Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-31

cured leave of absence from the FAC
| tory. He arrived at DeRuyter on the
evening of July and registered at d
hotel as Charles George. The next day
Grace Brown left South Otselc osten-
sibIy for Cortland but changed cars for
Utica at DeEuyter where she was ]oin-
ed by Gillette. On the journey 10 l tea
Gillette did not share the seat with
Billy but chatted with other girls on
the train from Cortland and made APP
, pointment to meet them later in the
week at Eagle 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, De sent by express to Eagle Bay.
The couple went to Topper Lake reg
istering at boarding house there as
Charles George and wife, New York.
While at Upper Lake Gillette inquired
for a quiet lake and Grace Brown
threw herself ipto the arms Of maid
who had brought her a glass of water,
and burst into tears.
+ On the morning of July II, the couple
retraced their journey to Big Moose
where Gillette registered himself at the
Glenmorc as Charles Grahm. Albany.
and on the neNtr line on the register
wrote the girls Correct name and adj
dress. Gillette inquired for good places;
to take pictures and securing boat
rowed away over tbe blue waters of
the lake. Gillette Carried suit case,
camera and tennis racquet The girls
l. I,aI Oh 70 al
Forge and she left some of her wraps
and hat at the HOTEL
Late that night Gillette appeared at
the Arrowhead on Eagle Bay, twelve
miles from Big Moose. He had walked
Through the woods, carrying the suit
case and camera but the tennis rae
quet was missing. His clothing and
baggage We're dry. The next Gay he
went on an excursion with the young
women from Cortland whom he had
promisl J, to- meet.
Alarm was felt in Big Moose over
the failure OF Gillette to return with
the boat he had rented and search was
made the next day. The boat was
found floating bottom up near shore in
a secluded part OF the lake, with a wo-
mans wrap spread over the bottom.
The lake was dragged and the body of
Grace Brown was found about 600 feet
from the shore. Gillette subsequently
was arrested ut Eagle Bay on July II.
The trial began at Herkimer at a
special term OF the supreme court Nov.
70, 1906 and Dec :, Gillette was found
guilty uf murder in the first degree and
sentenced to death. The prosecution
l,sG nj, nf ,rylai1 \,
the defence was unable to break down
Gillette, who testified, denied none of
the evidence except the actual killing
of the girl. He said she had urged him
to marry her but that he was not in 4
position to do so at that time as he
had hut scant means and his marriage
would mean the loss of his position in
the factory. He said the girl arose in
the boat declaring that she would end
the matter then and there, and leaped
overheard. The boat was overturned,
he claimed, and although he made eff
forts to save the girl from drowning
he was unable to do so. The evidence
showed that the wafer was but d few
feet deep. Upon his failure to rescue
%he girl he said he had waded ashore.
He explained the condition of his bag
gage by saying that he had left it on
the bark where they had partakeh Of
some slight luncheon. The tennis rae
quet, with which the prosecution
claimed he dealt the girls death blow,
was found hidden in the woods after
I'VE eks of search.
The execution Of the death penalty
was. stayed by an appeal to the court
sof aTI egis Jan 70. 1907 and on Jan. s
las& sase Mas argued. The court
aftirinsds 1hs Adgment Of conviction
and tixaA the week beginning March
80 for ctirfWfng out the death sentence.
Gillette's mother visited Albany and
pleaded with Governor Hughes to COM
mute the death sentence to life impris-
OnmenI but the governor declined to
interfere