davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
Woman's Simple Documents That Made
Criminal Case Famous and Virtually
Sealed the Fate of a Murderer
When Read to the Jury
That Tried Him for
His Life.

Herkimer, N. Y.-Printed below are
letters which, within the past few
weeks. have become known almost
from one end of the country to the
other as Grace Browns letters"
They need no introduction, save per-
haps the statement that these are the
letters which were read at the trial
of Chester Gillette.
They formed the most remarkable
feature Of that case. The whole struc-
ture Of the prosecuting attorney was
built upon them. 1t passes under
standing why the murderer Of the
girl should have preserved series of
documents which, It is safe to say,
spelled his doom from the moment
they were placed in the hands Of a
Jury of IL men. 1t is inconceivable
that Gillette kept them for their
pathos, or the gentleness Of charac-
ter which they revealed, for he is not
the kind OF man to whom such
things appeal. 1t is utterly improb-
able that he ever recognized in them
a simple literary beauty, although
such they do possess in an unusual
degree--the more unusual when 1t is
remembered that Grace Brown was
a country girl of plain education, who
had worked as factory hand.
Yet somehow Gillette kept them,
and the American public has ccme into
the possession of one of the most re-
markable series of documents that
ever appeared in a criminal case. AS
, revelation of character, as the writ
ten record of tortured soul, they
have already taken place unique in
the annals Of real life tragedies.
Here are the letters:
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
"r SHOULD HAVE KNOWN .
"But Somehow | Have Trusted You
More Than Any One Else"


South otselic. June 21st. 1905.
Wednesday Night-My Dear Chester:
i am just ready for bed and am so i'll
could not help writing to you.
Chester, came home because
thought i could trust you. don't
think now will be here after next
Friday. This girl wrote me that you
seemed to be having an awfully good
time and she guessed that my coming
home had done you good, as you had
not seemed SO cheerful in weeks. She
also said that you spent most Of your
time with that detestable Grace Hill.
Now, Chester, she does not know
/ dislike Miss Hill and so did not
write that because she knew 1t would
make me feel badly, but Just because
she didn't think. should have
known, Chester, that you did not care
for me. But somehow have trusted
you more than anyone else. When
ever the other girls have said hateful
things to me Of yon could not be-
lieve them. You told me-even prom.
Used me-you would have nothing to
do with her while was gone.
Perhaps. Chester. you don't think
or you can't help making me grieve,
but wish things were different. You
may say you do. too, but you can't
possibly wish so more than l. have
been very brave since came home,
but tonight am very discouraged.
Chester, II could only die. ! know
how you feel about this affair and I
wish for your sake you need not be
troubled. II die hope you can then
be happy. hope can die. The doc
tor says will, and then you can do
just as you like. ! am not the least
bit offended with you. only am lit.
tie blue tonight and I feel this way.
miss you. oh, dear, you don't
know how much miss you. Honest
ly. dear. am coming back next week
unless you can come for me right
away. am SO lonesome can't stand
It. Week ago tonight we were to-
igether. Don't you remember how l
cried, dear? ! have cried like that
nearly all the time since / left Cort.
land. I am awfully blue.
Don't you think am awfully brave,
i am doing SO much better than /
Thought should. think about
you. deer. all the time and wonder
what you are doing. l am SO fright
ened. dear. Maude has invited me
down for next Tuesday. but l don't
think ! can go. Oh, say. II you post
a letter to me Tuesday morning will
get It Tuesday nighN. Well. dear,
they are calling me 70 dinner and
will stop. Please wlste OF ! viii be
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
"MY LITTLE SISTER CAME"
"a Told Her Guessed My Fortune
Was Pretty Well Told Now"

