The Washington times., 1912-08-16
VIRGINIA GIRL DIES
IN ELECTRIC CHAIR
DESPITE APPEALS
Gov. Mann Refuses to Ex-
tend Clemency In Muir
der Case.

RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 16-For the
frst time In the history of the Com
monwealtb, Virginia today took a wo-
mans lie as judicial expintion for
murder. Virginia Christian. a seven
teen-year-old colored girl. was shocked
to death in the same electric chair that
nearly year ago claimed the life OF
Henry Clay Beattiei jr. A jury had
declared her life forfeit for her murder
of Afrs. lila Belote, and Governor Mann
was deaf TO all pleas for communication
of that death penalty.
Virginia Christian died at 7:25 this
morning, fearlessly, without emotion.
She refused religious consolation, al
though not protesting against the min
istrations of the regular prison chap
lain and several ministers of her own
race.
Enjoys Her Last Meal.
Awakened at o'clock, the condemned
woman ate a hearty breakfast. taking
her time and apparently enjoying 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
tbs the warden came to her cell with
the brief announcement that he was
ready. The girl unconcernedly walked
from her cell and Joined the silent group
of guards waiting to conduct her across
into the valley of the shadow Of death.
One of these stepped forward as if to
assist her in the march, and the girl
angrily repulsed his offer, stalking
ahead sullenly, while behind her
marched the preachers, reading a psalm
in a soft voice.
The party halted in a room adjoining
the death chamber while the female at
tendants made sure that the condemn
ed woman was ready for the chair.
Last night the prison barber had shaved
q small spot on her mead. When she
dressed this morning she wore a short
skirt, slit up the left side.
moment later the door to the elec-
trocution room was opened. The chair
stood bright and shining under a cluster
of lights and on a slightly raised plat
form. In darkened corner of the room
sat the official witnesses. Virginia
Christian glanced about, noting these
details. and slowly stepped foryard.
Her face was absolutely fearless She
gave a quick glance at the instrument
of death. more in curiosity than in fear
lowered her eyes. and stepped on the
platform.
Takes Seat in Chair.
A guard motioned her to be seated in
the chair and she sank into her place.
Three guards hurried forward. One ad-
justed the knee electrode through the
slit in her dress. another strapped the
womans form into the chair, and the
third, waiting a moment for a farewell
that did not come, clapped the head
piece on. Then they stepped back. A
moment later the body stiffened and
twisted, wisp of sickening smoke float
ed through the leather headpiece, and
Virginia Christian had paid the capital
penalty. The current was kept on for
two minutes. Then physicians pro-
eouncd her dead.
The body was Immediately turned over
TO the girls relatives who carried II
back to Hampton. Va, with them this
afternoon.
The crime for which Virginia Chris
tian paid the death penalty was one OF
the most brutal in Virginia annals She
was employed by MIS-. Belote as a
washerwoman. Last March Mrs. Be-
lote severely reprimanded the girl for
- negligence in her work. The servant
brutallv attacked Mrs. Belote, who was
frail woman, seventy-two years of
age. felled her with a blow from a
poker. and, in a frenzy of rage beat
the unconscious woman 10 death.
Physicians said the immediate cause
Of Mrs. Belote's death was suffocation
where the girl choked her, but the aged
woman's head, neck, and shoulders
We're literally a mass OF bruises and
open wounds. Not satisfied with this
the girl tore OFF part of her empIoyer's
hair, and with towel stuffed this down
her throat.