Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1899 — TRIAL OF JESTER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRIAL OF JESTER.

Prisoner Charged with Murder Committed in 1871. Alexander Jester is on trial at Paris, Mo., charged with the murder of Gilbert Gates many years ago. The aged pris-

oner sits like a stone; apparently unmoved, in the court worn from day to dnv, with his eyes intentlj fixed on the wit nesses. Nipt a rela tire, a friend or an acquaintance is by his side to comfort’ and console'him or to whom he can go for sympathy. At first he seemed to

cart* little for what the witness was saying, hut the trial is telling on him now. He looks haggard and worn and appears nervous and, excited. ‘I am all alone in die world," he said. ‘‘Eveiybody lias forsaken me. No one is interested in my behalf; it all looks very glpomy and dark now. Everything seems to he against me, blit ns sure as Cod lives aud rules 1 uni an innocent man.” Monday Mrs. Irene Delaney, aged 58, testified that she was living two and onehalf miles west of Middle Grove, on the Paris and Booneville road, in 1871. She said Jester and Gatos camped, about 100 yards from her home the might Of JrtU. 24 of that year. About' mplnight she heard three loud screams come from the camp, like those of a human, jicing in distress. Her husband. .T. B. Delaney, was then put on the stand. He corroborated his

wife's statements, and further that he went down to the wagon in the morning and asked what that noise was tho night before. Jester replied that he was dreaming, and when he awoke he was choking young Gates. Gates did not hear this conversation, because he had goat to the nond for a bucket of water. •

A[?]XANDER JESTER.

THE JAIL AT PARIS, MO,