The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-12-05
gillette IS GUILTY OF
MURDER IN FIRST DECREE
VERDICT REACHED By JURY
AFTER FIVE HOURS DE-
LIBERATION.

Condemned Youth, Although a TriH
Pale and Nervous, Gives No Sign o
Emotion as He Faces Jury That Seal
His Fatc--Sentence to be Pronounce,
Tomorrow MOrning-Defense VIII
Move to Have the Verdict Set Aside.
Herkimer, N. Y, Dec. 4.-The iur,
In the trial of Chester E. Gillette fo,
I ahe murder of his sweetheart, Grace
Brown, at Big Moose lake, on July II
last, tonight returned a verdict OF
guilty of murder in the first degree.
The sentence will be pronounced on
Thursday morning to which time court
adjourned after the jury had reported
Former Senator Mills, Gillette's coun-
sci, before adjournment announced
that when court reconvened at 10
O'Clock Thursday morning that he
| would move to have the verdict set
aside.
The jury which had deliberated for
five hours sent Trd at II o'clock
that a verdict had been reached. A
moment later they filed into the court
room and at 11:15 o'clock an officer
who had been sent for Gillette re-
turned with the prisoner.
Pale and a trif1e nervous apparently
Gillette faced the jury, and when Mar
shall Hatch, the foreman, declared
that a verdict of guilty in the first de-
gree had been found, the youthful
prisoner gave not a sign of emotion
"A few moments later when his counsel
had announced his purpose of making
a formal motion that the verdict be
set aside and the judge was dismissing
the jurors Gillette bent over near
by table and picking up a pencil wrote
8lpmething upon a sheet of paper. He
Ithen folded the paper carefully and
|placed it in his pocket Immediately
afterwards he was taken from the
Ecourt room back TO his cell in the Jail.
It was learned that the jury had
Isome difficulty in reaching an agree
bment and six ballots We're taken before
{the twelve men agreed. Up to that
Btime the jury had stood eleven for CON
Eviction and one for acquittal.
Every seat and every bit of space
sNhere standing room could be secured
n the court room remained filled dur
sng the five hours Of the jury's deliber-
ton. Many expressed their determin-
ton to remain until morning should
kerdict not be returned tonight. The
Esuzz of conversation was continuous as
eople discussed the phases Of the case.
i aEow and then there was a stir as ru-
&1ors spread that a verdict had been
eached, and every movement in the
!. ERECTION of the jury room was watch !
d with intense eagerness.
Ut was just 1854 when the three raps
7 the door drew the attention of a
seputy. Immediately there was a hush
D. expectation throughout the court
abom
4 instruct the court that the jury had
}greed," said Marshall Hatch, the fore
Ian, to the attendant.
\ Within fifteen minutes the prisoner
|4dge and all attendants were brought |
lato the court. Every eye was fixed on
tllette, who evidently was nervous
then he entered the room, accompa-
fled by Under Sheriff Klock. The
3rimson flush that had remained on his
aneeks all day, during the merciless
|peech of the prosecutor, had faded into
deathly pallor He was chewing gum
md his fingers twitched nervously as
Ia took a chair at his accustomed place.
Presently he discovered that the favor
Ae high back chair he had occupied
4 ad been replaced by another, and he
Immediately changed chairs with
'luff1ed mutter about having his own
hair to sit in.
Then the jury filed into the court
Hoom, and took seats on the opposite
side of the room to those occupied by ii
uring the trial.
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
greed on a verdict?" asked Court
Elerk Burney and then attention
|hifted to the jury. Gillettes eyes fol-
owed those of the audience, and as an
lderly, white-haired gentleman on the
nd of the front seat arose to speak, the 4
PRISONER directed his attention to him.
The spokesman was Marshall Hatch.
1 South Columbia. He was quite calm 4
IS he replied: eve find the defendant
utility of the crime charged in the in
ictment."
Gillette was sitting corner-wise in 1
is chair. His legs were crossed, his
avorite attitude during the trial. AS
he words that were destined to send
i'm Ito the death chair were spoken,
mere was not a sign of a change in the
Prisoner. Not a quiver showed that he
Ieard them His features were set and
is face was colorless. His expression
Fas vacant, and he uttered no sound.
II your honor please" said former
ienator Mills, Gillette's senior counsel,
4 would like to have the jury can
assed."
Gillette sat motionless, and as one
fter another the twelve jurors arose to
heir feet, and declared that they were /.
.nited in their decision, when the
yelfth man had responded the stolid
lditference or studied composure of the
py was exhibited as never before.
5eaning over a nearby table, he drew
pwards him bit of white paper and
4king pencil from his pocket wrote
eliberately this message:
"Father, 1 am convicted.
"Chester."
This was one of the earliest dispatches
Arrying the news of Gillettes doom
eyond the walls of the court room. It
tent to his father in Denver.
"A discussion followed between judge
nd counsel as to a date when formal f
ptice of an appeal could be entered. \
uring the evening Mr.. Mills had in v