Was Pretty Well Told NOW"
South otselic, June 23d, 1906, Sun.
day Nightly Dear Chester: l was
glad to hear from you and surprised as
well. thought you would rather
have my letters affectionate, but yours
was SO businesslike that l have come
to the conclusion that you wish mine
to be that way. / may tell you,
though, that am not business wom-
an, and so presume that these letters
will not satisfy you any more than
the others did. / would not like to
have you think was not glad to hear
from you, for l was very glad, but 1t
was not the kind of letter l had hoped
to get from you.
l think, pardon ME, that l under
stand my position and that IL is rather
unnecessary for you to be so fright
fully frank in showing it to me.
can see my position as keenly as any
one, think. You say you were sur
prised, but you thought l would be
discouraged. l don't see why | should
be discouraged. What words have
had from you since l came home to
encourage me?
You write as though I was the one
to blame because the girls wouldn't
thought l wouldn't be so lonesome. l
am sure l cannot help 1t because
mamma is away. AS to the financial
difficulty, l am the one who will be
most affected by that. You say "your
trip" Won't it be your trip as we'll as
mine? l understand how you feel
about the affair. You consider me as
something troublesome that you both
cred with. You think II 1t wasn't for
me you could do as you liked all sum-
mer and not be obliged to give up
your position there. l know how you
feel. but once in awhile you make me
see these things great deal more
plainly than ever.
Chester, / don't suppose you will
ever know how regret being all this
trouble to you. l know you hate me,
and l can't blame you one bit. My
whole life is ruined, and in measure
yours is, too. OF course, it's worse
for me than for you, but the world
and you, too, may think am the one
to blame, but somehow can't, Just
simply can't think that am, Chester.
said No so many times. dear. OF
course, the world will not know that,
but it's true all the same.
My little sister came up just min
ute ago with her hands full of daisies
and asked If 1 didn't want my fortune
told. told her guessed it was
pretty we'll told now. l don't want
you to mind this letter, for l am blue
| tonight and get so mad when the girls
write things about me. Your letter
was nice, and I was glad to get it. I
simply feel 'out Of sorts" tonight.
When you are cross, just think
am sick and can't help all this. II
you were me, you couldn't help find
ing fault, know. I don't dare think
how glad will be to see you. II you
wrote me letter like this wouldn't
write In a long time, but know you
won't tease me in that way. You will
just forget 1t and be your own dear
SELF You know always am cross in
the beginning. 1t was that way Sat
rday night. SO don't be angry, dear.
Lovingly. KID
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
DONE IN A HURRY
ENGLISHMAN GOT SAMPLE OF
YANKEE HUSTLE.
Probably to the Day Of His Death He
viii Marvel How So Much
Was Done In Such a Short
Space of Time.

English people have queer ideas
about what Americans can do. One
Of them, however, regards American
hustle as phenomenal, and this is
why:
The Englishman came to this side
to marry an English girl, who, with
her people, had settled near Boston.
The young woman's relatives were not
able to go to New York with her, so
they put her in charge of middle
aged male friend, who promised to
meet the young man, see the girl safe
ly married, after which the couple
we're to return Immediately to Eng
land.
The steamer arrived, and the girl
and the family friend met the young
man. The latter, being stranger, was
more than willing to leave all details
for the wedding in the hands of the
American, who, after temporarily in
stalling the two at Broadway hotel.
started out to look for minister 1t
was in the early fall, and few of the
better known clergymen were back in
town, so that the friend made several
calls and did not succeed in finding
anyone to tie the knot. Finally, on
his way back to the hotel, he passed
the doors of a well-known church and
noticed florists wagon standing in
the street. Two men were bringing
palms out of the church and placing
them in the wogan.
"Hold on a minute" said the friend.
where's your boss?"
One of the men went into the
church and fetched out the florist.
Been having a wedding?" queried
the friend, and the florist replied in
the affirmative.
"Parson here yet?" he continued.
The florist said he was.
Call off your men minutes" said
the friend as he disappeared in the
direction of the vestry.
Time to tie another knot, parson?"
he asked, breaking in on the minister,
who was getting into his clothes.
The minister looked at his watch.
"Just 10 minutes before l must go
% catch a train ne announced.
"All right, I'll be back said his
visitor.
His interview with the florist was
lust as brief.
Take ten dollars to leave the
plants and flowers here a half hour?"
| he asked, and almost before the for.
list could reply he found himself stand.
ino TO- IN, h;s hoo
| while the energetic coat tails of the
stranger were flying out behind him
block away
1t took eight minutes to get the cou-
| pie to the church from the hotel, which
luckily was only four blocks away In
little over Is minutes the knot was
tied. Then the Englshman looked
around the church. The big, massive
| pillars were twined round with smilaX,
with which roses intermingled, The
altar was bank of flowers and plnts.
and the pews were ribbon festooned
and flowers twined.
The Englishman was surprised He
looked at the decorations and he
looked at the American. Then he
spoke.
by George" he said, in awe-strick.
en- tones. How ever in the world did
you manage to get all this done in that
little bit of time?"
The American smiled the superior
smile of one who has done great
thing and said: "Oh, that's nothing.
We're used to doing things in hurry
here"
And the Englishman presumably is
still telling his friends stories about
this sample of Yankee HUSTLE
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
Between Women.

