The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-23
CILLETTE'S OWN STORY
 OF THE LAKE TRAGEDY
TOLD TO THE JURY BY SHERIFF TO WHoM HE CON-
 PISSED.


 Overheard Gillette Ask Two Young
 Men if They Had Heard of a Tragedy
 on Big Moose LaIse--sheriff Tells of
 Finding of the Tennis Racquet Re-
 hind Log on the Road From Rin,
 Moose to Eagle Bay.
 Herkimer, N. Y, Nov 22.-Chester Gillette's story of how his sweetheart came to her death in the waters of Big Moose lake the evening of Wednes- day, July Il last, as related by him to the sheriff who placed him under ar- rest at Arrowhead on the Saturday morning following, was re-told to-day by the officer of the law to the jury which is trying the young man on the charge of murder.
 It was brought out that Gillette knew the girl had been in a delicate condi- ton since May. He said he and eEe had been intimate for year.
 When the boat upset accidentally, as you say, and she was floundering helpless in the water, why did you not go to her assistance?" Under SherifE Klock to-day swore that he asked his prisoner.
 Because" he says the young man replied, T was afraid that she might struggle so that we would both go down"
 District Attorney Ward followed uRN this lead to-day by presenting In evi-s dence the dress suit case, the camera and tripod, the tennis racquet and oth- CT articles which are supposed to have been rescued from the water by the young man after the boat upset.
 a"Giliette told me-" continued the wit ness, that he shouted to the girl to hold on to the stern of the boat and he would try to get her ashore. He said he did not get near her for he was holding on to the bow"
 Under Sheriff Klock's story was the only testimony of interest," presented during the long afternoon session.
 Under Sheriff Klock declared that since his arrest Gillette had given three excuses as to why the boat was overturned. When asked if he or tho girl was to blame for the alleged acci- dent lae replied, according to the witt ness: s'I suppose I am to blame for it."H
 Aside from this testimony the inter- est of the day centered in a statemefiet made upon the witness stand by tho Rev Couthbert Frost, pastor of tho First Presbyterian church of Lowville. He was at the Arrowhead Inn with a party on the Friday following the tragedy.
 q saw Gillette coming down stairs from his room that evening" said Mir. Fnost, land overheard him ask two men if they had heard of tragedy on Big Moose lake in which young girl had been drowned I did not hear what reply, if any, was given"
 Up to this time there has been no evidence that any one else in the neigh borhood of Arrowhead had heard of tfa finding of the girls body. In fact, the prosecutor has not yet shown the time the body was found. The details of the discovery and of the condition of the body are yet to be heard.
 Under Sheriff Klock on the witness stand said that when Gillette was first arrested and informed of Billy Browns death by drowning, he profess sed great surprise, and said he had not heard of the accident.
 After a few minutes,'' said the wit ness, q told him he knew as well as I did that the girl was dead. He replied: 'Yes, the boat upset" ascked him how long he and the girl had been in timate and he said about a year. [ asked him if he had ever heard any, thing against her character, and he said he never had heard & word He. said the boat tipped over about 6 D. m. that "Wednesday evening. The girl came to the surface and he told her to cling to the stern and he would try to get her ashore"
 Asked as to what the defendant said had caused the boat to upset, Klock replied: 'sAt first he said he was stand ing up doing something with his hat and tlae boat went over The next time I talked to him he said he was standing up trying to reach pond lily. The third time he said he was walking back toward the stern to talk to the girl when the boat upset
 Klock admitted that Gillette told him he expected to be married, and he un- derstood the defendant to mean the enlony was to take place during the Adirondack trip.
 Sheriff Richard told of the finding the tennis racquet hidden behind long on the road from Big Moose to Eagle bay. Gillette had told him that he had plac- ed the racquet there, finding it too much trouble to carry. The racquet was put in evidence. A number of the strings are bnoken. Klock was recalled, to say that when he took possession of Gillette's suit case at Arrow Head the inside gave no evidence of having been wet.
 The prosecutor showed to-day that while Gillettes former sweetheart lay dead in the lake he joined number of parties in Mountain trips. took many photographs and made long canoe trip in search of the two Cortland girls whom he had met on the train while riding to Deruyter with Grace Brown.