The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-11-24
Prosecution FOreStallS
Any Attempt to Save
Him By Entering In
sanity Plea.
FATHER A D0WIEITE;;
RELIGIOUS FANATIC
Mysterious Female Admirer
Sends Accused Murderer
SWeetly Scented Notes
Daily.

+ HERKIAiER, \. Y, Nov, 24.-Ches-
ter Z. Gillette HIS undergone Sc
cret inquiry into his sanity by three
alienists. He has been pronounced
perfectly sane. The fact that an in
vestigation had been conducted did
not become known until today. With
the purpose OF forestalling an insan-
ity plea as a defense to the charge
of numbering his sweetheart, Grace
Brown, for which Gillette Is on trial,
the prosecution decided TO have the
prisoners mental faculties inquired
into.
Gillette's father is a DoNicite, and
is said 10 be a religious fanatic. lie
sacrificed all his furniture to the
Zion City prophet. The prisoners
grandfather, Albertus Gillette, Is
said to have been mentally weak.
The three alienists were brought
quietly TO Herkimer and taken To
the jail. Gillette was told that he
would have to undergo an examiua-
ton, and he readily consented.
Put Though Severe Tests.
Gillette was Piled with questions con
ceTning his past life to test his power
OF memory and observation. after
which the altenisJs applied the needle"
test Il was found that Gillette was
equally sensitive on both sides Of his
body. He was biinofuided and a fat
iron dropped ON his foot
Gillette was given other tests and
after long and severe examination the
fea
tally normal at the time the girl was
drowned. as well rs at the present
time,
District Attorney Ward and sheriff
Richard have Kept the stTictest silence
regarding the Investigation.
Designed 70 combat every point the
State has made against him. Chester Gil
1etts believes the story he viii tell the
jury viii save him from the electric
chair. He Tehearses his story daily in
his cell The prisoner each evening
goes carefully over the evidence. given
during the days proceedings and con-
,strucJs his story so as 10 overthrow the
points the State had scored ia It's case.
Gillette has prepared maps of the Adj
irondack region, where the tragedy took
place. The movements and positions
testified TO by witnesses are carefully
traced out on the maps by the prisoner,
who has constructed small pawns of
crushed paper TO represent persons
These pawns he moves about on the
Every morning before the deputy
comes 10 take him 10 court. Gillette re-
lhearses certain parts OF the story which
he will tell the jury, so that he has
become letter perfect.
Mysterious Woman AdmiTer.
Chester Gillette has an unidentified
Semale 6dmireT. Each day the prisoner
receives sWeetly scented notes signed
MAR rguerite" No one knows who the
mysterious. woman is Often she sends
him magazines and books, and I'm one
of her letters she hiuted that powerful
dnhuence would be eXerted 10 obtain his
Freedom. Sheriff RichGrds. reads all of
the missives before they are given 10
Gillette.
Witnesses We're called when court
Iopened today to testify as TO the man
lner or the carrying the body from the
fGlenmore Hotel To the Big Moose sta
tion. The defense hoped TO show that
the abrastons on the girls head were
caused by being bounced over the heavy
road in wagon without springs. John
Denit, the driver OF the wagon, testi-
fed that the wagon had six springs and
the road was in good condition.
Sherin Richards testified today that
he found GiileLte's teuuis Jacket in the
woods near the road which Gillette rFav-
eled TO Eagle Bay. Richards found the
racket half covered with dirt and moss.
The web net OF the racket was sprung
and the sides of the bow split
Court adjourned with the conclusion
of Sheriff Richards testimony az noon
until Monday morning