Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-03-30
TOday's Telegraphic News.
Gillette EIectrocuted.

1
Auburn prison at 500 this morning
after hsving confessed 20 Rev. Henry
Mcllravy and Chaplain Herrick, 10
almost his Last bresth, that he muir.
o'ered Grace Brown, his fsciery sweet
b art, for whose death he paid the
ex RENE penalty.
1t is underst)od that the confession,
which was oral, practically bears ou'
the contentious made by the prosecution
ia his trial.
McIlravy would not give out the de-
tails of his confession, but did give 10
the United Press g lllette's final message,
as follows:
"Tell mother that | am prepared to
meet my God and that not single acl
now stands between me and Him. Tell
her that have no hard feelings against
any one, and l am very sorry for the
pain and anguish that have brought
upon her and Others"
Gillette entered the death house al
6:l2 o'clock. He was attended ~ Rev.
McIlravy and Chaplain Herrick who
recited the twenty third Palm.
Gillette walked quietly aud went to
bis death without culver. Only one
contact was necessary before DR.. John
Germ. the prison physician, pronounced
him dead.
At 6:l4 the electrician. E. F. Davis,
threw ON the switch sending the current
through the youths body. The frat
contact was current of 1900 volts, "A
amperes, held for thirty seconds, and
gradually reduced to voltsge Of 200,
and again increased to |, 800 VOLS until
the end of one minute, when turned of.
When Chester Gillette entered the
death house. bis face was asheu, but he
showed no signs OF emotion. He walk
ed uuss.isted and stepped merrily to the
chair and took his seat. He took care
to place his hands on the right places,
and settled down as If he found ths seat
lmfortable. he did not open bis mouth
or make shy effort to speak. His eyes
ware wide open and he looked about
him noticing the men carefully as they
fixed the straps.
After the cap went down over bis head,
covering his eyes, he made no motion.
The only sound beside the soft purr-
ing Of the death-dealing electrical ma
chime was the measured tone Of the
chaplain as he read the Paalm.
Gillette last night prepared The follow
ing statement to be given out today by
the warden:
"In the shadow Of the valley of death
it is my desire to do everything that
would remove any doubt ss 10 my
having found Jesus Christ, the personal
Saviour and uniailing friend. My one
regret at this time is that / have not
given Him the pre-eminence in my life
while | had the opportunity to work
for Him. If / could only say
sumo one thing that would draw young
men to Him | would deem ii the greatest
privilege ever granted me. But all /
can say is that | know in whom | have
believed and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which | have commit
ted unto Him against that day. Ii the
young men OF this country could only
know the JOY aud measure Of christian
life, / know they would do all in their
power to become earnest, active chris
lisns aud would strive to live as Ohris,
would have them live. Not one thing
have | lett undone which will bar me
facing Christ, knowing that NY sirs are
forgiven, for have been free aud flank
in nv talks with my spiritual adviser
sud God knows where | stand. My task
is done; the victory Won.
CHESTER E. GILLETTE
During the execution the father and
mother, Mr.. aud Mrs. Frank S. Gillette,
with Chestcr's two sisters and brother,
were a. the Salvation Army hesdquar-
tiers where they were received month
ago, after they had been turned away
from the doors of local boarding houses.
Gilette's mother looked like a ghost
When the last Pickering hope died s q
collapsed utterly aud the services of h
physician we're required. For time 1t
wss feared her heart had failed.
AS The time approached when they
knew tho execution would take place
they gathered in the mothers room.
Mrs. Gillette held tightly clasped to Der
heart the plain lutte Bible, Ohester's
last gift to her-lhe book from which
he drew the faith that is the only balm
TO her torn heart. She prayed silently
with burning eyes TO which tears long
since had ceased TO come.
The consumpiive fathers usually
hard counlenGnce seemed distorted and
he sat with one arm about his wife and
the other embracing The heads of three
children who knelt at his feet their faces
hidden. Each held the book which
Chester gave at the last meeting yes
terday.
Miss Fenin, the l9.Year-old girl who
knew Chester when he attended Oberlin
College in Ohio and who is the only
person outside the family ever admitted
10 his cell, wept bitterly with head
buried on the shoulder Of Miss Catherine
Gillette.
Captain Robertson, Of the Salvation
Army, entered the room and said. "IPs
over
Mrs Gillette gave sharp cry that
sounded as if it grated in Der dry throat,
snd fell forward on her husbands lap.
No one elae moved.
One Of GiIlette's last acts, waf TO de-
fend The memory of Grace Brown, the
sweetheart he murdered He was told
LAST week Of the fight his mother was
nsking before Gov. Hughes FOR a re.
prieve. When The story of DIV San
derson, the mysterious witness" who as
tempted to blacken the girl character, WIS
told him Gillette exclaimed, "Genllt-