The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-16
GIRL
IN DEATH CHAIR
swenteen Year Old Negress Electro
oused This Morning for the Brutal
Murder Of Her White
Mistress.
7As FIRST IN STATE
EraII Woman Of seventy-Two Years
Beaten Down With Poker,
choked to Death and Her
Hair Torn Off.

Hunted Press Leased Wire Service.l
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 16.-vir-
kinia Christian, IL year old negro girl
who murdered Mrs. Ida Belote, paid
lie death penalty for her crime early
Aoday, being the first woman in the
history. of the state to suffer capital
punishment. The girl was electrocut-
ed at 1928.
The crime was one Of the most brut-
ii on record In Virginia. The girl
vas employed by Mrs. Ida Belote, Of
Hampton. Va, as washer-woman.
Last March Mrs. Belote severely
ksprimanded her for negligence ia her
york, The negress brutally attacked
ber aged employer Mrs. Belote vas
frail woman, 70 years old-felled
her with poker, and in frenzy of
Rage, beat the unconscious woman to
death. Physicians said the immediate
cause Of Mrs. Belote's death was suf-
location as the girl also choked her,
but the aged woman's head, neck and
Shoulders were literally mass OF
Bruises and open wounds. Not salts
fed with this, the negress tore off
part Of her employers hair and with
d towel stuffed the hair down he1
Throat.
Picking up the bleeding body, the
girl carried 1t into a back room ol
the Belote home, where she stuffed
1 away In a corner, hoping to escape
before Mrs. Belote's daughter coult
return and find 1t. The daughter dit
pat reach home until late and whei
fhe searched for her mother discover
ed the crime.
Virginia Christian was immediatel,
suspected and when arrested admitted
the murder, claiming self defense. Sh
said Mrs. Belote attacked her with ;
broom The plea was disproved OF
complete circumstantial evidence. Th
negress was condemned to the chat
after a brief trial She claimed to b
only II years old but appeared muc'
older Well educated and neat, 81,
gave no appearance of the bruta
temper that caused the crime. Whe
death sentence was Pronounced sh
showed no signs of emotion. Eve
during the weeks of waiting for deatl
she remained stolid and unaffected
scorning religious consolation. Grea
pressure was. brought on Governo
Mann to avert her execution. AS ia
as official records show no woma
mad ever teen executed in the histor
q the state. But the governor refuse
% be swayed on sentimental ground
and was deaf to all pleas. He gran
ed the negress two weeks repriey
put absolutely refused to exten
clemency
virginia Christian died at 7:34
mp fearlesslywithout emotion. 81
refused religious consolation, althoue
pot protesting against the ministr
IONS Of the regular prison chaplat
and several ministers of her own rae
Awakened at 6 o'clock, the co
aemned girl ate hearty breakfas
taSing her time and apparently e
'osing her last meal on earth. 81
was up until late listening to the rea
ing Of the Bible by the prison ministe
'ut resisting all attempts to have h
pare her soul.
{ +
Az 7.18 the warden came to her ct
with the brief announcement that
was ready. The negress unconcerne
y walked from her cell and join
ne silent group of guards waiting
conduct her to her death. One
ehese stepped forward as If to ass
the march and the girl angrily
pulsed his offer, stalking ahead S
eniy while behind her marched t
preachers, one of them softly readi
psalm. The party halted in roc
alolning the death chamber VIII
emale attendants made sure that t
ondemned woman was ready for t
cnalr. Last night the prison bart
lao shaved small spot on her he;
When she dressed this morning, s
put on short skirt, slit up the ]
kide.
A moment later the door to
iectrocution room was opened. 7
Ehair stood bright and shining uni
cluster of lights, and on sligh
alsed platform. In a darkened c
per OF the room sat the official Y
posses Virginia Christian glant
Apout, noting these details and sloy
tepped forward.
Her face was absolutely calm. S