The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-04-02
GILLETTE EXECUTED
Pays Penalty For the Murder
OF Sweetheart
MADE A PRIVATE CONFESSION
His Spiritual Advisers, Deening Il
Privilege Refused. to Make Cen
fsssion Public-Gillette Prepares
Public Statement Announcing His
Faith In God and Perfect Asgur-
ance Of the Safety Of His Soul.
Which In Given Out.

Which In Given Out.
Auburn, n. 7, Speeiai.-Chester
T.. Gillette Monday paid the full
penalty of the brutal murder of
Grace Brown. He went 10 his
death IN the electric chair at Auburn
PRISON. without a sign Of weakness
and with the same lack of emotion
which has characterized him from
the day he was arrested charged with
the crime. Gillette appeared TO have
been fully reeonciled 10 his fate and
IN a statement given out by his spir-
itual advisers Immediately after the
execution il is indicated that he had
made a confession OF his guilt. This
statement was signed by the Rev.
Henry Mcllravy, Of Little Falls. and
the Rev. CGrdello Herrick, the prison
chaplain. II was as follows:
because our relationship with
Chester Gillette was privileged we do
not deem it wise to make a detail
ed statement, and simply wish to say
that no legal mistake was made III
his eiectrocution.
Gillette's Statement.
Gillette himself. SO far as the pub
lie were concerned, never admitted
his crime. His last word. in the form
of statement which he prepared
| with palnstaklng care. was made pub
| lie after he had been put to death
| In this statement Gillette said:
''In the shadow Of the valley of
death. 1t is my desire to do every
thing that would remove any doubt
as to my having found Jesus Christ,
the personal Savior and unfailing
friend. Ny one regret, at this time,
is that | have not given Him the
pre-eminence in my life while I had
the opportunity to work for Him. If
could only say some one thing that
would draw young men TO Him [
| would deem it the greatest privilege
ever granted me. But all | can say
now is, | know iii whom I have be-
lieved and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which | have com
mitted unto Him against that day.
eff the young men of this coun-
try could only know the JOY and
pleasure Of a Christian life, | know
they would do all in their power to
become earnest active Christians. and
would strive to live as Christ wouI
have them live
"There is not one thing | have lefi
undone which will bar me from
facing God. knowing that my sins are
forgiven, for | have been free and
frank in my talks with my spiritual
adviser and God knows where | stand.
"My task is done, the victory
won.
Signed.
"CHESTER f. GILLETTE
Any fear which the prison officials
| may have entertained that Gillette's
remarkable composure would desert
him at the last moment was quickly
dispelled when he stepped from his
cell to the corridor leading to the
death chamber. His step was firm,
strong and he walked rapidly toward
the instrument Of death.
Mrs. Gillette, mother of Chester
made a statement Monday in part
as follows:
Mothers Statement.
"Though it is a very bad thing
for me to feel Chester was RESPONSE
BILE for Grace Browns death, yet it
was the wish expressed to him con-
tinually by me that if he was guilty,
to say so before the world, and that
in his triumphant death I felt that
God has answered my dearest wish
and prayer.
"And I am also so thankful to
know that he did not strike Grace
Brown as described by the prosecu-
ton. A full account will never be
given out, for he did not strike Grace
Brown
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Chester E.
Gillette was sentenced to forfeit his
life IN the electric chair In Auburn
prison was the murder of his sweet
heart. Grace Brown. near Big Moose
in the Adirondacks on July I1th,
1906. Gillette was convicted on cir
cumstantial evidence after sensa-
tional trial in which the pathetic love
letters of "Billy' Brown. as the girl
was familiarly known among her as
sociates. to Gillette, played an impor-
tant part. The girl who persisted II
the waters Of Big Moose lake had
trusted Gillette TO make amends for
the wrong he had done her by max
ing her his wife. and her letters
which were found In the young
mans room after his arrest at Eagle
Bay, have been considered by many
as classic in their simplicity and
their tender pleading for the right
that was her due.