"Yes," said Miss Passay, hes an
awfully inquisitive bore. He was
trying to find out my age the other
day, so ! just up and told him | was
so. That settled him.
WELL" replied Miss Peppery, 81
guess it is best to be perfectly can
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
ARE SO MANYNOOKS"
81 Have Been Bidding Goodbye
to Some Places To-day"

II rave been bldQlng 0OOd-Dye
to Some Places To-day"
South Otselic, July s. Thursday
Night-My Dear Chester:, If you take
the 9:45 train from the Lehigh, there,
you will get here about II. am sorry
| could not go to Hamilton, dear, but
papa and mamma did not want me to,
and there are 80 many things l have
had to work hard for in the last two
weeks. They think l am just going
out there to Deruyter for visit Now,
dear, when I get there l will go at
once to the hotel, and don't think
will see any of the people. If / do,
and they ask me to come to the house,
will say something SO they won't
mistrust anything-tell them have a
friend coming from Cortland and that
funeral or wedding In some town far
Their along. Awfully stupid, but we
were invited to come and SO had to
cut my vacation little short and CO.
VIII that be o. K. dear3
You must come In the morning, for
have had to make you don't know
how many new plans since your last
letter, in order to meet you Monday
dislike waiting until Monday. but
now that l have to, don't think 1t
anything but fair that you should come
up Monday morning. But, dear, you
must see the necessity yourself OF get
ting here and not making me wait.
II you dislike the idea of coming Mon.
day morning and can get train up
there Sunday night, you would come
UP Sunday night and be there to meet
me. Perhaps that would be the best
way. All l cara is that / don't want
to wait there all day or half a day.
think there is a train that leaves
the Lehigh at six something Sunday
night. / do not know what l would
do IL you were not to come. l am
about crazy. I have been bidding
good-by to some places to-day. There
are so many hooks, dear, and all OF
them so dear to me. have lived here
nearly all my life.
First l said good-by to the spring
house with its great masses of green
moss; then the apple tree where we
had our playhouse; then the Bee
hive" cute little house in the or
chard, and, of course all the neighbors
that have mended my dresses from a
little tot up to save me threshing |
really deserved.
"Oh, dear, you don't realize what all
this means to me. / know shall
never see any of them again, and
mamma. great Heaven. how do love
mamma! / don't know what I will
do without her. She is never cross
and she always helps me so much.
Sometimes think II tell mamma-
but cant. She has trouble enough
as 1t is, and couldn't break her heart
like that.
II came back dead, perhaps, II she
doesn't know, she won't be angry with
me. will never be happy again, dear.
wish could die. You will never
know what you have made me suffer,
dear. I miss you and want to see
you, but wish could die. am go.
ing to bed now, dear. Please come
and don't make me wait there. If
you had made plans for something
Sunday. you must come Monday morn
ing.
| Please think. dear. that had to give
up a whole summers pleasure and you
surely will be brave enough to give
up one evening for me. I shall expect
and look for you Monday forenoon.
/ Heaven bless you until then.
| Lovingly and with kisses.
THE KID.
p. S,-Please come UP Sunday night.
\ dear.
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
Diagnosed.

Henry" asked the Sunday school
teacher, what is the conscience?"
The conscience" answered little
Henry, lis what yon have after you
have been eating cake and jam and
things out of the pantry and then you
have to take castor oil, and that cures
the conscience. Judge.
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
"cAN'T you COME TO MEi"
"Chester, ! Need You More Than
You Think + Do"

South otselic. June 20, 1906. Monday
Night--Dear Chester; I am much too
tireo to write a decent letter or even
follow the line. but l have been un-
easy all day. and can't go to sleep
because ! am sorry sent you such .
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
Hot Shot.

The following notice is inscribed ON
the wall of house in the Rue de
Strasbourg. Saint Denis. France: I'm
case of fire, ask for help at the ceme-
terry"
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10
knocklna,

Opportunity may never knock but
once, but others will do enough to
make ap for It
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10

this morning. ! am sorry and If were
there know you would say it would
be all o. X.
Lovingly,
THE KID.
The Jasper news., 1907-01-10

crazy. Be a good kid and God bless
you. Lovingly.
P. ST. am crying.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
UNITED BRETHREN CONFERENCE
Decision Not to Establish Another
Presiding Elder District.

