Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-16
WOMAN DIES IN
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: :. ELECTRIC CHAIR
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Virginia Christian Pays
Penalty for Numbering
Aged Employer.
OBDURATE TO THE END
ORDURATE TO THE END
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Negress Refuses Religious. Cohso-
lation and Maintains sullen indif-
ference to the Last.

Richmond, Va, Aug. 16-For tn
first time in the history of the com
monwealth, Virginia today took wo
mans life by electrocution as Judicia
expiation for murder. Virginia CHRIS
tian. a seventeen yearold negro girl
was shocked to death in the same cleo
trio chair that nearly year ag'
claimed the life of Henry Clay Beat
tie, Jr. A jury had declared her III
forfeit for the murder of Mrs lds
Belote, and Governor Mann was dea
to all pleas for commutation of tina
death penalty
Virginia Christian died at 7:25 thl'
morning, fearlessly, without emotion
She refused religious consolation, al
though not protesting against the NIL
istrations of the regular prison chap
lain and several ministers of her owl
race.
Although Virginia Christian wen
sullenly to death, she conhded mel
confession to prison officials. She ad
mitted the crime, and said it was rob
berry that attempted her.
Awakened at six o'clock, the con
demned woman ate hearty break
fast, taking her time and apparently
enioyinr her last meal on earth. She
was up until late listening to the
reading of the bible by the prison
minister, but resisting all attempts
to have her bare her soul. At 7:lS
the warden came to her cell with the
brief announcement that he was ready
The negress unconcernedly walked
from her cell and joined the silent
group of guards waiting to conduct
her across into the Valley of the Shad'
ow of Death. One of these stepped
forward as if to assist her in the
march, and the girl angrily repulseo
his offer, stalking ahead sullenly
while behind her marched the preach,
ers, reading a Psalm in soft voice
The party halted in room adjoining
the death chamber while attendants
made sure that the condemned wo'
man was ready for the chair. Last
night the prison barber had shaved
a small spot on her head. When she
dressed this morning, she wore a short
skirt; slit up the left side.
A moment later the door to the elec.
trocution room was opened. The chair
stood bright and shining under
cluster of lights, and on slightly
raised platform. In a darkened corn
er of the room sat the official witness
es. Virginia Christian glanced about
noting these details, and slowly step
ped forward. Her face was absolute
fearless. She gave a quick glance a
the instrument of death, more curios
ity than in fear, lowered her eye'
and stepped on the platform. =
guard motioned her to be seated II
the chair and the negress sank int
her place. Three guards hurried for
ward. One adjusted the knee cleo
trode through the slit in her dress
another strapped the woman's form
into the chair, and the third, waiting
moment for farewell that did no
come clapped the headpiece or
Then they stepped back. A momen
later the body stiffened and twisted
wisp of sickening smoke foate
through the leather headpiece, an
Virginia Christian had paid the capi
tai penalty. The current was KEEP
on for two minutes. Then physi
clans pronounced her dead.
The body was Immediately turne
over to the girls relatives who car
ried it back to Hampton, Va, wit
them this afternoon.
The representative of Chicago pee
pie, heralded by newspaper of tha
city, arrived yesterday and saw tn
Governor. He turned out to be
negro. Governor Mann heard hir
through. Then he issued the follow
ing statement, making known his re
asons for refusing clemency.
In view of my own responsibilit,
with which I am very deeply impres:
ed, and the interest manifested in tt
Virginia Christian case, especially ou