The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-30
Chester Gillette Admitted He
Killed Grace Brown
EXECUTED AT $40 TODAY
The Clergyman Who Received the Con
fession tainted When Electric Cur
rent Was Turned On--Gillette
Didn't Finch.

Auburn, N. X, March 30--C Chester f.
Gillette died in the electric chair at
6;20 this morning, after confessing to
his spiritual advisers in almost his last
breath that be murdered Grace or Billy
Brown, his factory girl sweetheart, for
whose death he paid the extreme pen
atty.
The confession detailed the manner in
which he threw the girl into Big Moose
Lake and drowned her. He admitted
the murder was premeditated but he
positively denied that he struck the girl
with a tennis racket or anything else.
He said the cut in her head was caused
by striking the boat in the struggle.
lie never denied the responsibility for
her condition.
To the United Press Gillette's mother
to-day said Though it is very hard
for me to feel that Chester was respon-
sible for Graee's DEATH yet twice asked
him to say so before he died if it were
true. wanted him to say SO before the
world and he has done SO in triumphant
death. ! feel God has answered my dear
est wish and prayer
Gillette also left signed statement
in which he said TELL mother am
prepared to meet my God and that no
single act now stands between me and
Him.
He went to death without a quiver.
Only one contact was necessary before
the prison physician pronounced him
dead.
Rev. Henry McIlravey, who received
the confession, tainted when the eIec.
trio current was turned on As soon as
he regained consciousness, he issued this
statement: Because our relation with
Chester Gillette was privilege, we
don't deem it wise to make detailed
statement, but simply wish to say that
no legal mistake was made in the cleo
trncutionD
Gillette passed Sunday, his last dav
on earth, quietly In his cell and there
was no deviation from the regular rou-
tine since he has been in Auburn prison.
He was permitted 10 receive farewell
visit from his father, mother and aunt.
Miss Catherine Gillette Gillette arose
dt Tile usual HOul tNHnudA anu HJE
breakfast, which was furnished him
from the hospital kitchen. His appetite
was normal and in no way did he betray
any evidence of the strain under which
he must have been labnring. During
the morning he alternately read and
wrote.
His father and mother returned from
Albany Saturday night and yesterday
afternoon Warden Benham permitted
them to see Chester for the last time
Mrs. Gillette carried white rose to the
condemned mans cell and her sister-in-
law carried red flower Gillette was
not allowed to take the flowers, but
they were placed where he could see
them through the screen in front of
the cell The parting between Gillette
and his mother was deeply affecting.
Mrs. Gillette's unusual request to have
her sons aunt, Miss Catherine Gillette.
and Miss Bemice Ferrin, friend Of
the family, attend tie execution, was
denied by Warden Benham.
Gov. Hughes announced last night
that he had denied the application for
a reprieye He dismissed the theory,
which was based on alleged new evidence
presented by John Fl. Dugan Of Albany,
who appeared for the Gillette family
before the governor, as wholly unten.
able" and declared that IF reason is to
be our guide and all the established
facts are taken into consideration. there
is no escape from the conclusion that /
a brutal murder was committed and
that the conviction was Just"
Gillette was convicted Of numbering
Grace Brown Of South Otselic, Chenango
county, at Big Moose Lake in the Adj |
rondacks on July II, 1906.