The Washington herald., 1906-11-29
GILLETTE CONFUSED
Defendant Fails to Tell Con-
siStent Story on Stand.
DESCRIBES DEATH OF GIRL
Fear to Face Her Father Is Given
as Reason for SeIf-destructfOn.
Nearly Breaks Down Under Cross
examinatiOn-AsksM Meaning OF Let
ter-NO Session of Court To-day.

Herkimer, n. Y. Nov. 2S.-Chester Gil
lette took the witness stand to-day in his
own defense and told the story of the
death of Grace Brown, for whose murder
he is on trial.
The girl committed suicide by leaping
/ overheard from the boat in which they
were rowing on Big Moose Lake, he told
the jury.
Gillette said that when he told the girl
that afternoon that the only thing she
could do was to tell her family that she
would soon become a mother. the girl took
her life. The boat tipped over when he
tried to save her. He did not see her
again after she sank, and he swan ashore.
With the cross examination only half
begun, Gillettes story was torn to tatters
before the court adjourned tonight until
Friday. An abject object. shrinking with
fright in the witness chair. Gillette went
through his examination weakly and un-
convincingly.
The veneer Of bravadO and simulated
self-control did not conceal the cutting
lashes Of the prosecutors questions, which
led him into a maze Of contradictions yet
TO be explained by the defense.
start Out for Row.
Chester Gillette said that every one in
the Cortland skirt factory knew that he
and Grace Brown were going to the
North Woods. Without detail he said
that they went to Utica, and from there
10 Tupper Lake, remaining there one
night. The next day, July Il. they left
for Big Moose. They rode TO the Glen
more Hotel and there. at the suggestion
of the hotel boatman. they took row.
boat for a ride about the lake.
Gillette told the jury that he and the
girl occupied themselves that day rowing
and reading. Near o'clock, while drift
ing near the outlet of Punkeys Bay, the
girl spoke Of her condition Gillette said
/ that he told her that she should tell her
father
She looked at me- said Gillette, "and
replied that I did not know her father.
Then she went overheard. I tried TO aid
her, and the boat overturned and I went
overheard. When I came up the girl was
not IN sight. I grabbed the boat and yell
ed. Then 1 swan to the shore"
That was Chester Gillette's story Of how
Billy" Brown lost her life. Gillette then
told Of his flight.
He could not say why he did not marry
the girl
Did you ever say anything about mar
riage 70 Grace Brown2"
NO. sir; I never did" was the reply.
Confused I'm His Answers.
The prosecutor wanted to know why il
was that Billy Brown had so often re-
ferred to her wedding clothes, If he had
not mentioned marriage to her. Gillette
did not know. Why was il that when
arrested he told the sheriff that he and
the girl had come 20 the mountains TO be
married. Gillette could not say.
The prosecutor showed Gillette several
letters which he had written to Billy
Brown, but the witness only admitted
having written two of them. though the
others he thought were in his hand-wTit-
ing
Pressed about details Of his trip TO the
woods. Gillette told the prosecutor that il
was Grace Brown who proposed that they
90 to the Adirondacks when they reached
Utica. -Four hours before he told the
Jury that every one in the skirt factory
knew where they were going
District Attorney Ward asked why IL
vas that he had taken the road to Eagle
Bay after the girl was drowned Gillette
said it lust happened that he took that
road. having no reason for doing so. He
simply wanted 70 get away from the lake,
he said.
The prosecutor pressed him for a reason
why he had a map Of the lake region in
his pocket: if IL was not 10 study that sec
ton Of the country and know the location
of the road to Eagle Bay, for did you
not tell two young ladies on the train go
ing to Upper Lake that you would meet
them at Eagle Bay on FTiday?' he Wit
ness could not answer.
Gillette admitted having the map, but
would not admit having examined 1t to
find the location Of the road which was 70
lead him from the scene Of the tragedy TO
Eagle Bay. It was then developed that
he had purchased the map in Cortland
week before he left there for the Adiron-
dacks-
Asks Meaning of Letter.
District Attorney Ward, walking up to
the witness until he was within two feet
Of the crying Gillette, asked him what
billy Brown meant when she wrote
in her letter: L suppose you are happy
now that yOu have succeeded in making
me leave Cortland
Gillette said he did not know what the
girl meant, nor did he know why the
girl so often referred 10 the dresses which
She was having made. Ward asked Gil
lette If il was not fact that he wanted
to get rid Of Grace Brown, because he
thought that the other girls he knew
were better girls to associate with. Gil
lette denied IT,
Gillette left the witness stand with an