Belva Gaertner

Common card · No. 395051

Belva Eleanora Gaertner (née Boosinger; September 14, 1884 – May 14, 1965) was an American woman who was acquitted of murder in a 1924 trial. She inspired the character of Velma in the 1926 play Chicago created by Maurine Dallas Watkins; Watkins reported on the trial for the Chicago Tribune. The Velma character became Velma Kelly in the 1975 musical based on the play.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Unknown authorUnknown author (Chicago Tribune historical photo), Public domain