Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-30
GILLETTE DIES
Went 10 Chair This Morning Dc. spite All the Eff0rtS 10 Save
 His Life
STORY OF THE CRIME

Auburn, N. Y., March 30.-Ches. ter E. Gillette to-day paid the full penalty for the brutal murder of Grace Brown. He went to his death in the electric chair at Auburn prison without 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 reconciled to his fate and in state- ment given out by his spiritual ad- visers immediately after the execu- tion it is Indicated that he had made confession of his guilt. This state ment was signed by the Rev Henry McIlravy and the Rev Cordelle Herrick, who had attended Gillette since he has been in the death cell at the prison. It was as follows:
 Because our relationship with Chester Gillette was privileged we do not deeinsst wise to make de- tailed statement and simply wish to say that no legal mistake was made in his electrocution'.
 Gillette, himself, so far as the public was concerned, never admitted his crime. His last word in the form of a statement which he prepared with painstaking care last night was made public after he had been put to death this morning. In thls statement Gillette implored young men to lead christian lives.
 Any fear which the prison offl- cials may have entertained that Gill; lette's remarkable composure would desert him at the last moment was quickly dispelled when he stepped from his cell to the corridor lead ing to the death chamber. His step was firm and strong and he walked rapidly towards the instrument of death Not even by the quiyer or an eyelash did he betray the least sign of emotion and atAho stage did he require assistance from the big keepers and his faithful spiritual directors who accompanied him Tn his last walk. He seated himself ln the chair the straps and electrodes were placed and within two minutes Gillette had been officially pro- nouneed dead.
 Execution Was Success.
 In every way the electrocution was a success and the officials of the prison, all of whom had feared that there might be some untoward event in connection with the execution, were more than pleased. The cleo trocution was marked throughout with celerity. The man was de- clared dead by the official time at 1:1S but by the watches held by some of the newspaper reporters 1t was two minutes after that time when the warden said to the wit nesses and attendants "Gentlemen the physicians announce that the man is dead"
 The elect-ocution lacked much of the solemnity of former executions. Witnesses did not seem to be im- pressed with the fact that life was being snuffed out, and during most of the time, except for the brief space when the electric current was cours- ing through the mans body there was hum of voices in conversation. This grew so marked during the time that the physicians were making the examination of the body for life that the warden found 1t necessary to pound on the tile covered floor of the chamber for silence.
 The current necessary to kill was 1.S00 volts at 7ls amperes and 1t was held on three seconds more than a full minute. When this had been done careful examinations of the mans heart was made, but there were no signs of life. Rev Henry MacIlravy of Little Falls, who has been with Gillette was so overcome at the electrocution that he was taken from the death chamber before the contact was shut on. The mans little figure seemed to wither up as GIllette's life passed out and fearful that he would collapse he started for the door. Giant keepers walked be- side him.
 March to Chair at 0:10.
 Witnesses assembled at the war den's office at 6 o'clock and at 6:1O the march from the office down through the south wing of the prison to the death chamber was started. This was quickly over and at 6:l1. when state Electrician Davis made his test of the machinery with the bank of lights the witnesses were all on hand and had their seats in the chairs assigned to them.
 The test being finished, the word was given and the door leading from A s-.sh .-ffa s.4ag .nnund EFIIaffa walked firmly and looking neither to the right nor to the left came briekly along the row and into the chamber. On either side of him was a minister of the gospel. Chaplain Herrick on his right and Rev Me vravy on his left. At 6:12:35 the little party entered the chamber and the work of strapping the man in the chair was quickly over. The oFeisl time made this 6:13:50- The contact was put on at s:I4:03 and ii lasted for three seconds over the fuI1 minute being switched off at e-1E.ps Immediately after Dr spitzka. the noted aIienist. made an examination of the heart Other heart examinations followed and at SIS Warden Renham announced that the laws requirements had been fulfilled.
 The Man Is Dead
 -6entlenen. said Warden Ben- ham. ~the physicians announce that the man is dead.
 Everybody who saw the eIectrocu- tiou pronOuuced fl the most success fuf that ever took place Where in othsr cases three and evsR Eve