davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
trace Brown to
Chester Gillette
Woman's Simple Documents That Made
a 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 a 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 II men. 1t is inconceivable
that Gillette kept them for their
pathos, or the gentleness of charac-
ter which they revealed, for he is not
things appeal. 1t is utterly improb-
able that he ever recognized in them
simple literary beauty, although
such they do possess in an unusual
degree-the more unusual when it is
remembered that Grace Brown was
country girl of plain education, who
had worked as factory hand.
Yet somehow Gillette kept them,
and the American public has come 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 a tortured soul, they
have already taken a place unique in
the annals of real life tragedies
Here are the letters:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
"COME AND TAKE ME AWAY"

"There Isn't Girl in the World as
Miserable as Am Tonight"
South Otselic, June goth, 1906, Tues
day Night-My Dear Chester: I am
writing to tell you that I am coming
back to Cortland. I simply can't stay
here any longer. Mamma worries and
wonders why I cry so much, and am
just about sick. Please come and
take me away some place, dear.
came up home this morning and just
can't help crying all the time, just as
1 did Saturday night. My headache is
I did Saturday night
I can't stay here, dear, and please
don't ask me to any longer. Do you
miss me much? I am SO lonesome
without you. I don't know how I am
going to manage about going to Uncle
Charles. 1 presume I will have to
write you to meet me in Cincinnatus,
now we don't know anyone there.
Chester, there isn't girl in the world
as miserable as 1 am tonight, and
you have made me feel so. Chester,
1 don't mean that, dear; you have
always been awfully good to me, and
I know you will always be. You just
won't be coward, know. My broth
ers and sisters are at a social recep-
ton tonight, but they can't get over
my crying.
I do wish you were here. I can't
wait so long for letters, dear. You
must write more often, please, and,
dear, when you read my letters, if
you think 1 am unreasonable, please
do not mind it, but do think I am
about crazy with grief and that 1
don't know just what to do. Please
write to me, dear.
Lovingly, you know whom
South Otselic, June 10, 1906.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05

The Result 81 Observation
ibid your husband make any Neu
Year resolutions?
Il hope not answered young Mrs
roykins. Il have about come T. the
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05

should happen I would always regret
it for your sake. You do not know
papa as well as do, and would not
like you to be disgraced here. We
have both suffered enough and
would rather go away quietly. In a
measure I will suffer the more, but
1 will not complain If you will not get
cross and will come for me. I must
close. Write me Wednesday night,
dear, and, tell me what you think
about everything. Let's not leave all
our plans until the last moment, and.
above all, please write and say you
forgive me for that letter 1 sent you
this morning. I am sorry and if 1 were
there I know you would say it would
be all o. K.
Lovingly,
THE KID
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05

grow new friendships, and keep the
old ones in good repair. You can so
choose the music, the great paintings
that you see, and the architecture that
you study, as that music, and elo-
quence, and art and worship will en-
rich your life. You can make your
daily work, however humble it be, to
take on the culture of full college
course.
No matter how old you are. or how
much you have done for society, you
can open new burrows and sow new
harvests of happiness for generations
as yet unborn
Are you young? Take Paufs ideal.
Whatsoever things are honest. what
soever things ire true, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are of
good report-think on these things
Are you old, with all your life be-
hind you? Remember Gladstone, who
in his dying weeks wanted to do one
more good deed, and translated
Horace. Remember Tennyson, who in
his last moments tried to write one
more song. Remember that English
hero who went out and planted just
one more tree on the day that he died
Remember that SCARED apostle who
had sown the world with happi-
ness, but whose dying word was: II
will forget the victories and the
glories of yesterday; write one more
golden page. stretching my hands out
unto the things that are before.
This will turn the new year into a
great opportunity. This will crowd
all the days with duties and delights.
Life will be worth the living Work
will bring rich reward.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
"THEREARE SO MANYNOOKS"
al Have Been Bidding Goodbye
to Some Places TODAY"

