The Washington times., 1906-12-06

HERKIAIER. y. Y. Dec 6.-WheH
Chester E. Gillette. the convicted
murderer OF Billy Brown, his
sweetheart. told on the witness
stand his pitiably weak story Of
how the little factory girl had jump
ed into Big Moose lake and commit
ted suicide, there were six men in
the court room who knew as we'll as
be did that he was lying.
They knew that two days before he
had confessed to former Senator Albert
II. Mills, his Jun!GT counsel. that lac
had struck the girl In the water; thai
Billy Brown rose 20 the surface once
after she went overheard. and that the
man for whom she had sacrificed honor
and faith and beauty leaned over the
side OF the boat and dealt her z oIoW
which stiiled her forever.
II was this confession which vas IN
District Attorney Wards mind when
he demanded Of Gillette in so many
words TO repeat what he had said In
his cell.
Jail Officials Overheard.
ibid you not confess night before
last" WAS Wards question that you
struck Grace Brown when she came Up
beside the boat?" Gillette whined back
that he had not. and in the dFaInstic
hours that followed sight was lost Of
that interrogation.
Ward could have proven by Sheriff
Richard and Evans. q turnkey, that Gil
lette lied, but 10 have put them on the
witness stand would have been 10 make
reversal Of the trial by the court OF
appeals absolutely certain. Justice Dew
( No NOT TnHr Ar
10 any conversation they had overheard
/ between Mills and Gillette.
II was on that Monday night that
Mills. after having been sleepiess for
nearly 4 week. decided that Giiietts's
position could not be much worse II he
let the defendant go on the witness
stand. The. old attorney had not
reached this decision without a struggle
with his professional conscience.
Admits Striking the Girl.
As the story was told today In Hss-
kimer. Mills. upon entering Gtilette's
CELL Informed the prisoner that he
would have 10 take the witness stand in
his own defense. He asked him 70 70
over again the different events OF the
fatal day. Gillette did this and was re-
counting his story Of how the girl had
taken her life. when in a moment OF
mental lapse. he said:
"When she came up the first time
after sinking in the water / struck
/ her.
"YOu wretch, why did not you tell
me this befOrel" Senator Mills ls
reported as saying.
Gillette was silent.
Lawyers Cool to Gillette.
I
4 lowing morning it was observed and re-
marked by many that there was an ap-
/ parent eoolness between. Gillette and
/ his lawyers. Mills ard Charles D. Them
as. They did not sit near him, and dur
I ing the days which came after they
hardly spoke 10 him, Few suspected
/ what lay behind this undoubted aversion
/ OF the TWO attorneys for the man whose
/ ilfe they were fighting 10 save from the
electric chair.
/ No sooner had the confession of CSil,
/ lette taken place than 1t was reported
/ TO District Attorney Ward. But he saw
/ the danger OF attempting 10 use ID IN
evidence. Il Is said that not until after
conference with Justice DevsndoTs
/ did ne abandon all thought OF It. lie
/ did try 10 surprise Gillette into a con-
/ hrmati0n OF what the sheriff and turn-
/ key heard, but that young man was on
his guard.
Sentence on Monday Next.
Gillette was not sentenced today. In
/ order that his counsel may have time %
prepare papers asking for new trial
1 Judge Devendorf, on motion OF counsel.
/ deferred sentencing the slayer OF BIZ
/ ly' Brown until next Monday.
/ Pale ard ghOstlike Gillette was
/ brought into court today. Much OF hls
/ nonchaiant manner was lost, and he
/ evidenced much concern In the aFsu-
ment OF counsel He was kFs.. .itut
| from the HeTkimeF jail heaSi.Y man
acled to Deputy Sheriff KlochA.