The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-28
STORY
Told Jury That Grace Brown
Jumped Overheard.
Stopped at Big Moose at Sugges-
tiOn OF Girl.

Herklmer, n. Y, Nov. 28.-Chester
Gillette charged with numbering his
supposed fancee, Grace Brown of
South Otselio, today took the witness
stand in his own behalf With face
somewhat drawn, but attitude as care
free as the most unimportant witness
in the entire case, Gillette crossed his
legs. gazed at the jury and began to
tell the story of the illfated trip that
he and Grace Brown took on Big
Moose lake. After going over his
youthful career, which carried him
through the west, Gillette said that he
had been in the employ of his uncle,
1905.
In response to the queries of his
senior counsel, Gillette begun his re-
hearsal of the tragic story that other
witnesses have endeavored to piece to-
gether.
Il left Cortland on Sunday, July s."
he began. Yes, l had been acduaint-
ed with Grace Brown for some time.
1 went to De Ruyter from Cortland,
and remained there one night. 1 met
Grace Brown. The next day we went
to Utica. staying at the Hotel Martin
that night"
Did you have any talk with Grace
Brown at the hotel p" asked Mr. Mills
of counsel for the defense. Gillette
made an affirmative reply but on OBJ
conversation that was alleged to have
passed between the Brown girl anE
Gillette was not allowed to enter upon
the minutes. Then Gillette continued
with the narrative of his trip into the
Adirondacks. He testified that he went
to Utica laundry before starting
northward. I'VE reached the upper
lake at 5 O'Clock Monday evening""
Gillette said when we got to the
hotel we started out for a walk. Re
turning we told the proprietor that
we did not care much for the place and
he told US of morning train we could
get out on. We took that train"
In his opening address Attorney
Thomas for the defense said he would
show that Grace Brown was the one
who suggested that they get off and
spend the day at Big Moose, but when
The witness reached that point in his
story, he made no allusion to what in
spired them to get off at Big Moose,
after their trunks had been shipped
through to Old Forge
Gillette testified this afternoon that
Grace Brow n jumped overheard. He
sitting in the stern of the boat and
when he tried to reach Miss Brown
the boat upset
I'VE went to the GIenmore hotel in a
bus" said Gillette. "Grace sat down on
the veranda. I went in and talked with
the younger Mr. Morrison He told me
there was some beautiful sights on the
lake that if I wanted to see all the
sights on the lake I'd better take
row boat
I'VE went down to the dock and hired
a row boat" said. Gillette. We started
along the south shore and moved along
slowly. We saw a rustic bridge, open
camp and a boat house and then we
went to South Bay" (South Bay is
where Grace Browns death occurred).
To illustrate his narrative Gillette
left his chair and indicated points on
the lake and shore as shown on a
map He spoke of little incidents. such
as finding a spring, meeting people in
a beat, and finally, took his story to
the point where Grace Browns body
and the boat We're found.
I'VE talked about what we ought to
do he said, "and 1 said we ought not
to keep on as we had. I finally said
thought her father and mother ought
to know what had occurred. She said
she could not tell her mother and
cried 1 told her she would have to-
She said, You don't know my father,
you can't tell him We talked little
more then she got up and jumped in
the water just jumped in. I was in
the other end. leaning back. When
started to get up the boat turned over
When I came up, caught hold of the
boat
Did you see her?'' asked Mr. Mills.
Il could not; after a couple minutes
when 1 could not see her 1 swan to
the srore. 1 went off through the woods
with my stuff. I had landed near it.
NV hat was in the water I guess