New-York tribune., 1906-11-23
GILLETTE'S STORY TOLD
UNDER SHERIFF WITNESS.
Han Who Made arrest Testifes-
Contradictions by Prisoner.

Herkirner. N Y. Nov. 22-Chester GIIlettes
| own story Of how his sweetheart came to her
death In the waters Of Big Moose Lake the even
| ing OF Wednesday. July II last, related by
MIN TO the Sheriff who placed him under ar
rest at Arrowhead. the Saturday morning
following was retold to-day by the officer OF the
law to the jury which is trying the young man
on the charge OF murder. II was brought out
that Gillette knew the girl had been IN a deli
cate condition since May. He said he and she
had been intimate for year.
When the boat upset. accidentally you say,
and she was foundering hsplessly in the water.
why did you not go to her a.ststance?" Under
Sheriff Klock to-day that he asked his
prisoner.
Because" he says the young man replied. IT
was afraid that she might struggle so that we
would both go down"
District Attorney Ward followed up this lead
In carrying forward the prosecutions case to-
day by presenting IN evidence the dress suit
case. the camera and tripod, the tennis racquet
and other articles which are supposed to have
been rescued from the water by the young man
after the boat upset.
Gillette told me-" continued the witness
that he shouted TO the girl to hold on 70 the
stern Of the boat, and he would try to get her
ashore He said he did not get near her, for
he was holding on to the bow
Mr.. KIock's story was the only testimony OF
interest presented during the long afternoon
session. which dragged along from until D
o'clock The lights had been burning IN the
crowded courtroom for more than an hour
when the adjournment was announced. and
night had fallen when the young defendant
who has the stature Of a boy. walked through
the crowd gathered on the sidewalk and across
the street TO the county jail. One Of his wrists
was IN a handcufr by which he attached
TO bailiff. As they left the courthouse Gillette
threw his free arm about the shoulder Of
second baIlr. and with all the sprtnginess Of
youth hurried by the curious persons. He did
not turn his glance to right or left.
Under Sheriff Klock declared that since his
arrest Gillette had given three excuses as 10
why the boat was overturned When asked IL
dent, he replied. according to the witness
Il suppose I TO blame for 1t
Aside from this testimony. the interest OF the
day centred in a statement made on the wit
ness stand by the Rev. Cuthbert Frost, pastor
OF the First Presbyterian Church OF Lowville.
He was at the Arrowhead Inn with party on
the Friday following the tragedy
II saw Gillette coming downstairs from his
room that evening" said Mr. Frost, and over
heard him ask two men IL they had heard Of
tragedy on Big Moose Lake IN which young
! girl had been drowned. did not hear what
reply, If any. was given.
Up TO this time there has been no evidence that
/ any one else IN the neigh bOrAooC OF ArrOWQedu
had heard Of the finding OF the girls body at that
! time. In fact, the prosecutor has not yet SHOWN
the time the body was found. He has not car
! ried the narrative that far ss yet The dstalls
OF the discovery and of the condition OF the BODY
yet to be heard.
! Mr. Klock on the witness stand said that when
/ Gillette was first arrested and informed OF
/ Billy Browns death by drowning he expressed
/ great surprise and said he had not heard OF the
/ accident.
/ After few minutes" said the witness, -
told him he knew we'll as did that the girl
/ asked him how long ne and the girl had been
/ intimate, and he said about a year. 1 asked
him IL he had ever heard anything against her
| character and he said he never had heard word
/ He said the boat tipped over about p NJ that
/ Wednesday evening. The girl came to the sur
/ face and he told her TO cling 10 the stern and
/ he would try get her ashore"
/ Asked as to what the defendant said had
/ caused the boat TO upset, Mr.. klock replied:
"At first he said he was standing up doing
! something with his hat and the boat went over.
The next time I talked TO him he said he was
! third time he said he walking back toward
| the stern 70 talk 10 the girl when the boat upset
| Mr. Klock admitted that Gillette told him he
! expected 10 be married, and he understood the
/ defendant TO mean the ceremony was 70 take
place during the Adirondack trip.
racket hidden behind a log on the road from
Big Moose to Eagle Bay. Gillette had told him
he had placed the racket there, finding it too
-orcb trouble TO carry The racket was put in
evidence A number Of the strings are broken.
II was IN that condition. the Sheriff said when
l
when he took possession OF Giette's suit case az
Arrowhead tho inside gave no evidence OF hav-
ing been wet. The defendants clothing found in
the case and number OF photographs which he
took on the two DAYS following the alleged Ulur-
der were also introduced IN evidence.
The prosecutor at this mornings session laid
bare all of Giiletts's travels and doings between
the tine he reached Arrowhead ths evening Of
the tragedy and the time Of his arrest two days
later Il was shown that while his former
sweetheart lay dead IN the lake he Joined num-
Der of parties IN mountain trips, took many
photographs and made a long canoe trip IN
search of the two Cortland girls whom he had
met on the train while riding 70 Deruyter with
Grace Brown
CSiIIetts's whereabouts and actions on the
Thursday and Friday following Grace Browns
death on Wednesday July II. in the waters OF
Big Moose Lake. in the Adirondacks were traced
earlier IN to-day's session Witnesses testified
that Gillette went from Fourth Lake to Seventh
Lake tnquiring OF various persons TO the
Whereabouts OF the two young women Of Cort-
land whom he had met on the train while trsv-
eung with Grace Brown TO the mountains. and
whom he had promised 20 Join on the following
Thursday The defendant failed TO find the
camp where the young folk were staying, but
on mis- return said he had secured a number OF
good pictures on Black Bear Mountain with his
camera Attention called 70 the fact that
all this time the body OF Grace Brown was
floating Nfeess IN the Big Moose.