EDINBURG. Va, March 16.-The Vir-
ginia conference of the United Brethren
Church yesterday unanimously decided not
to establish another presiding elders dis
trict Rev. W. E. Gruver of Martinsburg,
who has held the place for several years,
was reelected practically without opposi-
ton.
The greater part OF the day was taken up
with the reports of the various church
committees and addresses on various topics
of interest to the body. Bishop Mills de-
livered his annual address to the ministers
yesterday morning. He spoke for nearly an
hour and gave the pastors some excellent
advice relative to their work. Rev. DR.. s.
S. Hough of Dayton. Ohio, secretary of the
foreign mission board, made an address on
his work. as did also DIR. c. Whitney. also
of Dayton, secretary of the home mission
work.
Drs Hough and Whitney spoke In eon-
nection with the reports of conference COM
mttees, following the report of the COM
mittee on candidates for the ministry Rev.
W. D. Mitchell of the Georgia conference,
L. E. Brill, A. L. Maiden and w. r. Chap
man of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South were admitted to membership in the
Virginia conference. W. A. Black of Stan
ton was made local preacher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
DR.. F. 81. SMITH RESIGNED.
Has Been Professor in University OF
Virginia Fifty-Seven Years.

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March I6.-
The board OF visitors of the University of
Virginia held called meeting last night
at the university. A matter of widespread
interest was the resignation of Prof Fran
els FL. Smith of the chair of natural phil
osophy. which he had occupied since the
resignation of William Barton Rogers fif-
ty-seven years ago. The board passed res
olutions recognizing the value Of his sery-
ices as a teacher and the high character of
his personal influence upon thousands of
young men throughout the nation who have
come into contact with him. He was re-
Quested to continue as professor emeritus
DR.. Stephen II. Watts of Johns Hopkins
University was elected professor OF gen
eral surgery and director of the Univer-
sity Hospital.
DIR. Thomas l.. Watson of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute was chosen professor
of economic geology.
DR.. Robert Montgomery Bird of the Uni
versity OF Missouri was elected collegiate
professor of chemistry and DR.. Arthur E.
Austin Of Boston adjunct professor of
physiological chemistry for the remainder
of the present session
The board accepted the gift OF 81 900 from
Richard 3. Tunstall of Norfolk
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
JOSIAH II. HOBBS DEAD.
Was Chief Clerk of the Pension Office
Fifteen Years.

Josiah Fl. Hobbs, who was for fifteen
years chief clerk of the pension office, died
yesterday afternoon at the residence of his
sister. Mrs. II. N. Copp, SOD 9Th street
northwest. Death was caused by lung
trouble with which Mr. Hobbs had suffered
for prOtracted period The arrangements
for the funeral have not been completed,
but services will probably be held at the
First Congregational Church, Monday aft
ernoon. The interment will be made tenn
porarily in the vault at Rock Creek ceme
terry. and the body will be taken later to
Wakefield. n. H., for interment in the
family lot.
Mr.. Hobbs was seventy years of age. and
was unmarried. He came to Washington
in 1859 as clerk for Representative Hick
man. Later in 1868 he was appointed to a
clerkship in the pension office. and after
occupying various positions there was ap-
pointed chief clerk thirty years ago. After
serving fifteen years he resigned, and there
after spent much of his time In caring for
his aged mother.
The deceased was a member of Lafayette
Lodge of MaSons, and the palibearers Will
be chosen from that organization.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
SOUTHERN PACIFIC TO EXTEND.
Will Build THU teen Lines, With Out
Law of S53.S1O.

SAN FRANCISCO. March 16-Thlrteen
new lines. representing outlay of SJ3-
$4,000, will be constructed this summer by
the Southern Pacific. work TO begin with
settled weather. Five of the new roads. or
nearly half of the tracks. will be laid in
California. This great total of new tracks
does not include the electric railway system
of forty-four miles it is constructing az an
outlay OF S2C00.0o0 between San Jose and
San Mateo and Los Gatos and Mayfield
Nor does 1t include the 40 miles of road
1t Is to build Jointly with the Santa Fe
under the name of the Northwestern Pa
cific. north from WIlitts into Humboldt
county, in order to give Eureka a rail out
let at an estimated expense OF S10,OOOO0O
The thirteen new lines will have q total
mileage Of 1.512. One of these lines, ten
miles in length, which is known as the
Bayshore cutoff. will be completed In
about four months at total cost of 5000
COO. Another line is to cost S25, 900, 900 and
it will be 775 miles in length. 1t will give
the Southern Pacific direct entrance into
Mazatian and Guadalajara, In Mexico
This new line branches off from Harri-
mans Cananea, Yaqui River and Pacific
road at Alamos. To the latter line Harri-
man is to build two extensions. one 10
miles long and the other 100 miles in length.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
Jury's Verdict in Case of Lawrence D.
Clements.