South Otselic, July 6, Thursday
Night-My Dear Chester: If you take
the GAS train from the Lehigh, there,
you Will get here about IL. am sorry
1 could not go to Hamilton, dear, but
papa and mamma did not want me to,
and there are SO many things I have
had to work hard for in the last two
weeks. They think I am just going
out there to Deruyter for a visit. Now,
dear, when / get there I will go at
once to the hotel, and I don't think
1 will see any of the people. If I do,
and they ask me to come to the house,
will say something so they won't
mistrust anything-tel1 them I have a
friend coming from Cortland and that
we were to meet there to go to a
funeral or wedding in some town far
Their along Awfully stupid, but we
were invited to come, and so I had to
cut my vacation a little short and go.
Will that be o. X, dear?
You must come in the morning, for
1 have had to make you don't know
how many new plans since your last
letter, In order to meet you Monday.
1 dislike waiting until Monday, but
now that 1 have to, 1 don't think it
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.
If you dislike the idea of coming Mon
day morning and can get a 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 I care is that don't want
to wait there all day or half day.
I think there is train that leaves
the Lehigh at six something Sunday
night I do not know what 1 would
do II you were not to come. 1 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 I 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 a threshinr I
really deserved.
s'Oh. dear, you don't realize what all
this means to me. / know / shah
never see any of them again. and
mamma, great Heaven, how 1 do love
mammal don't know what 1 will
do without her. She is never cross
and she always helps me so much.
Sometimes I think II I tell mamma
but I can't She has trouble enoueb
as 1t is. and I couldn't break her heart
like that
II came back dead. perhaps, II she
doesn't know, she won't be angry with
me. win never be happy again. dear.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
"CAN'T YOU COME TO ME-"
"Chester, Need You More Than
You Think | Do"

South Otselic, June 26, 1906, Monday
Night-Dear Chester: am much too
tired to write decent letter or even
follow the line, but I have been I'M
easy all day, and I can't go to sleep
because 1 am sorry I sent you such a
hateful letter this morning, so 1 am
going to write and ask your forgive
ness, dear. 1 was cross and wrote
things I ought not to have written.
am sorry, dear, and I shall never feel
quite right about all this until you
write and say you forgive me. / was
ill and did not realize what was writ
ing, and then this morning mamma
gave my letters to papa before I was
down. 1 should not have had it posted
but it went long before / was awake.
1 am very tired tonight, dear. / have
been helping mamma sew to-day. My
sister is making me new white Peter
Pan suit, and do get SO tired having
it fitted, and then there are other
ried and tired. 1 never liked to have
dresses fitted, and now it is ten times
worse. Oh! Chester, you will never
know how glad 1 shall be when this
worry is all over. I am making myself
ill over it. Maybe there is no use to
worry, but I do and I guess everyone
does. / am quite brave tonight, and
I always feel better after I write you,
Chester, so / hope you mind the hate
full things 1 say and 1 hope you won't
mind my writing SO much. Where do
you suppose we will be two weeks
from tonight? wish you would write
and tell me, dear, all about your COM
ing. 1 am awfully afraid 1 can't go
to Hamilton, Chester.
Papa can't take me and 1 am nerv-
GUS about going alone. You see
would have to ride quite a distance
before could take the train and then
there is a long wait, and, Chester,
am getting awfully sensitive. If
can't go up there what shall do? Do
you think it would be wise to come
back there? Could you come to Der
uyter and meet me? I have relatives
there, but perhaps could arrange it
somehow. / was pleased yesterday
morning. You know / have a lot of
bed quilts-six, I guess-and l was
asking mamma where they were and
saying I wished had a dozen. when
my little sister said: "Just you and
someone else will not need so many"
OF course my face got crimson and
the rest of the family roared. Mann
ma is SO nice about fixing my dresses;
she has them all up now in nice shape
You remember the white dress wore
and you once asked me why I didn't
have a new yoke. Well, she has al
most made a new dress out of that
am afraid the time will seem awfully
long before ] see you, Chester wish
you would always post your letters In
the morning after you write them or
the same night They are day later
here IL you wait until noon OF
course I will be glad to get them, only
1 dislike waiting for them
Oh, dear. do get so blue, Chester.
Please don't wait until the last of the
week before you come Can't you come
the first of the week. Chester. need
you more than you think do. 1 really
think it will be impossible for me to
stay here any longer than this week
I want to please you. but I think.
Chester, It would b very unwise-
II I should stay here and anything
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
"MY LITTLE SISTER CAME
"I Told Her Guessed My Fortune
Was Pretty Well Told Now"

