The Jester Case

This was the case of Alexander Jester, who was tried at New London, Ralls County, Missouri, in July, I900, for the murder of Gilbert Gates. It excited a wide interest on account of the age and character of the defendant, who was over seventy-seven years old and had been a preacher or exhorter of good reputation, and the fact that the alleged murder had been committed more than twenty-nine years before, and the circumstances that the friends and relatives of the alleged murderer and his victim lived in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The facts in the case were that, in January, I871, Alexander Jester, living in Kansas, started in a two-horse wagon for Indiana, for the purpose, as stated by himself, of visiting his mother and sisters, and bringing one of the latter, Mrs. Street, to his home in Kansas. After passing through Fort Scott, a few miles out, he fell in with a young man or boy, named Gilbert Gates, eighteen years old, who also had a two horse team, and was traveling in the same direction. The two teams stopped to water at the same stream, and this, according to Jester's statement, was the beginning of their acquaintance. In Jester's wagon was a live buffalo calf, which he exhibited along the route, and also had a sack of dried buffalo meat which he sold in small quantities at various prices, thirty-five to eighty cents a pound, to persons on the road who were curious to taste it. The two teams crossed the Missouri river at Arrow Rock, and journeyed
on until they came into Hulen's Lane in Monroe County, ten miles from Paris, where they camped. This was the last seen or heard of Gates. Jester's story was that on their way through Missouri they had been talking and bargaining about Gates' team which he wished to sell, and Jester was willing to buy. At Hulen's Lane they finally came to terms, $325 for the team and outfit, which amount Jester paid to Gates. Next
day another man with a team overtook them, and Gates concluded to join him, which he did, the new team driving off in a trot before Jester on the same road he was traveling. Gates' failure to arrive at his home in Illinois, together with the absence of all tidings from him, excited the anxiety of his father and friends, and a careful investigation was made.
The track made by Jester and Gilbert Gates was easily traced by the incident of the buffalo calf, from Kansas through Missouri to Hulen's Lane in Monroe County, and from there all trace of Gates disappeared. In questioning persons living in Monroe County, enough was discovered to direct suspicion to Jester, who, after completing his trip to Indiana, had returned to Kansas-and he was arrested in Sedgwick County of that State. He had with him at the time the Gates' team, Gates' watch, coat, vest and pants, wearing some of the garments when arrested, al-
though they were too small for him. At the time of the arrest, Azel A. Gates, the father of the missing boy, claimed the team and took possession of it, without opposition. Jester was brought to Paris, and, after a preliminary examination sent to jail in Mexico, a change of venue to Audrain County having been taken. Before the trial came on the prisoners in the jail made their escape, Jester with them. He went back to his home in Kansas, but remained only one day, going off into Texas. No further trace of him appeared until twenty-eight years afterward, when, upon information given by his sister, Mrs. Street, he was discovered in Oklahoma living under the name of W. A. Hill-a fact
which he afterward explained by saying that Jester was his stepfather's name, and he went by it until after the close of the Civil War when he took his father's and his own real name of William A. Hill. The case was transferred by change of venue to New London, Ralls County. There were witnesses from Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Illinois; but the most important evidence was that given by persons living in Monroe County, Missouri, who saw Jester and Gates together in the vicinity of Hulen's Lane, where Gates disappeared. Several witnesses
testified to having seen the two teams approaching Hulen's Lane on the 25th of January, I87I; others testified that, next day, they passed or met the two teams with only Jester in charge. There was snow on the ground, and several witnesses swore that they saw drops of blood and a blood spot as large as a plate in the road. One witness, a neighbor woman, living near Hulen's Lane, testified that in the night of January 25th, she was roused by cries as of a person being killed; and others testified to 'seeing, next day, the feet of a man lying in the rear wagon, as if asleep, or drunk, or dead; and several testified to having seen a dead body floating down the creek not far from Hulen's Lane
when the ice broke up. The trial began on the 9th of July, 1900, and lasted until August 1, following, distinguished counsel being en
gaged on, both sides, with over a hundred witnesses, and in the presence of a crowd of spectators which not only 'filled the court
room, but surrounded the building on the outside. At 9 o'clock at night on the 23d day of the trial the jury brought in a verdict of "not guilty," and the aged prisoner who had been attended throughout the trial by his two sons and daughter was set free. He departed next day for his home at Norman, Oklahoma. The circumstantial evidence in the case was admitted to be strong against the prisoner; but the failure to prove that Gates was dead, together with the skillful presentation of authenticated cases of the disappearance of persons and a reappearance after many years, determined the jury in favor of the prisoner. The case against the prisoner was worked up through Chicago detectives employed by John W. Gates, of Illinois, a millionaire, and brother of the missing boy, and this fact also was used by the prisoner's counsel to influence the jury in his favor. It may be added that the bearing of the prisoner and his sons throughout the trial had a very favorable impression, not only on the jury but on the community, and when the verdict of acquittal came, it was received with shouts of applause by