Milford chronicle., 1906-12-07
GILLETTE FOUND
GUILTY OF MURDER
Slayer Of Grace Brown Faces Death
in Electric Chair.
JURY WAS OUT FIVE HOURS

Herkimer, N. Y, Dec. 5.-The jury in
the trial Of Chester f. Gillette for the
murder of his sweetheart. Grace Brown,
at Big Moose Lake on July IL last, re-
turned a verdict Of guilty in the first
degree after being out FIVE hours.
Sentence will be pronounced on
Thursday to which time court adjourn
ed after the jury had reported. Form
er Senator Mills, Gillette's counsel, an
nounced that when court reconvened
he would move to have the verdict set
aside.
Pale and triie 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 no sign OF emotion.
Gillette sat motionless, and as one
after another the u Jurors arose to
their feet and declared that they were
united in their decision. When the
18th man had responded the stolid in
difference or studied eomposure Of the
boy was exhibited as never before.
Leaning over a nearby table, he drew
towards him bit of white paper and,
taking a pencil from his pocket, wrote
deliberately this message
"Father-I am convicted.
(signed) CHESTER.
This was one of the earliest dis
patches carrying the news of Gillette's
doom beyond the walls OF the court
house. It went to his father in Denver.
It was learned that the jury had some
difficulty in reaching an agreement and |
elk ballots were taken before the IL |
men agreed. Up to that time the jury |
had stood IL for conviction and one
for acquittal.
In his charge Judge Davendorf said:
ITO all concerned this is a case OF
great Importance. You have no right
TO be influenced or controlled by any
thing but the evidence as it has been
presented to you and the law governing
It as given to you by the court. You
have no right to permit either sym
patty or favor with one OF the other
Ssrty to sway your judgment
None Of us was present on the 18th
Of July when 1t is said this crime oc-
CURED. The evidence that Grace
Brown lost her life at Big Moose Lake
admits OF no doubt. But there is no
testimony on the part of the people as
to an eye witness, as to what occurred
at the fatal moment, other than the de-
PENDANT. to detail the last scene in the
alleged tragedy. But all evidence is
more OF less circumstantial, whether j
OF facts which permit the in
ference Of the guilt or whether given
by an eye witness.
Gentlemen, evidence is not to be
or decried because it is cir
It may often be more re-
liable evidence than direct evidence.
Something has been said with refer a
snce to the motive. Proof of motive of 6
crime is not indispensable or essential [
10 conviction. While a motive may be y
8hOwn as a circumstance to aid in fix |
ng crime, yet the people are not re- c
luired to prove a motive. The motive Q
n this case is said by the people to be I
because of the relations that existed
,etween this man and this girl Now :
whether the situation in which ne was
laced furnished a motive sufficient for
i'm to commit this crime rests with A
be jury to say. c
Il say to you gentlemen that know '
I no law, in fact there is no law. that &
equires that a defendant should be a
resent at the autopsy or that he n
hould be represented. He has no par u
cular right to be present; in fact he s
annot be expected to be a witness. Il
his is not an issue in the case and is t
OF to be considered"
The judge then touched on the ques-
on of the crime and later said: IF =
Il, jury finds that Grace Brown jump =
] overheard voluntarily and that the II
afendant made no attempt to rescue y
er that does not make him guilty"