Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-04-03
GILLETTE DEAD;
CONFESSED ALL
ADMITTED MURDER OF SWEET
HEART BEFORE GOING TO
ELECTRIC CHAIR.
HIS ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
New York Slayer Gave Statement Call
ing on Them to Lead Chris
tian Lives.
MEETS END WITHOUT EMOTION.

AUBURN, N. Y, March 3O.-Un-
moved and without showing the faintest
sign of emotion of any kind, Chester Gill
lette was put to death in Auburn prison
this morning.
He confessed to the murder of his
sweetheart.
The electrocution was the most sue
cessful that ever took place in the local
prison. But one contact was required to
carry the mandates of the law into eff
feet, and when that was over the muir
derer of Grace Brown had paid the pen
atty of his crime.
The eIectrocution lacked much of the
solemnity of former executions, and dur
ing most of the time except for the brief
space when the electric current was
coursing through the mans body, there
was a hum of voices in conversation.
The current was 1900 volts at ~ am
peres, and it was held on one minute and
three seconds. When this had been done
careful examinations of the mans heart
were made, but there was no sign of
life.
Minister Is Overcome.
Rev. Henry MacIlravy of Little Falls,
who had been with Gillette, was so over
come at the electrocution that he was
taken from the death chamber before the
contact was turned off. Gillette, walking
firmly and looking neither to the right
nor to the left, came briskly along the
row and into the chamber.
Makes a Confession.
Gillette made a confession to his spir-
| itual advisers, regarding which they to-
day gave out the following statement:
Because our relationship with Ches-
ter Gillette was privileged we do not
deem it wise to make a detailed state
ment and simply wish to say that no
/ legal mistake was made in his electro
| cution."
Besides the confession. Gillette had
| word to say to the young men OF the
world. This was in a communication
that was handed to Warden Benham
| last night, as follows:
I'm the shadow of the valley of death,
it is my desire to do everything that
would remove any doubt as to my hay-
ing found Jesus Christ, the personal
savior and unfailing friend. My one re-
| gret, at this time. is that | have not
while | had the opportunity to work for
| Him. If | could only say some one thing
| that would draw young men to Him. L
would deem it the greatest privilege
ever granted me. But all l can say now
| is. | know in whom | have believed and
| am persuaded that He is able to keep
that which l have committed unto Him
against that day.
IF the young men of this country
could only know the joy and pleasure OF
| a Christian life, L know they would do
| all in their power to become earnest,
| active Christians, and would strive to
| live as Christ would have them live.
There is not one thing | have left
undone which will bar me from facing
my God, knowing that my sins are for
given. 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
Gillette's Mother Resigned.
Mrs. Gillette, mother of Chester, made
statement today, in part as follows:
Though it is a very hard thing for
me to feel Chester was responsible for
| Grace Browns death, | feel that he
should have had another trial, where he
| could have had an opportunity before an
unpreiudiced court and jury, and where
fair statements could have been made
and considered, but my boy was ready
to go, and l have nothing to say against
| Gov. Hughes decision. l think he de-
| cided what he thinks is just, but he has
| shown no mercy.
"God has not failed us. and He never
will those who trust Him. | trust that
| there will be strong protest against
capital punishment in this. that young
! life recently given to God has been cut
off by the law when it might have been
spared to be useful to the world in one
of the darkest places of that world-a
penitentiary."
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Gillette was SEN
fenced to forfeit his life in the electric
! chair was murder of his sweetheart.
Grace Brown. near Big Moose in the
| Adirondacks on July II. 1906. Gillette
was convicted on circumstancial evidence
after sensational trial in which the
pathetic love letters of "Billy" Brown.
as the girl was Familiarity known among
her associates, to Gillette. played an inn
portant part. The girl who persisted in
the waters of Big Moose lake had trust
| ed Gillette to make amends for the
wrong he had done her by making her
his wife. and her letters which were
found in the young mans room after his
arrest at Eagle Bay. have been con-
| sidered by many as classic in their sim
plicity end their tender pleading for the
RIGHT that was her due
The trial began at Herkimer at spe-
rial term of the supreme court on No
vomber H. 1906. and on December :.
| Gillette was found guilty of murder in
the first degree and sentenced to death.