the crowd.This was the case of Alexander Jester, who was tried at New London, Ralls County, Missouri, in July, I900, for the murder of Gilbert Gates. It excited a wide interest on account of the age and character of the defendant, who was over seventy-seven years old and had been a preacher or exhorter of good reputation, and the fact that the alleged murder had been committed more than twenty-nine years before, and the circumstances that the friends and relatives of the alleged murderer and his victim lived in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The facts in the case were that, in January, I871, Alexander Jester, living in Kansas, started in a two-horse wagon for Indiana, for the purpose, as stated by himself, of visiting his mother and sisters, and bringing one of the latter, Mrs. Street, to his home in Kansas. After passing through Fort Scott, a few miles out, he fell in with a young man or boy, named Gilbert Gates, eighteen years old, who also had a two horse team, and was traveling in the same direction. The two teams stopped to water at the same stream, and this, according to Jester's statement, was the beginning of their acquaintance. In Jester's wagon was a live buffalo calf, which he exhibited along the route, and also had a sack of dried buffalo meat which he sold in small quantities at various prices, thirty-five to eighty cents a pound, to persons on the road who were curious to taste it. The two teams crossed the Missouri river at Arrow Rock, and journeyed
on until they came into Hulen's Lane in Monroe County, ten miles from Paris, where they camped. This was the last seen or heard of Gates. Jester's story was that on their way through Missouri they had been talking and bargaining about Gates' team which he wished to sell, and Jester was willing to buy. At Hulen's Lane they finally came to terms, $325 for the team and outfit, which amount Jester paid to Gates. Next
day another man with a team overtook them, and Gates concluded to join him, which he did, the new team driving off in a trot before Jester on the same road he was traveling. Gates' failure to arrive at his home in Illinois, together with the absence of all tidings from him, excited the anxiety of his father and friends, and a careful investigation was made.
The track made by Jester and Gilbert Gates was easily traced by the incident of the buffalo calf, from Kansas through Missouri to Hulen's Lane in Monroe County, and from there all trace of Gates disappeared. In questioning persons living in Monroe County, enough was discovered to direct suspicion to Jester, who, after completing his trip to Indiana, had returned to Kansas-and he was arrested in Sedgwick County of that State. He had with him at the time the Gates' team, Gates' watch, coat, vest and pants, wearing some of the garments when arrested, al-
though they were too small for him. At the time of the arrest, Azel A. Gates, the father of the missing boy, claimed the team and took possession of it, without opposition. Jester was brought to Paris, and, after a preliminary examination sent to jail in Mexico, a change of venue to Audrain County having been taken. Before the trial came on the prisoners in the jail made their escape, Jester with them. He went back to his home in Kansas, but remained only one day, going off into Texas. No further trace of him appeared until twenty-eight years afterward, when, upon information given by his sister, Mrs. Street, he was discovered in Oklahoma living under the name of W. A. Hill-a fact
which he afterward explained by saying that Jester was his stepfather's name, and he went by it until after the close of the Civil War when he took his father's and his own real name of William A. Hill. The case was transferred by change of venue to New London, Ralls County. There were witnesses from Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Illinois; but the most important evidence was that given by persons living in Monroe County, Missouri, who saw Jester and Gates together in the vicinity of Hulen's Lane, where Gates disappeared. Several witnesses
testified to having seen the two teams approaching Hulen's Lane on the 25th of January, I87I; others testified that, next day, they passed or met the two teams with only Jester in charge. There was snow on the ground, and several witnesses swore that they saw drops of blood and a blood spot as large as a plate in the road. One witness, a neighbor woman, living near Hulen's Lane, testified that in the night of January 25th, she was roused by cries as of a person being killed; and others testified to 'seeing, next day, the feet of a man lying in the rear wagon, as if asleep, or drunk, or dead; and several testified to having seen a dead body floating down the creek not far from Hulen's Lane
when the ice broke up. The trial began on the 9th of July, 1900, and lasted until August 1, following, distinguished counsel being en
gaged on, both sides, with over a hundred witnesses, and in the presence of a crowd of spectators which not only 'filled the court
room, but surrounded the building on the outside. At 9 o'clock at night on the 23d day of the trial the jury brought in a verdict of "not guilty," and the aged prisoner who had been attended throughout the trial by his two sons and daughter was set free. He departed next day for his home at Norman, Oklahoma. The circumstantial evidence in the case was admitted to be strong against the prisoner; but the failure to prove that Gates was dead, together with the skillful presentation of authenticated cases of the disappearance of persons and a reappearance after many years, determined the jury in favor of the prisoner. The case against the prisoner was worked up through Chicago detectives employed by John W. Gates, of Illinois, a millionaire, and brother of the missing boy, and this fact also was used by the prisoner's counsel to influence the jury in his favor. It may be added that the bearing of the prisoner and his sons throughout the trial had a very favorable impression, not only on the jury but on the community, and when the verdict of acquittal came, it was received with shouts of applause by the crowd.