The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-09
GILLETTE TO Be EXECUTED
Grace Browns Slayer Sentenced
to Death at Herkimer, N. Y.
Mrs. Gillette "Covers" For News
paper Incidents of Sons Progress
to the Electric Chair.

neihimer, N. Y.-Chester Gillette
was sentenced to death in the electric
chair at Auburn Prison during the
week of January % for the murder
of Grace Brown.
Mrs. Louise M. Gillette sat in court
and reported for a Denver newspape,
the sentencing Of her own son to
death.
A curious crowd filled the court
room. Mrs: Gillette had arrived un-
expectedly in Herkimer during the
night. She caused surprise when she
said she came from Denver to report
what was left Of the trial. Regarded
at first as an impostor, she proved
her identity by her handwriting, Of
fering It for comparison with letters
Gillette had received from her.
She did not go to see Gillette until
morning. He was being shaved and
as>the barber worked the mother in
terviewed her son for the public
press. It was this newspaper work.
she explained, that made it possible
for her to come to Herkimer.
In! court, when Gillette was SEN
fenced. his mother wrote a bulletin
to her paper In a business-like man
ner, and shaking the telegram in the
air; seemed much annoyed because
there was not a messenger boy In
sight. ,.y ~ .t.s -. ~ a.f
Chester Gillette's nerve of steel, re-
mains with him. After his lawyer
had moved un%successfully to have the
verdict set aside, the youth respond
ed to the Judges call and marched
forward, fol-. sentence g,srrn .. af.
When Judge Devendorf asked him
II he had anything to say why judg-
ment should not be: passed, Gillette
astounded his auditors by addressing
the court in a firm voice, declaring:
II am innocent of the crime as
charged. in the Indictment and there
fore I think 1t should not be passed."
Have you anything else to say?"
the Court inquired.
Gillette hesitated, then said: "No,,
I think that's all.""int ~ gh @r.
The Judge drew a deep breath as
though he was about to perform a
duty, that panied him. Then he
passed the sentence Gillette did not
30 much as change color. q,.Til.r =:
Mrs. Gillette sat near him. He
looked at her and a smile crossed his
lips. She returned the smile, but
said nothing. Then Gillette was TAX
en-, back to Jail. rff s'a girii ~ -
The condemned youth wheeled
about as he arose to accompany the
under sheriff, and remarked that the
crowd was rushing out. He showed
some fear. Lock those doors!"
shouted the official, and the crowd
was held back until Gillette was in
his cell. Once there, the prisoner
stripped of his coat and began to
play cards with his guard. '''
7 It was stated by the jail keepers
that Mrs. Gillette pleaded with her
son to confess If he was guilty.
a clean breast Of it to me, my
boy" she said!s But the son chung to
his plea of innocence. 2&u-,n-s ~ y
: Mrs. Gillette referred to Grace
Browns letters as Sweet" but
thought they should BOT have been
in evidence. She believes
they did more than anything else to
convict her son. a. "i' II 'zF 81 =
. Gillette gave out an interview. He
said: II am very. hopeful of getting a
new trial. My mother is here, and I
am more than glad to e her, but
not through the bars Of a cell.
people thought I was hard heart
ed because did not show emotion in
trial. II tell you I felt very much
worried and I had a hard time to .
control myself. I did It, though. It
makes no particular difference wheth-
er I stay in jail here Or at Auburn; I
suppose, although I am used finely
here."" .''' -" ''"''"