Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-19
GILLETTE CASE IS
NOW BEING HEARD
Chester Unmoved While the
=, Witnesses Testify.
FATHER MUCH DISTRESSED
Prisoner Entered the Court Room
Smiling, With His Head Up.
INTENSE INTEREST IN TRIAL
Town Of Herkimer Much Wrought On
Over Incidents Conceded With
Grace Browns Death.
FATHER MUCH DISTRESSED
Prisoner Entered the Court Room
Smiling, With His Head Up.
INTENSE INTEREST IN TRIAL
Special Dispatch to The star.

opeShuA Dtspatcu 70 Iuc ctafs >
HERKIMDR. N. z, November 19.-The
taking OF testimony in the trial OF Ches-
ter E. Gillette, charged with the murder
Of Grace Brown, was begun this morning.
After a weeks trial by court and counsel.
twelve Jurors were found satisfactory to
both sides. Beginning today comes the
real work of the trial.
The arrival here this morning OF Miss
Hattie Benedict Of Cortland, whom the
prosecution aims to make the chief motive
completes the prosecutions list of wit
nesses ~
There are two other very important
Cortland witnesses whose names have not
before appeared prominently in the case.
One Is B. L. Crane, assistant chief of tho
to board. ee-' are
The theory OF the prosecution as to the
death of Grace Brown is that after get
ting her in the boat on Big Moose lake
Gillette rendered her unconscious by strik-
ing her on the head with heavy handled
Inc prosecution Will 10
prove that he had such an umbrella with
him. The handle was of horn and was
heavy enough to make a formidable
weapon in the hands Of man of average
strength. The theory of the prosecution
is that Gillette used this umbrella SO forci-
bly, that the handle was broken off and
that he then used his tennis racket II II
said that the umbrella Was found In thu
woods near Big Moose lake with its handle
broken and the body OF it badly smashed
4ga- Gillette's Mode of Life. e =.
Crane is expected to testify that before
Gillette left Cortland he purchased such an
umbrella. Crane will also testify concern
ing the mode of Gillette's life in Cortland
The man now accused Of the murder OF
Grace Brown Is said to have lived very
quietly there. His reputation was the re-
verse of town sport He is said to have
spent most Of the evenings IN his room
studying. He took course in a cor
respondence school in mechanical engineer
ing and is said to have worked hard He
was a regular attendant of the Presby-
terrain Church and his society friends. at
least those known to the citizens OF Cort-
land. were chosen from among the other
young people of the church. He had, 4
was supposed no bad habits.
This Is the same young man who sat in
court on Saturday and heard himself
charged with the foulest of crimes without
moving a muscle of his face except for an
instant when the prosecutor surprised
everybody by asserting that he had an eye
witness to the murder.
Gillette regained his omposure entirely
when he returned to the jail after the court
session was over. He slept Ike a top
Saturday night and this morning seemed
refreshed and cheerful after a Sunday OF
rest.
There was a crowd outside the court
house this morning to watch Gillette as he
was led handcuffed from the jail to the
court house. The crowd commenced to
gather fully an hour before the session
was scheduled to begin. Men and boys
house. and women gathered on the steps.
shivering while waiting TO get a good look
at the prisoner.
When Gillette came along they did not
kept his head down to avoid the photog-
raphers and walked rapidly through the
crowd. When he went into the court
room. however, his head was up and he was
half smiling he took his seat
The court was crowded to the doors. GIL
lette's expression did not change in the
least when Frank B. Brown. the father
Of the murdered girl was called to the
stand. Mr.. Brown gave his testimony in a
low voice. He is a small man whose fea-
lures show the effects of life of hard
work on the farm.
Prisoner on the Stand.
The only sign Gillette gave of his pres
ence on the stand was an occasional nerve
Gus noddinR of his head. The girls father
gave his residence as South Otselic, and
told of the going of his daughter Grace to;
Cortland to work. He told of a visit he
made to his daughter in Cortland in jan
uary.
II met Chester Gillette there that night"
he said. MY daughter introduced me to
him and they visited in the parior. Soon
after he came in went to bed"
Mr.. Brown told of his daughters visit to
her home at South Otselic in the latter
part of June.
do you remember when she went.
away?"
Yes: on July s. drove her to the post
Office in South Otseiic and left her there"
The prosecutor produced large crayon
portrait of a good-looking, dark-haired girl
do you recognize this picture?"
Yes; 1t is a picture of my daughter,
Grace Brown"
WAS she known by any other manner"
yes; we called her 'BiIly'-'Bliy Brown"
The father was choking to keep back his
sobs and the defendant for a moment was
near the breaking down point.
examination. During his examination N.
H. Gillette, uncle Of the defendant. and
Ralph Gillette, cousin, came In and took
Mrs. Ada Hawley, the married sister OF
Grace Brown with whom she lived in
Cortland. was the next witness
Her mother. Mrs. Brown. held her few
old baby. who slept while Its moth
er testified. She told of meeting Chester.
Gillette at her house when he came to
call on Grace.
How often did he comet
'-Once week at first and later oftener.
Twice week. / think. He took her driv-
ing twice. think"
The witness said that Gillette had spoken
Of having attended Oberlin College before
coming east She was not cross-examined.
Ella Melvin. n felloW-emploYe of Grace