Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-12-08
GILLETTE FOUND
GUILTY OF MURDER
Slayer OF Grace Crown Faces Dealt
In Electric Chair.
JURY WAS OUT FIVE HOURS

Herkimer. n Y. Dec . The jrry ~
the trial OF Chester T.. Gillette Tor tn
murder of his sweetheart Grace Brown,
at Big Moose Lake on July II last, ~.
turned verdict OF guilty in tdc first
degree after being out Eve hours
Sentence will be prouounc q on
Thursday to which time coIrt Adjourn
ed after the jurs had reported ior'n-
err Senator Mills. Gillette's counsel. an
nounced that when eoJrt rc'cavenct
he would move to have the verdict set
aside.
Pale and a triie nervous apparently
Gillette faced the juiy and when Mar.
shall Hatch. the foreman. declared that
verdict OF guilty in the first d'pr"e
had been found the youthful prisoner
gave no sign OF emotion.
Gillette sat motioness and as on"
after another the l. jurors ar Sc To
their feet and declared taat they We're
united in their decision When the
18th man had responded the s'olid in
difference or studied comrosure of the
boy was exhibited as never hcitr'.
Leaning over a nearby table drew
towards him bit Of Waite PAPER and.
taking a pencil from his pocket. wrote
deliberately this message
"Father-l am convicted
(Signed) CHESTER
This was one OF the earliest dis
patches carving the news OF Gillctte's
doom beyond the walls OF tac court
house. II went To his father In Denver.
II was learned that the jury had some
difficulty in reaching an agreement and
six ballots were taken before the II
men agreed Up to that time the jury
had stood IL for conviction and one
for acQuittal
In his charge Judge payendorf 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 10 permit either sym
pGthy or favor with one or the other
party TO sway your judgment
None OF US was present on the llth
OF July when II is said this crime oc-
Cured. The evidence that Grace
Brown lost her life at Big Moose Lake
admits of no doubt But tnerc is no
testimony on the part of the people as
to an eye witness. as 10 what occurred
at the fatal moment other than the de-
PENDANT. 10 detail the last scene in the
alleged tragedy But all evidence Is
more or less circumsiantial whether
consisting Of facts which permit the in
ference OF the guilt or whether given
by an eye witness.
Gentlemen. evidence is not 10 be
discredted or decried because It is cir
cumstantial 1t may often be more re-
liable evidence than direct evidence.
Something has been said with refer
ence 10 the motive Proof Of motive OF
crime is not indispensable or essential
to conviction While a motive may be
shown as a Circumstance 10 aid in fix
ing crime. yet the people are not re-
quired to prove motive The motive
in this case Is said by the people 10 be
because OF the relations that existed
between this man and this girl Now
whether the situation in which he was
placed furnished motive sufficient for
him to commit this crime rests with
the jury TO say
Il say to YOU gentlemen that : know
OF no law. in fact there Is no law. that
requires that defendant should be
present at the autopsy or that he
should be represented He has no par
ticular right To be present in fact he
cannot be expected to be a witness
This is not an issue in the case and is
not 10 be considered -
The Judge then touched on the ques-
ton Of the crime and later said IN
the jury finds that Grace Brown jump
ed overheard voluntarily and that the
defendant made no attempt to rescue
her that does not make him guilty"