South Otselic, June 23d, 1906, Sun
day Night-My Dear Chester: I was
glad to hear from you and surprised as
well. I thought you would rather
have my letters affectionate, but yours
was so businesslike that have come
to the conclusion that you wish mine
to be that way. I may tell you,
though, that am not a business wom-
an, and SO presume that these letters
will not satisfy you any more than
the others did. I would not like to
have you think was not glad to hear
from you, for I was very glad, but it
was not the kind of letter had hoped
to get from you.
1 think, pardon me, that 1 under
stand my position and that it is rather
unnecessary for you to be so fright
fully frank in showing it to me. 1
can see my position as keenly as any
one, I think. You say you were sur
prised, but you thought 1 would be
discouraged. don't see why 1 should
be discouraged. What words have
had from you since 1 came home to
encourage me?
You write as though I was the one
to blame because the girls wouldn't
come. I invited them here because 1
thought wouldn't be SO lonesome. I
am sure I cannot help it because
mamma is away. AS to the financial
difficulty, / am the one who will be
most affected by that. You say your
trip" Won't it be your trip as well as
mine? 1 understand how you feel
about the affair. You consider me as
something troublesome that you both
cred with. You think If it wasn't for
me you could do as you liked all sum-
mer and not be obliged to give up
your position there. I know how you
feel, but once in awhile you make me
see these things great deal more
plainly than ever.
Chester, I don't suppose you will
ever know how regret being all this
trouble to you know you hate me.
and 1 can't blame you one bit. My
whole life is ruined, and in a 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.
1 said No so many times, dear. OF
course, the world win not Know that.
but it's true all tie same.
My little sister came up just a min
ute ago with her hands full of daisies
and asked if didn't want my fortune
told. l told her 1 guessed it was
pretty well told now. / don't want
you to mind this letter, for 1 ann blue
tonight and get SO mad when the girls
write things about me- Your letter
was nice, and was glad to get it I
simply feel "out Of sorts" tonight.
When you are cross. just tnfnk 1
am sick and can't help all this If
you were me. you couldn't help And-
ing fault. I know 1 don't dare think
how glad 1 win be to see you II you
wrote me a letter like this wouldn't
write in long time, but 1 know You
won't tease me In that way. You viii
Just forget 1t and be your own dear
self. You know I always am crosa In
the beginning- It VAS that way Sat
urylay night. = 1oat b angry, dear.
Lovingly. ND.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
81 SHOULD HAVE KNOWN "
'tBut Somehow Have Trusted You
More Than ANY One Else"

South Otselic, June 21st, 1906,
Wednesday Night-My Dear Chester:
I am just ready for bed and am so i'll
I could not help writing to you.
Chester, I came home because
fought 1 could trust you. / don't
Wink now I will be here after next
Aiday. This girl wrote me that you
tSemed to be having an awfully good
hne and she guessed that my coming
tdme had done you good, as you had
1T seemed so cheerful in weeks. She
a SO said that you spent most of your
time with that detestab1e Grace Hill.
Now, Chester, she does not know
l dislike Miss Hill and SO did not
write that because she knew it would
make me feel badly, but just because
she didn't think. 1 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 you I could not be-
1ieve them. You told me-even prom
ised me-you would have nothing to
do with her while 1 was gone.
Perhaps, Chester, you don't think
or you CANT help making me grieve,
but wish things were different. You
possibly wish so more than I. / have
been very brave since I came home,
but tonight 1 am very discouraged.
CHESTER. if could only die. 1 know
how you feel about this affair and 1
wish for your sake you need not be
troubled If die hope you can then
be happy. / hope I can die. The doc
stor says 1 will. and then you can 90
Just as you like. 1 am not the least
bit offended with you, only 1 am lit
tie blue tonight and I feel this way.
1 miss you. Oh, dear, you don't
know how much I 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-
gether. Don't you remember how /
cried. dear? 1 have cried like that
) nearly all the time since I left Cort-
land 1 am awfully blue.
Now, dear. let me tell you. You
will get this Monday some time. Now
you please write me Monday night and
be sure and post it Tuesday morning
and then will get it. or ought to.
Wednesday morning. I just want to
see what the trouble 10 why I don t
hear from you / was telling mamma
yesterday how you wrote and / never
got 1t, and she said: why, Billy, If
he wrote you would have received
it."
She did not mean anything, but I
was mad. and said: Mamma, Ches-
ter never lied to me. and I know he
wrote" If you were only here, dear.
how glad would be-
Don't you think am awfully brave?
/ am doing so much better than
thought 1 should. think about
you. dear, all the time and wonder
what you are doing. I am so fright
ened. dear Maude has invited me
down for next Tuesday, but I don't
think can go. oh. say, If you post
: letter to me Tuesday morning will
get Il Tuesday night Well. dear.
they are calling me to dinner and
wfll stop. Please wrte or ! win be
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
~QN-ss-->QN-ss-.QN>ss--.4f~s>,

the room five distinct times, each
time to smell, taste, hear, see and feel
certain objects.
If there is large party it is best IA
offer prize for each of the five tests,
and have them written up after each
one. Some care must be exercised in
the objects selected, especially in the
tasting. when nothing harmful or dis
tasteful should be allowed.
For this test, as well as for the
hearing and feeling tests. the guests
are blindfolded or the room left abso-
lute1y dark. 1t is not as easy as it
sounds to distinguish various musical
instruments when they are not seen.
A mouth organ, either. mandolin.
guitar and cello or flute-a few notes
of each played in turn-are better
than an organ or piano. which are
more easily distinguished.
For tasting salt, cinnamon, -four.
pulverized sugar, oatmeal and allspice
are good, while for feeling bananas.
potatoes, glove filed with bran,
cap, cane, poker, book and quite a
number of objects are handled. this
and observation being easier and.
therefore. requiring more objects
than the other two tests. The objects
to smell are generally liquids, such as
vinegar, alcohol, turpentine. benzine.
glue, campho- and cologne.
A clever hostess selects appropriate
prizes for each test, such as a pun
box, with a puff within, for touch
ing" a vinaigrette or bottle OF
cologne for smelling" an ornament
or book for seeing" a rabbits foot
whistle or a silver table bell for
hearing" and soft scarf or shawl
or silk muf1er perhaps for feeling"
.s~4eess~~t3N~s~~t3c-sssS3Ness
merely fret a mans conscience and
molo him irrfta bio without d<sinO aux
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05
Entertaining
Nezu Year Guests

