What is belva gaertner?

Belva Gaertner was a notorious figure in Chicago during the 1920s, known for her involvement in a high-profile murder trial. Gaertner was born in 1884 in Illinois and worked as a cabaret singer and occasional prostitute. In 1923, she was arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, 45-year-old Walter Law.

Gaertner's trial captured the attention of the public and garnered widespread media coverage. She was dubbed the "Beautiful Blonde Murderess" by newspapers, due to her glamorous appearance and alleged involvement in the crime. Gaertner was also known for her flamboyant behavior in court, wearing extravagant outfits and displaying a nonchalant attitude towards the proceedings.

Despite the circumstantial evidence against her, including a bloody dress found in her possession and conflicting accounts of the events leading up to Law's death, Gaertner was acquitted of murder in 1924. The jury cited lack of concrete evidence and reasonable doubt as reasons for her acquittal.

After the trial, Gaertner faded from the public eye and little is known about her later life. She is often remembered as a prime example of the decadence and excess of the Roaring Twenties, as well as the sensationalism of media coverage during that time.