Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-20
DEAD GIRLS Love
SHOWN To. COURT
Herkimer Crowd Very Unfriend-
Iy to Gillette.
CALLS UP OTHER CRIMES
History of the bruce Murder Case
Revived.
THE WITNESSES HEARD TODAY
Letters That Passed Between Gillette
and Grace Brown Admitted in
Evidence.
CALLS UP OTHER CRIMES
History of the bruce Murder Case
Revived.
THE WITNESSES HEARD TODAY
Special Dispatch to The Star.

HERKIMER, N. Y, November 2O.-Sher-
If Richards of Herlximer county has made
arrangements to swear In number of ex-
ira deputies today to act with the present
force of the sherifr's Office as guards at the
triaf of Chester E. Gillette, charged with
The murder of Grace Brown. Yesterdays
crowd of morbid spectators, which filled
every available space in the court room.
has made it necessary that extra men be
employed to keep order because of the
overwhelming interest in the trial in the
community
The crowd yesterday was apparently not
friendly to Gillette, though no actual dem
onstration of hostility was made. When
the prisoner was led down through the
crowded stairway to the outer door of the
court room the way was blocked by an
other crowd lined two deep either side
of the cross walk. through which was left
"a scant space for the prisoner and The
two deputies to ia mtheir way through to
the jail AS Gillette passed the crowd
closed in around him, and 1t was all the
deputy sheriffs could do to force path
Through with their prisoner. In the crowd
were many women and young girls eager
to get look at the prisoner, although dusk
had already fallen
After the prisoner had disappeared in
side the Jail 1t was easy to learn from the
remarks of those composing the crowd what
their feelings were toward him. An angry
gesture or a harsh word spoken as the
prisoner was going through the crowd might
Nave given rise to a dangerous demonstra-
tion but the crowds chief motive seemed to
be morbid curiosity.
Recall bruce Trial.
Most OF the persons in the crowd which
filled the court room to suffocation yester-
day were women and young girls. but
among them was a goodly sprinkling of
men with tanned faces and broad Shout
ders. who were the hunters and lumbermen
Of the Adrondacks. who have come here
either as witnesses during the trial or
Drawn by the interest which the case ex
gifted among them last summer.
/, Every day little knots of these men, in big
bearskin coats, gather on the street cor
hers, and the trial Is the chief topic of
their conversation They are all very bitter
against the prisoner. AS yet. however. any
Hanger of violence toward Gillette seems
10 be remote.
). Old residents in this section recall the
incidents that followed the trial in 1887 of
Roxana bruce for the murder Of her hus-
band. She was tried in Herkimer, and 1t
developed that after his death she had
burned his body and thrown the bones to
fhe pigs. She was convicted and sentenced
10 be hanged. BY the time the day of exc
Tuition came around. however. the people
pf the town had become so thoroughly in
CenSed that they wanted to take the exc
button out Of the hands of the law, and
company of militia had to be called out to
guard the jail and protect the woman from
fhe wrath of the mob The sherins Office
Remembered the case well, and while there
Is little fear now of a repetition of the
Feeling the sheriff is taking precautions to
nip any possible demonstration In the bud.
The crowd In attendance at the trial
!fhinned out somewhat today when the
morning session opened: Evidently most
of the inhabitants of Herkimer and the
yicinity had satisfied their curiosity yes
terday Before the jury had come il
Gillette had three visitors at his table
her daughter. with whom Gillette used
TO live in Cortland, and N. H. Gillette,
fhe prisoners uncle. Mr.. Gillette had a
long talk with his nephew. and their re-
This put an end to the persistent story
that Gillette's uncle Is estranged from
him.
= Sister on the Stand.
l. Before the court opened the prosecutor
egain brought in the trunk which was
In evidence yesterday, with a box con-
flaming a bundle OF woman's clothing
fie Immediately recalled Frances Brown,
Blister of the dead girl The prosecutor
took out a brown silk skirt. a green skirt
and two hats and showed them to the
girl.
She identified them as belonging to her
Sister and having been with her when
she went away. Chester Gillette watched
me exhibition of the clothing without
Change OF expression on his face
Mrs. Maud Crum, wife OF South OtseIfc
ply stefan. was the next witness. She had
been Grace Browns teacher. She Identified
SoHe OF the dead girls clothes and said
6hat Grace had come to her house on the
Sunday night before she left for the Adj
fondacks and had stayed overnight When
Pie left the next morning she went in the
direction or the post office. where the stage
For De Ruyter stops.
: The prosecutor then offered the letters
which he placed in evidence yesterday The
Grst five were letters written by Chester
Gillette to Grace Brown The NEXT twelve
Tere letters written by the girl to Gillette
Nhere was strenuous objection by the de-
fenSe to the admission of the letters but
Shey We're admitted on condition that they
should only be used to show the feelings of
hny facts there stated.
!, AS the letters were read the family of the
Hrl sat soobing on eve side Of tho room
3rith their handkerchiefs TO their faces
gillette sat with his eyes 1owncast and his
Nps protruding. He held his chin In his
hand with his fingers over his mouth, and
pas evidently having hard time to regain
bis self-control. The juryTnen did not move
throughout the reading Of the letters and
tnany of them were apparently almost In
hears. Many of the women of the audience
Down their cheeks. Tears showed In the
Dyes OF Gtllette's uncle. who sat In the first
bow among the witnesses. ALI the let
fsrs showed that the girl was almost piti-
FULLY in love with the defendant
( In letter written by Grace she pleaded
9With Gillette to go to South Otselfc and
bake her away. She said In the letter that
bbe feared Gillette was planning to desert
her. and she threatened to 60 TO Cortland
bnd expose him II he did not keep his prom
pse TO make her his wife.
(, In letter dated July 2 Miss Brown said,
IN part
z My Dear Chester: This has been such
= crowded day that am almost too tired to
SWrite. but / will try. for I am a little anx-
tous about our trip and your not writing
y cannot understand why do not get your
1stters. II worries me dreadfully. Where
10 they go? thought surely II you wrote
Thursday should get IT some time. Satur-
Day. I did not get q line.
you would not know me. dear. I was
Down at the village Friday morning and
Il would speak to people, and instead Of
epeaking they would stare and then tell
one was too pale to be out Of bed,
Tonight I started this letter and had to
eress for company. and the frst thing the
YRS said was: i never saw you % thin,
lEally. Really you are a sight I disliked
Pressing. and dislike going down at all
anyway. 1t makes me rather blue to hear
fke other girls planning for the Fourth and
know l must stay here In my room all day.
j viii try. dear. and make the week az
'k1Ort possible but am q Afraid will