Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-04-03

HIS ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
New York Slayer Gave Statement Call
ing on Them to Lead Chris
tan Lives.


AUBURN. \. Y, March 30.-Un-
moved and without showing the faiutest
sign of emotion of any kind, Chester Cal
lette was put to death in Auburn prison
this morning.
sweetheart.
The electrocutiOn was the most sue
cesstul that ever took place i'll the local
PRISON. But one contact was required to
carry the mandates of the law into eff
fect, and when that was over the muir
derer OF Grace Brown had paid the pen
atty of his crime.
The electrocutiOn 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
cOurSlng through the mans body. there
was hum of voices III conversation.
The current was 1900 volts 1t ~ am
pereS, and ii 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 syn OF
life.
Minister Is Overcome.
Rev. Henry NIacIlravy of Little Falls,
who had been with Gillette, was 50 over
come II the elcctr0cution 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 10 not
, deem il wise to make Il detailed state
mCnt and simply wish to say that no
! legal mistake was made i'll his electro
! cutiCn.'
Besides the confession. Gillette had a
word to say to the young men Of the
! world. This was in communications
that was handed to Warden Benham
last night, as follows:
in the shadow of the valley of death,
! it is my desire to do everything that
! would remove any doubt as to my hav-
! ing found Jesus Christ. the personal
! savior and unfailing friend. My one re-
| greet, at this time, is that have not
! given Him the pre-emnence in my life
! while | 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 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 hfe | know they would do
all i'll 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 l have been free and frank in
my talks with my spiritual adviser and
| God knows where | stand.
My task is done, the victory won
GiIlette's Mother Resigned.
Mrs Gillette. mother of Chester. made
statement today. i'll 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
unprecedented court and jury. and where
| fair statements could have been made
and considered. but my boy was ready
to go, and | have nothing to say against
! Gov. Hughes decision | 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 a 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
SHARED to he 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 sem
fenced to forfeit his life in the electric
! chair. was murder of his sweetheart
! Grace Brown. near Bic Moose in the
! Adirondacks on July II. 1906. Gillette
was convicted on circumStancial evidence
after Il sensational trial in which the
pathetic love letters Of Billy Brown,
rs the girl was Familiarity known among
her associates. TO Gillette played an i'm
nortant 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 Wore
found in the young mans room after his
arrest at Eagle Bay. have been CON
sidered by many as classic in their sim
plicity and their tender pleading for the
rirht that was her due.
The trial BEGAN at Hprkimer Mt a sne-
cial term of the supreme court on No