Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-05
Jury Decides That He
Murdered Grace Brown.
District Attorneys Argument
Seathingg Judges Impartial.
Gillette Shows No Emotion when
Verdict Is Declared.

Hcrkimcr, n. ". Dec. 4-The jury
i'll the trial of Chester +. Gillette, for
the murder of his sweetheart. Grace
Brown, at Big Moose lake, on July IL
last. tonight returned a verdict Of
guilty of murder in the first degree.
Sentence will be pronounced on
Thursday morning. to which time
court adjourned after the jury had re-
ported. Former Senator Mills. Gill
lette's counsel, before adjournment, an
nounced that when court re-convened
at 10 O'Clock Thursday moring, that
he would move 10 have the verdict set
aside.
The jury, which had dcliberated for
five hours, sent word at II o'clock that
verdict had been reached. A mo-
ment later they filed into the court
room and at 11.15 o'clock an officer who
had been sent for Gillette returned
with the prisoner.
Pale and d trine nervous apparently,
Gillette faced the jury and when Mar
shall Hatch. the foreman, declared that
a verdict Of guilty in the first degree
had been found the youthful prisoner
gave 70 sign of emotion. A few mo-
ments later. when his counsel had an
motion that the verdict be set aside and
the Judge was Diminishing the jury, Gill
lettc bent over a nearby table and, pick
ing up a pencil, wrote something upon
a 81 Get of paper. He then folded the pa
Fer carefully and placed it in his pocket.
INN. diatcly afterwards he was taken
fror! the court back to his cell in the
Jail
u. ~,
difficulty in reaching an agreement and
SIX ballots were taken before the Il men
agreed. Up to that time the jury stood
IL fer conviction and one for acquttal.
Every seat and every bit of space
whore standing room could be secured
IN the court room remained filled during
the five hours of the jury's delibera-
tons. Many expressed their determina-
ton to remain until morning should a
verdict not be returned tonight. The
buzz of conversation was continuous
and people discussed the phases Of the
case. Now and then there was n stir
as rumOrs spread that a verdict had
been reached and every movement in
the direction of the jury room was
watched with intense cagcrness.
1t was just 1854 when the three raps
at the door drew the attention Of
deputy. Immediately there was a hush
Of expectation throughout the court
room.
Instruct the court that the jury has
agreed" said Marshall Hatch. the fore
man. TO the attendant.
Within Is minutes the prisoner, Judge
and all attendants were brought into
the court. Every eye was fixed on Gill
lcttc. who evidently was nervous when
nc entered the room. accompanied by
Under Sheriff [lock. The crimson
flush that had remained on his cheeks
al day during the mercilesS speech Of
Tic prosecutor. had faded into a DEATH
" Iralor. lie was chewing gum and his
fingers tWitChcd ncrvously as he took
a chair at his accustomed place. Pros
emily he discovered that the favorite
high hack chair he had occupied had
been replaced by another, and he i'm
mcdi1tcly changed chairs with a inuf-
fed mutter about having his own chain
to sit in.
Then the jury filed into the court
side If tho room to those occupied by ID
during the trial. s.anD
"Gcntlcmcn of the jury have you
agreed on a verdict?" asked Court
Clerk Rurney. and then attention shift
cd to the jury. Gillette's eyes followed
those of the audience and rs an elder
Is, whitc-haired gentleman on the end
Of the front seat arose to speak. tho
prisoner directed his attention to him.
The spokesman was Marshall Hatch
Of South Columbia He was quite calm
as he replied: 1--WE find the defendant
guilty of the crime charged in the in
dictment."
Gillette was sitting cornerwise in his
chair. His legs were crossed. his favor
tie attitude during the trial. AS the
words that were destined to send him
to the death chair were spoken. there
was not a sign of a change in the pris-
oncr. Not a culver showed that he had
(Cont;ppod IN poOa TunN