Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-11-29
GILLETTE TEST|F|ES
IN HIS OWN BEHALF
PFIsoeeP Left Stand Exhausted
and Weary After Seven
TPyIRrHpurs.
HOLDS TO HIS FIRST STORY
Although Confused During cross.Ex-
animation, He Insisted Throughout
! Day That Grace Brown Jumped In.
20 Lake and Drowned HerseIf-
Court Adjourns Until Friday.
(By Associated Press.)

Y
HERKIMER, N. Y, Nov 28.-With
heavy head and unsteady gait and
with eyes which were red, Chester
Gillette presented Il spectacle of phy-
steal and mental exhaustion when he
stepped from the witness stand at six
O'Clock tonight. He was the star wit
ness In his own behalf on charge of
having murdered his sweetheart,
Grace Brown.
Gillette today went through one Of
the most trying ordeals that witness
ever experienced, surrounded by an
almost inexhaustible mass Of circum-
stantial evidence that seemed to point
to his guilt, he took the stand in his
own, behalf and for nearly seven hours
stroye to bear up under the strain and
describe to the jury how Grace Brown
died. Much of the statement was un-
der cross examination and the district
attorney was merciless In his ques-
tioning
Said He Was Equal to It.
Having assured his lawyers that he
was equal to the strain, Gillette was
called as the first witness in his own
defense. His story was steady, his
nerves were firm and his answers
quick as in response to questions
from his own senior counsel, Mr.. Mills.
he declared that Grace Brown stood
up In the boat and threw herself In
to the lake. But this brief declaration
was followed by scorching cross ex-
animation that was not completed
when at G o'clock Judge Devendorf adj
journed court until Friday.
Made No Admissions.
During cross examination he made
no admissions that the story he told
to his own lawyer about the way
Grace Brown died was untrue, but 1t
seemed to be struggle for him to
keep up his nerve during this long and
ineessant struggle. In the afternoon
his eyes began to take on tired look,
his voice weakened until his own law.
yers had to beg him to speak up and
his head dropped to one side and
sWayed perceptibaly as prosecutors
faced him with question on question.
Attorney Ward spent the afternoon
in trying to establish by Gillette's
own words that was a motive for the
crime charged.
Prisoners Story.
Gillette stated from the witness
stand that he and Grace Brown had
been talking about what they had bet
ter do. He said he had told the girl
that it would be wise and suggested
her folks be apprised of her condition.
she said she was afraid to tell her
neople and / said I would tell her
father and save her the necessity of
doing So" said Gillette, then she stood
UP IN the boat and threw herself over
into the lake"
The ride on lake. he said, had been
q pleasant one up to the moment they
began discussion Of what was best to
do about telling her folks Of her con
dttion. Then, he added she simply
flung herself out i'll the water.
Gillette Confused.
K But the district attorney began to
question Gillette VIVA: MS intentions
we're and confused the defendant to
some extent.
Gillette swore positively that he
and Miss Brown had never spoken of
marriage and declared that In no one
had written him to marry her.
Then he testified that he left Cort.
land again after leaving ON his vaca-
tion and declared he was lying when
he told his uncle he would be back in
week
He said he had no idea of meeting
Miss Hattock at Seventh lake as he
promised to do. He placed himself
in an embarrassing tangle. but re-
sponded with emphasis. mo" when
the district attorney Just before the
session closed leaped from the scenes
OF his lovemaking In Cortland to Big.
Moose lake and asked did not you
kill that girl