The game of the five senses conn
monty called "nercention is an ex.
ce11an+ ono With which to entertain
crown neonle or chiIdren ar both at
q New Years nartv
one meInod OF arf a,,u .ne game
to look at The guests are taken into
the room one or two at a time and
given three minutes 10 look at the
oD1ects on the taDie-
When all have seen the objects each
Is PROVIDED Win paper ana pencil anu
allowed three minutes to write down
a list OF all they can remember The
one who displays the best memory Is
The objects displayed on the table
may be OF any number. but for the
few minutes allowed Tor Inspection
50 IS good NUMBER. ink"els' pens
penhoiders. tea caooies, emeries.
tnimnles' oook ana any sucn artlcies
may De eAnlpi.eo- eAcept lnae when
Two u que uD.eee 49, are si.em 49, su IT,; as
l"o DooAs, lug Sooi VI ~
This method OF playing tne game
cans upon put the sense " sisul' anu
is more easily arranged than when .n all
nse enss e'e .ppe,,.
ter. however: is excellent run ana
ewes scope lol soe oie GU.
goou ueal u Ilesern -, ~.
IN TINS case tue soeS'S are 'e' 'n'0
New Years Resolution.
He had loved and lost
Never again" he sighed, 81 shall
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05

crazy. Be a good kid and God bless
you. Lovingly,
THE KID.
P. 81 am crying
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-01-05

conclusions that New Year resolutions
merely fret a mans conscience and
make him irritable without doing any
real good"
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-19
CITY NEWS.

Kickerhocker suits for $3.49 at Ts- son, Singleton X Cos.
 In reply 10 anxious inquirer, the first shot in the Boer- British war was fired Oct F, 1899.
 The members of Court Crosby F. of A. are requested to meet Sunday. Sept. 9, at l:30 at Foresters head quarters to take part in the parade to the laying of the corner stone of St Mary's hospital.
 As you must pay your subscription for your daily paper why not pay 42 cents month and have the Demo- crat delivered to your address. By paying in advance you get a good family magazine free
 When you want present for your sweetheart or wife, or your sister or your cousin or your aunt, just L-op in the Upson Jewelry Co.'S and choose from the largest lines in the city of jewelry,, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, saphires, etc, set and unset. Watches gold and silver of many grades. etc.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-19
RALSTONS| for
 WOMEN!|

You men all know the RaIston Health shoe-ease. foot comfort and snapny style. made in one of the largest Broekton factories (Brockton, you know. is the greatest shoe city in the world and RaistOn business has grown So that 8 additions have been made in. years Mr Alden of the firm, showed me a part of the factory kept now las far as possibIei as it was as a curiosity-a little building 15 by 25 feet. stories high. which was the first factory in Brockton for making of shoes. But I started to say that your wives can now wear RaI- stons Have put in styles as starter
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-19
THE COMING MAYOR

Should be a good living, honest hearted, strictly reliable, always painstaking. smart business and, above all, sober, industrious, well meaning gentleman. Well, Sewell IS a good Republican, good man and, of course, he expects to be our next mayor Thoms undoubtedly is a good Democrat, he knows how to manipulate the political wires and has had a couple of years of very eX- citing experience. He certainly eX- poets to be our mayor for the next two years. Now, the writer Of this ad would like very much to see Dotn of them given a seat away way bacK in dreamland and have the mayor of Waterbury be a real .butterm'lk mayor, one who would know the real benefit of drinking pure fresh butter milk, one who would know that cer- tain kinds of drinks such as poli- ticians and ward 'heelers" are fill ing up on a-days is paving their road to destruction. Not only Il It, but they are poisoning themselves and ruining their brains; when, If they would just drink the kind of butermlk we sell, or at their noiaes partake of the nice tasting tea and fresh roasted top-notch quali'Y C. flee which they can get at our store heir lives would be filled with happiness, and when a deal would be ''or 1t would be an honest one or zone at all. If it will do all this with poli- ticians it certainly is what should be in every home in the city. But re- member
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-19
OPENING Fall and Winter Millinery Season,

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND
 THURSDAY,
 Sept. /24th, 25th and 26th, we will formally open the Fall and
 Winter Season. imported and domestic millinery.