The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-01
GILLETTE ANSWERS
QUESTIONS COOLLY
Does Not Waiver in Cross
Examination
DEFENSE RESTS ITS CASE
Accused Man Said He Swan to Shore,
Leaving the Girl to Die In the
Lake-Dlstrict Attor-
ney Questions.
DEFENSE RESTS ITS CASE

Herkimer. N Y. November 50.-The
trial of Chester Gillette for the murder
of his sweetheart, Grace Brown prac-
tically came to a close so far as the
taking of evidence is concerned today. The
defense, while reserving the right 10
swear one witness if it sees Mt tomorrow
rested this afternoon The remainder of
the afternoon was spent by the district
attorney in calling several witnesses IN
rebuttal.
The defense swore several witnesses to-
day. but so little was expected Of each
that 1t was less than two hours after
Gillette himself stepI d down from the
stand that Attorney Thomas announced
the defense rested.
There were really no striking features
of interest in the ease today outside of
those furnished by Gillettee's testimony.
He went through the ordeal of cross
examination without waverlng In the
slightest degree from his testimony as to
the actual death scene on Big Moose
lake.
Gillette wlthstood the searching cross
examination at the hands OF the district
attorney astonishingly well. He coolly re-
sponded to the questions even If 1t were
nothing more definite than II can't say
which proved his persistent expression.
Gillette sworo that many of the things he
said and w"ote and which the prosecu-
ton took as links In chain of evidence,
were simply falsehoods coneocted for one
reason or another, and that many OF the
things he had done, and that the prose-
cutlon took as indications OF guilt were
merely acts of cowardce.
When Gillette left the witness stand the
defense called its eight or ten witnesses
In quick succession. Some of them We're
called to give their opinion OF Gillette'5
character and reputation. Some testified
| that his character was ge9a. but the DIS
| tfiet attorney compelled all to admit they
were not then aware of Gillettes rela-
tions with Miss Brown.
There was some surprise shown hen
the district attorney allowed Gillette to
leave the witness box without more
minute description of incidents immed-
lately preceding the girls fatal plunge
into the lake.
Immediately on the resumption of tho
trial Gillettee took the stand seating
himself carefully and comfortably and
looking intently at counsel. District At
must face the jury when answering ques-
tons.
Mr. Ward read letter from Gillette -
| Grace Brown under date of June %, In
which he said he had been to Little York
lake with some fellows. They were in
bathing.
Would Have Told II He Struck Girl.
"Gillette, il you had struck Grace Brown
at Big Moose lake and stunned her, would
YOU have told the officers?" asked Ward.
| Yes"
"Gillette," asked the district attorney.
"if you struck Grace Brown with that
| tennis racquet would you come here and
tell this jury you did,"
II cannot say
Ibid you hate this girl?" asked the
prosecutor, reading from a number OF
letters Grace Brown had sent the de-
fendant in which she complained of his
apparent neglect of her
30. | did not hate her" answered Gill
Iette
Here Gillette for a second diverted his
glance from the jury and Mr. Ward
shouted Look at the jury and not at
| your counsel
Attorneys Mills and Thomas jumped
| to their feet to interpose an objection
to the district attorneys manner toward
the witness and the court sustained them,
holding hat Mr. Ward had no right to so
direct the witness in his gaze.
| The district attorney taking up the mat
ter of Gillette having received a letter
from Grace Brown in which she referred
| TO his contemplated visit to De Ruyter,
previous to their departure for the Ad
irondacks, in July. the witness denied
he was ashamed or feared to be seen
! with the girl. there
Didn't you want the girl to go to
! Hamilton with you?"
81 don't know; l believe she wanted to
| go to Hamilton
| Ibid you know anyone in Hamilton"
| al did not
"she had relat tives there, had she not?''
II believe she had"
Doesn't Remember About Meeting.
"Then you wanted her to meet you In
| Hamilton, where she was known, but
where you were not known, and start
| from there to the Adirondacks. instead
| of from De Ruyters?"
II cannot state"
when did you first know she was to
become mother?'
"I do not remember
WAS 1t in April when she left Cort-
land for South Otse..ic, that you first
| knew IT."
81 cannot state.
! Gillette said he did not remember hav-
| ing been accused by Grace Brown OF
|
and declared his attitude toward the girl
| had not changed from the time he accom-
| plished her ruin i'm October until April
when her condition became known to
him.
'Dld you still love her?' asked the dis
| trct attorney.
81 did" answered Gillette. with sharp
nod OF the head.
The district attorney went into a long
series of questions on the subject of
the witnesses financial condition at the
| time he started for the Adrondacks and
asked him II he had planned to use the
! girls own money in making away with
/ her, inasmuch his own purse was
rather depleted.
! Gillette answered. mo"
! Didn't Consider Cost of Boat.
4 Asked by the district attorney IT, when
| he rented the boat at Big Moose and
went out on the lake with Grace Brown
| he understood his financial condition
would not warrant hiring a boat from
| noon until night. Gillette answered he
| did. but he did not care about the cost
| Gillette was shown the films that he
took on his trip to Bear mountain and
/ ateau,bora an ----.s through the
| woods
| Gillette, You for
! your counsel III. HI here
| were never exp
And then To