Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-03-30

lyOO, and MARKS on ner DOcy lnnlclted
that she had been murdered. Gillette
was arrested three days later on the
charge Of murder, be having been seen
with the girl short time before her dis
appearance. His trial began at Her
kimer, N. Y, November 10, 1906, and
ne was pronounced guilty December 5
of the same year. He was sentenced to
be electrOcuted on January IA, 1907,
hut he got stay following an appeal.
On January s of this year the case was
argued and the court affirmed The judg-
ment Of conviction.
Gillette and Grace Brown became &C.
quainted shortly after Gillette accepted
the position as foreman in his uncle's
factory in Cortland, N. Y. The girl,
who wfS the daughter Of farmer of
South Otsslic, was employed in the
factory. They soon became engaged,
and Grace had had her wedding dress
made. Then 1t is said Gillette's love
for the girl began 10 cool, and he delayed
tie wedding on one preiext or another
in spite of bis sWeethearPs pless that
they be married quickly.
The prosecution during Gillette'S trial
charged tina; Gillette had been captured
by the pretty face of another girl aud
lad become engaged to her.
1t WIS during this time Grace, or
"Billy," Brown wrote the letters which
were a feature OF Gillette's trial, plead
ing with him to keep his promise OF mar
risge. They explained the cause of her
anxiety and told in heart rending terms
the woOing and fual abandonment of
theg girl. There wss nothing of reproach
in them. They we're womanly and
simple, yet eloquent. Day after day she
pleaded with him, and when his replies
appeared cold she would appeal to his
manhood and then in the next sentence
ask bis pardon for seeming to chide him.
When these letters were read 10 court
they aroused intense feeling against Gil
lstte and pity for the girl.
Moved finally by his promised wiie's
pleadiugs, Gillette agreed TO take her
away from her home.
Gillette and the girl left home together
on July / l and went to Big Moose Lake,
in the Adrondacks, where they were reg
istered at a hotel. room after regis
teriDg they wen for boat ride, and from
that ride Grace Brown never returned
alive. When the boat was found over
turned 1t was at first supposed that both
its occupants had been drowned. Grace
Browns body was recovered without
difficulty. Later 1t was learned that
Gillette had been seen hurrSing through
the woods.
Gillette's explanation was that Grace
Brown had jumped from the boat for the
purpose OF committing suicide, and that
when he reached out his hand to her the
boat overturned and he fell into the
water. Ga the stand Gillette calmly adj
mitted that while ne was such an expert
swimmer that he ventured without fear
into large lakes and even into the ocean,
be made no effort to save Grace Brown,
but swan to the shore and hurried away.
The tennis racquet, which the prosecu-
lion conlended that Gillette used to kill
the girl before drowning her, WAS found
hidden in the woods after long search.
Doctors have testified that Grace Brown
wfs either killed BY blows or stunned be-
fore she was thrown into the water
Gillette was % years old at the lime of
the murder, while Grace Brown wss
hnt 90