Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-03-31
ONE CONTACT OF 1900 VOLTS IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR ALL THAT ls
NEEDED TO KILL SLAYER OF
SWEETHEART HE HAD RUINED.
NO MISTAKE MADE
CLERGYMEN ASSERT
SPIRITUAL ADVISERS OF MUIR
DERER GIVE OUT BRIEF STATE
MENT IN WHICH 1T is HlNTE0
GILLETTE CONFESSED.


ter Gillette ives successfully electro
cuted In Auburn prison at 6:18 this
morning. One contact of 1900 volts
was all that was necessary to kill Gil
lette, who showed not the slightest
sign of emotion of any kind Gillette
made confession to his spiritual adj
visers and regarding this they gave
out the following:
Because our relationship with Gil
lette was privileged, we do not deem
1t wise to make detailed statment.
We simply wish to say no legal mis-
take was made in his electrocution."
The crime for which Chester q. Gill
lette was sentenced to forfeit his lifs
in the electric chair In Auburn prison
today, was the murder Of his sweet
heart, Grace Brown. near Big Moose
in the Adirondacks on July II, 1905.
Love Letters Pathetic.
| Gillette was convicted on circum-
stantial evidence after a sensational
trial in which the pathetic love let
ters of Billy Brown, as the girl was
J familiarly known among her associ-
ates, to Gillette, played an important
part The girl who; perished 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 has been
considered by many as classic in their
simplicity and their tender pleading
for the right that was her due.
Her last letter to her lover, written
a few days before her fatal trip to Big
Moose, was particularly pathetic. IT
have been bidding goodbye to some
places today" she wrote. There are
many hooks, dear, and all Of them so
dear to me. l have lived here nearly
all my life First, said goodbye to
4 the spring house with its great masses
of green moss; then the apple tree
where we had our playhouse; then
the beehive a cute little house In
i the orchard, and of course all the
neighbors that have mended my
dresses from a little tot up, to save
me thrashing I really deserved"
GIIette's Crime.
Plans were arranged by letter for
a meeting at De Ruyter and Gillette
secured leave of absence from the
factory. He arrived at De Ruyter on
/ the evening Of July 8, and registered
at hotel as Charles George. Tho
next day Grace Brown left South OF.
selio ostensibly for Cortland, but
changed cars for Utica at De Ruyter.
where she was joined by Gillette. On
the journey to Utica Gillette did not
share the seat with billy" but chat
ted with other girls on the train from
Cortland and made an appointment to
meet them later in the week at Eag1o
Bay. At Utica Gillette registered
Grace Brown and himself as Charles
Gordon and wife, New York. They
left the next morning. Gillette did
not pay his bill but directed that
some laundry which he had left be-
hind, be sent by express to Eagle
Bay.
The couple went to Tupper Lake
registering at a boarding house there
as Charles George and wife, New
York. While at Upper Lake Gillette
inquired for quiet lake and Grace
Brown threw herself into the arms of
/ a maid who had brought her glass
of water, and burst into tears.
On the morning of July II tho
!; couple retraced their journey to Big
, Moose, where Gillette registered at
the Glenmore as Charles Grahm, al.
bany, and on the next line on the reg
| lister wrote the girls correct nama
: and address. Gillette inquired for
good places to take pictures and Sc
, curing boat rowed away over the
blue waters of the lake. Gillette car
ried a suit case, camera and tennis
! racquet. The girls baggage had been
: checked to Old Forge and she left
some Of her wraps and hat at the
hotel.
; Late that night Gillette appeared a.
/; the Arrowhead on Eagle Bay, twelve
, miles from Big Moose. He had walk.
! ed through the woods, carrying the
. suit case and camera but the tennis
racquet was missing His clothing
and baggage were dry. The next day
he went on an excursion with the
. young women from Cortland whom he
5 had promised to meet
t Alarm was felt in Big Moose over
Y the failure of Gillette to return with
: the boat he had rented and search
4