AGED MOTHER'S ORDEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 1 February 1907, Page 4

AGED MOTHER'S ORDEAL.

REPORTS HER SUN'S DEATH. New York, December 10. Chester lid. cite was .sentenced to death by electrocution at Herkimer loday lor the brutal murder of a veiling girl, employed at his uncle's factory at Cortland. it was at Big Muose Lake, in tiie heart of the romantic Aiiiroudacks, that Gillette made away with the poor girl in order to escape the obligation of marrying her. Tiie case aroused great, interest, because of the; scries of beautiful letters addressed to the lover, wherein by artless phrase and simple imagery the girl toid the store of a life of tragedy.

To-day's proceedings when the sentence was passed 'produced uno.hcr scene of pathos. Sealed al the iv . porter*' table was a little, grey-haired lady, busy tike the other reporters writing a descriptive report of Hie, scene. Sue is Colette's aged mother. The poor lady lives near Denver, and ■she had .sacrificed everything she possessed to provide funds for "the son's unavailing defence. There did not remain sunicient even to pay her fare to enable her to make the 2500 ini.e. journey so that -he could see her sou once again. In order to make this journey and also obtain funds for prosecuting a hopeless appeal for a new trial, the old ,ady accepted a commission from a. Denver evening newspaper to act as their special'correspondent. She was to describe at length what happened, how her son looked, and what he said, and to wiile 'down the terrible words wliiVh ddic judge spoke as iie announced the prisoner's doom, and to describe lnr own fenced to deato.

With mingled iudignaiion and pity the court ratchet the i JK | lade bending bravely to her task. I'll,'' litiiis o£ the agreement of tile Denver newspaper are .so much per word, ami the thought that every wont Has a dollar towards the cost of the appeal seemed so to strengthen lief that she did mil allow her pencil to rest an instant. i-'or only one moment did she allow herself to look at her son's face. The rest of the time she was bending at the table writing' in eager haste. As fast as a sheet was filled it was taken to the telegrap,. olliee and Hashed through to Denver, where it was published "hot" over her signature. She had herself interviewed her son in the cell before the court sentenced him u>|