believed that
at the new trial the same sort of
defense will be made and an effort
made to convince the jury that the
girl secured possession of the weapon
and shot herself, and that Jacobs was
in no way RESPONSIBLE for the tragic
death of the girl.
Jacobs first trial took place in June
of last year and resulted in his con-
viction and the imposing of life
Sentenre