New-York tribune., 1906-11-24
HAIR FOUND IN BOAT
COMPARED WITH GIRLS.
Important Testimony Gained By
Prosecution at Gillette Trial.

HerImer Y. Y, Nov 23.-The twelve-foot
lap-strip cedar rowboat sharp both ends,
typical pleasure craft of the better class in
which Chester Gillette and Grace Brown ven-
tured forth the waters OF Big Moose Lake
last July. the girl return alive, was the
most important and interesting witness intro
duced against Gillette to-day at his trial here
on the charge of murder. Clnging to the cleats
in the bottom of the boat at the stern and
twinfng about the braces which hold the rear
seat in place were a score of strands of long
dark hair. The man who found the boat float
ing bottom side up the lake testified that he
had removed enough hair from the cleats and
braces 70 make a lock the size Of a lead pencil
This hair was also introduced in evidence
Then Immediately followed q dramatic SEQUEL
The prosecutor called to the stand Miss Frances
Brown. a young sister OF the dead girl. She
had brought with her a lock of hair cut from
the dead girls head after her body was brought
home. It was identified placed in evidence as
en- official exhibit and attached to a piece of
paper side by side with the hair taken from the
bottom Of the boat. Then the paper was passed
to the jurymen to make their own comparisons
The defence fought the Introduction Of the two
samples Of hair through all the legal resources
open to them. They protested with especial
vigor against the jurors comparing the two locks
side by SIDE and denounced what was termed
GER Judge Devendorf overruled all Of the OBJ
jections Of the defence. but granted the demands
that exceptions be noted on the record
District Attorney Ward was gratifed at his
success in getting the exhibits of hair before the
jury. It is his contention that the girl was
struck down in the boat and that her hair be-
came entangled in the cleats and braces when
she fell Then. Mr.. Ward stated in his opening
address, the hair was pulled out when the body
was picked up and thrown overheard.
The placing Of the boat on view before the
jury and the testimony of Robert Morrison RS
to the discovery OF the long wisps of hair in the
craft created q stir in the crowded courtroom
The prisoner was in constant and earnest
sUltation with his attorneys throughout the
morning session. The Jurors left their places in
the box 10 make close examination Of the boat
and the hair which still remains in 1t. At the
noon recess the spectators tried to crowd close
TO the exhibit but a Gordon Of bailifs was
thrown about 1t.
At the same time that the boat found
Glette's straw hat, floating right side up,
magazine and Grace Browns black silk cape
were also picked up. The cape was caught in
one of the oarlocks. and part Of it was flung
over the dry keel of the upturned craft. All Of
these articles placed in evidence. as were
several articles OF clothing worn by the girl on
the fatal trip which have not already figured IN
the trial. The tedious task of placing the states
case before the jury may be appreciated by the
fact that the exhibits far number ninety
seven.
At the late afternoon session to-day came tbs
story OF the finding Of the girls body Frank
Crabb, the engineer of a small pleasure steamer
on Big Moose Lake was the witness Several
parties were searching for the body, when Crabb
happened to see some white object we'll benea IN
the surface. He called for a long stick with
large fish hook upon 1t, grappled the object and
brought the body Of the girl to the surface.
The body was tenderly cared for he declared.
The eyes were partly open and bloodshot he
said. The hair was dshevelled and partly down
the shoulders After the body had been on
deck q few minutes g. bloodclot came from the
nostrs. The right stocking was we'll down over
the low cut shoe, and there was a piece of red
garter attached TO II.
Charles Kerwin, who was one Of the searching
party, testified to the same effect, but added
that there was q mark or bruise near the girls
left eye. He also said that a bloody discharge
trickled from the while the body was be-
ing taken to the hotel at Big Moose
Mr. Getman undertaken, Of Frankfort
gave more details as to the care OF the body
/ that the purging from the nOstrils and mouth
was not unusual as he had found il in many
bodies. even Of persons dying from disease He
asserted, further, that the discharge was not of
blood but a liquid with possibly a bloodish
/ cast. The undertaken cross-examined at
/ length to what he knew OF the effect of en-
/ balming fluids on a body, and then the days
| session closed with wrangle of nearly an hour
! over technical details of a map OF Big Moose
Lake and it's vicinity which has been I'm evidence
since the beginning of the trial. Tomorrow
| the doctors who performed the autopsy on
| Grace Browns body are expected TO go on the
stand.
There was diversion in the courtroom
/ to-day during brief recess, when a large bag
! of apples was passed around to the reporters
| Gillette cast hungry glance the luscious
! red fruit He asked If he would like one
! and replied with eagerness Sure" He received
| two, putting in his pocket.
/ Gillette appeared TO be rather more palId
than usual this morning when he appeared in
| court and his eyes heavy and red as
| though he had not slept very well last night
! His demeanor of more seriousness than
! any time since the trial was begun. His
! brow was constantly contracted into frown
The first witness to-day was Thomas Barrett
! Adirondack guide. who apparently was the
/ last person TO the boat in which Gillette
and Grace Brown rowing. 1t was a bout
/ .. 80 =. m. that he the boat coming out OF
I Punkey Bay into South Bay. of Great Moose
! Lake Gillette was rowing lstessly, he said
and was leaning forward on his oars apparently
/ engaged in earnest conversation with a young
! woman seated in the stern.
+ on cross examination the defence laid stress
! the exact time when the witness saw the
! young people In the boat. Already the defend
ants counsel has tried to draw from witnesses
the fact that when Gillette WAS arrested his
watch found on the dresser in his room
and that it had stopped at s: so o'clock The
officers who made the arrest could not rennem-
ber about the watch. This line of questioning
IS taken to indicate that the defence way en-
deavor to show that when Gillette and tho girl