An inquest was held at the morgue this
morning in the case of Lawrence b. Glenn
ents, the small boy who was fatally in
jured by an electric car Wednesday after
noon while playing on the street near the
corner of 4th and G streets southeast, as
stated in The Star at the time. Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook told the jury Of having
performed an autopsy upon the body, de-
scribing the injury sustained to his left leg,
and saying the body had been crushed and
mangled The boys death, witness stated,
was due to oedema of the lungs, following
the injury.
Dr. r. c. Bayly testified to the condition
of the victim of the accident when he
reached Providence Hospital. and explained
the treatment which was given him.
Motorman j. R. Llewellyn and Conductor
William Oden explained to the jury that
the car was not going at rapid rate of
The motorman told of having seen three
boys playing near 4th and G streets that
day. and said it was impossible for him to
have prevented the accident. The boy, he
said, ran against the dash back Of the
fender and was knocked down.
Conductor Oden said the wheel of the car
struck the leg of the boy and inflicted the
serious injury noted. Several persons who
were near 4th and G streets at the time
as they saw it, and a verdict of accidental
death was returned.
Undertaken Boteler removed the remains
from the morgue to the home of the parents
of the deceased. 316 G. street southeast,
from where the funeral will take place.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
FARMER VICTIMIZED.
Confidence Man Easily Obtains Pos
session Of Money.

Marcus Hobbs an elderly colored man
from Belfield. Va. was in sad plight when
he reached this city this morning from his
home, having been victimiZed by a conf
dence man before leaving Belfield. The old
man is a prosperous farmer at Belfleld, and
two Of his daughters are residing in Phila-
delpha. He Is proud of his children, and
when a stranger came to him and told him
they were under arrest in Philadelphia he
was greatly distressed.
But" the stranger told him, you can
get them out for 500
Hobbs drew $50 from bank and added
sl1 to it, showing the money to the stran-
ger. The latter told him he would take him
to Philadelphia without the trip costing him
a cent but the money he had, the stranger
matter to clean 1t, however. the stranger
told him. and he proceeded to put the money
in a bottle of whisky.
He would roll up BILL Hobbs told
Detective Hartigan. land would put 1t into
the bottle. Then he would put q piece Of
paper on the bill. The 81 bill was put on
top and then he put soap in the bottle"
The unsuspecting farmer put the bot
tie in his pocket and boarded the train
with the stranger. He was awakened
when the train reached Richmond, the
conductor wanting his fare. His strange
friend had gone and there was nothing
left for him to do but pay his fare. He
had $3.50 in his pocket. and he readily
surrendered 1t to the conductor. Then he
thought he would investigate the con-
tents of the bottle, and to his surprise
and sorrow he found II contained just 81.
Hobbs was in distress when he reached
the Baltimore and Potomac depot. He
was without funds and 1t was necessary
for him to secure loan OF S1.50 on his
watch. An effort is being made to get
him transportation home.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
Recital by Miss Reuter-.

Delivered with excellence of method,
the song recital of Miss Gertrude Reuter-
last evening at the residence of Mr. Samuel
Ross. 1923 Massachusetts, avenue, before
a large and critical audience was eminently
satisfactory.
The program consisted of the following
numbers: THY Beaming Eyes" Mac
Dowell; ''Ich Liebe Dich," Beethoven;
'Slumber Song" Gerrit Smith; Beat Upon
Mine Little Heart Nevin; Brett Uber
Mein Haupt Dein Schwarzes Haar,"
Strauss; Spring SONG Mackenzie; "Ach
Lieb Ich Muss Nun Scheiden," Strauss;
1.-The Years at the Spring Beach; ELIZA
btth's Prayer" (Tannhauser), Wagner; duet,
"Abschied der Vogel," Hildach. The last
number was sung with Mr.. Sydney Lloyd
Wrightson.
Mr.. Richard 7. Backing sang effectively
two selections, and Mr.. Wrfghtson rem
dered I,--,tson's Song of Thanksgiving.
After the recital an informal reception
gave the guests opportunity to congratu-
late Miss Reuter-.