Chester Gillette and Grace Brown

     Chester Gillette met Grace Brown in 1905 when they were both employed at the Gillette skirt factory* in Cortland, New York. The factory was owned by Chester's uncle, Noah H. Gillette. Chester and Grace kept their relationship a secret from most of their friends and parents.
     Grace discovered that she was pregnant early in 1906, and she wanted Chester to marry her. They planned a trip to the Adirondacks. Grace was under the impression that this would be a wedding trip, but no written evidence was found that Chester intended to marry her. 
     It turned out to be her last trip anywhere.
     On July 11, 1906, Chester and Grace rented a small boat at Big Moose Lake and rowed to South Bay where they spent the afternoon together. He had all his luggage in the boat while she had left her luggage at the train station at Big Moose.
     Her body was found the next day in the water at South Bay. There was a laceration on her head. Chester went to a hotel in Inlet, New York, and was found there a few days later. When questioned about her drowning death, he claimed she jumped out of the boat and committed suicide.
     Her death and the circumstances surrounding her death would lead to a famous month-long trial at the Herkimer County Court House. Chester was found guilty by all twelve jurors. The verdict was based entirely on circumstantial evidence. A plea for executive clemency by Chester's mother was turned down by New York State Governor Hughes. Chester maintained his innocence as he awaited execution after the trial.
     Chester Gillette was executed in the electric chair at Auburn, New York, on March 30, 1908.
     Novelist Theodore Dreiser wrote An American Tragedy (1925) based on the murder, and motion pictures An American Tragedy (1931) and A Place in the Sun (1951) were made from the book. 


Recommended reading: Murder in the Adirondacks by Craig Brandon. Click: www.craigbrandon.com/MITAhome.html for more information.
The Murder Trial of Chester Gillette compiled by the Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York. Click: www.courts.state.ny.us/history/gillette.htm
* The former Gillette skirt factory is located at the corner of Miller Street and Stockton Place in Cortland, New York. The current owners are Wernick L. and Sons Supply Company.
A tag of historical association:

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, November 18, 1896.

A NEW ENTERPRISE.

The Gillette Skirt Co. Soon to Begin Work in Cortland.

   In these days of dull times a new enterprise which promises employment of any one is hailed with joy, but Cortland is to have a new manufacturing establishment. It will be known as the Gillette Skirt Co. Its promoter and manager is Mr. N. H. Gillette, who has had twenty years' experience in this line of business, and who was last year with the McGraw Corset Co. at McGrawville, but formerly with the Warners of Bridgeport, Ct., and New York City.

   This company is to manufacture the Paris skirt—a garment which promises to be very popular with ladies because of certain advantages which it possesses. It will be sold through agents and a number of traveling men who handle that style of goods have already expressed their approval of it and their desire to handle it.

   The company will begin in a small way and hopes soon to enlarge. What is known as the McFarlan cabinet shop, in the rear of the house of Dr. H. P. Johnson on Port Watson-st. has been obtained. Ten Wheeler & Wilson and Singer sewing machines have been purchased and put in position. The shafting and belting is up. All that delays the beginning of operations is the failure to appear of the electric motor which is to furnish power. This will be connected with the electric plant of the Cortland and Homer Traction company. The motor is expected this week and it is likely that work will begin next week.

   About a dozen people, mostly women, will be employed at first, and this force will very likely be increased at an early date.