The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-16
c HR|S TIAN GIRL
MUST DIE TO-DAY
Will Be First Woman to Suffer
Death by Electrocution
in Virginia.

virginia Christian. the hrst woma n
to suffer eiectrocution in Virginia win
80 to the death chair in tho state Pen
itentiary soon after o'clock this
morning Final refusal TO set aside
the judgment Of the courts was made
by Governor Mann yesterday
The representative of Chicago peo-
PIE. heralded By newspaper OF that
city. arrived yesterday and saw the
Governor. He turned out 10 be q ne
gro. Governor Mann heard him
through Then he issued the follow
ms statement making known his rea
sons for refusing clemency
In view of my own rcsponsibllitv.
with which am very deeply impress
ed and the interest manifested in the
virginia Christian case. especially out
SIDE OF tho state. where the facts arc
not known. have deemed it proper
10 make Il short statement
The case was tried In the Circuit
Court Of Elizabeth city County on
April 2, 1912. and Virginia Christian
was found guilty OF murder in the nrst
degree. The court could not have pro
nounced Its Judgment on this verde,
u the evidence had not shown beyond
all reasonable doubt that tho crime
was wilful and premeditated. Coun-
put her on the witness stand. as on
April 10 she comics ed hor guilt HerI
counsel had taken AN possible eNcep-
Tons 10 the rulings OF the trial court
and having prepared their clients nett.
ton setting forth tho errors comrlaln-
cd OF. presented the same 10 tho SUI
prene Court of Appeals. then sitting
~ Wytheviiie which court on june l4.l
ipl2. entered the following order.
Nt.~ 81 ..s.
scented 70 tho court her petition for a /
writ OF error and sUpersedeas to the
Judgment oi the Circuit Cour, OF Eliza
beth city County entered on April g.
1912, In "a prosecution therein by the
commonwealth against tho said Vir-
2inia Christian, whereby the said Vlr-i
sinia Christian was found guilty. Of,
murder In the nrst degree and Son
fenced 10 hc eloctrocuted until She be
dead which petition and transcript
OF the record aforesaid having been
seen and maturev considered by tho
court it Us OF opinion that tho juds
meni complained of is plainly right. IT
- therefore considered that this writ
Doe denied
y petition was then brought to me-
asking Tor communication. granted
two rcsplt,s. ono TO August . ana the
other to August &C. aud although / had
.eiusor commuiaiion on July Is. TOOK
np the Gas. again at the rcqucs, %
counsel ior Virginia Christian.
have not conieutcd myself with the
verdict Of the jury. the opinion OF the
Circuit Court ~ Elizabeth Clty County
and the opinion Of our supreme Court
OF Appeals. but have made IAN and.
think. thorough examination OF the
case in all of its aspects. rave not
considered the soN or color Of Virginia
Christian. because no distinctions are
made by law II woman Is not TO hc
punished. the Legislature Of tho state
must declare 1t is not WITHIN the
poWer Of the Governor 10 10 so
carefully considered the age or the
condemned. her physical development
and her mental capacity deriving my
Information from officers Of the pcni-
tcntiary. including tnc surgeon. from
the Commonwealth ATTORNEY VINO
prosecuted the case and other state
officers Of unqucstioned character ana
intenisencc who went to sec her ana
reported that whatever her age. she
WAS well developed. weighing l46
pounds. and looked like n woman or
eighteen or twenty They also said
that no mental weakness could be de-
tccted, and one Of the officers Of the
penitentiary has assured me that Sho
SELF thought she deserved her punish
ment.
carefully examined the evidence
given at the trial OF the case, ana ascer-
tanned that while Virginia Christian
was we'll developed woman Weighing
: i6 pounds. her victim. Mrs Beloje.
was a frail woman. fifty years or
age. Weighing only ninety-one pounds.
After considering the evidence pro-
Nm at a.. srfa aI
been able to procure. have reached
tho conclusion that Virginia Christian
is guilty OF wilful and prcmeditatcd
murder as cruel, If not more so than
amy OF which ! have knowledge after
an experience Of twenty-five years on
the bench and as much longer at the
bar. After beating and choking this
helpless old woman into insensibiity
Virginia Christian rammed her victims
tongue, her hair and towel down her
throat with p broom handle. thus pro.
ducing suifocation and death After
dragging or carrying the body to tho
hack room. she coolly went to tho
front room got the pockotbook OF Mrs
Beioto. containing 50. and a ring be.
longing to Mrs. Belotc's daughter. She
then came hack through the house
went out OF tho rear door. around the
house ana out OF the front gate
No question has been raised as 10 the
fairness. and impartiallty of the trial.
and no one who knows Virginia Chris
tian has questioned her mental capac-
ity. have therefore reluctantly
reached thee onclusion that there is
nothing in the case which justihes
executive clemency.
WILLIAM HODGES MANN.
Governor
August H. 1912.