Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20
GILLETTE MUST
co TO THE CHAIR
Court Of Appeals Sustains Verdict
Of Murder in First De-
gree.
his STORY Is FAULTY
Judge Hiscock calls Attention to Fact
That Gillette Did Not RcuOvt His
Sweethenrt's Death - Scores
Him for Cansing Her
Downfall.

Albany, ". Y, Feb. 16-Chestcr Gil
cite of Cortland is close to death in the
electric chair for the murder of his
sweetheart, Grace or BILLY" Brown of
South Otselic, Chenango county, in a
lone part of Big Moose lake in the Adj
rondacks at dusk OF the evening of July
II, 1906. The court of appeals this after
noon handed down decision sustaining
the judgment of that given murder
in the first degree. The court will soon
fix date for the execution Of the death
sentence, from which Gillette can be
saved now only by the Supreme Court OF
the United States or the clemency of
Governor hughes.
The unanimous opinion of tho court,
written by Judge Eiscock, riddles Gill
lette's story Of the tragedy to TIVE effect
that Grace Brown voluntarily jumped
from the boat and was drowned Judge
Hiscock ascribcs Impressive unnatural
ness" to the principal features Of his, Gill
lette's, tale. He alludes to several points
which still further mpeach its truthful
ness and declares that "in addition to
these deficiencies and improbahilties in
his evidence there are repeated contr1dic-
tons by large number of witnesses who
apparently had no interest in telling any
thing but the truth
BY Gillette's own evidence as view
ed by Judge Hiscock we see Gillette
emerging from this catastrophe whore
he made no outcry for help, and with
apparent composure turning to other
pursuits, while he left the body of
the woman he says he loved better
than anyone else and intended to
marry, lying unrccovercd and un-
sought at the bottom of the lake"
Judge Hiscocks opinion reviews at
length the story of the case and tho
court atfirms the judgment of con-
viction of murder in the first degree
and sentence of death, rendered at the
extraordinary term of the supreme
court in Herkimer county held by or
der of the late Governor Higgins
Grace Brown, the victim, Judge His
cock describes as having been brought
up in a country home of an apparently
simple and wholesome atmosphere
and, aside from her relations with Gill
lotte, he believes her to have been 4
girl of pure character and of unusual
intelligence and attractivcness.' Gill
lettc, he says further, was possessed
Of education. OF previous good char
acter. and he had had considerable eX-
perience in the world"
Judge HisCock recites the main de-
tails OF the acquaintance between Gil
lettc and the girl: their working to-
gether in the factory of the defend
ants uncle at Cortland; the seduction
of the girl and her Increasingly en-
harrassing condition.
The journey of the two, which fol-
her ended in the bottom of Big Moose
lake, Judge Hiscock says, must have
been born Of the theory, genuine o
course on the part of the woman, tina
1t would lead to marriage. 1t coulj
have presented no other reasonable o.
lawful purpose. The time had passeC
when desire would prompt such
trip as the cover or opportunity 70
mere Illicit enjoyment 4 condition
existed which only could be relieve,
in legitimate way by marriage, ano
the defendant has terrified that at tina
time he loved the deceased and in
tended to marry her.
yet" the opinion goes grimly on
"every significant step taken by hin
seems to have led away from this con
summation And pointing to thu
elaborate pains which Gillette took t,
conceal his own Identity even whil-
planning to expose others and his ad
mitted engagement made during tina
very trip, to meet other young ladie
later In the week at another place. tn
judge attributes much force to the con
tention of the prosecution that "alread,
ne must have planned to rid himscl
Of his embarra ssnents."
Judge Hiscock in short accepts as vail,
the theory Of the prosecution tina
Gillette heat the wretched girl upon tn
head and face with is tennis racque
tumbled her unconscious body :to tn
lake and fled through the woods u kee
his appointment nth the other girls.