Belva Gaertner

Belva Gaertner Historical Figure Nationality: United States Year of Birth: 1884 Year of Death: 1965 Cause of Death: Natural causes Occupation: Singer Spouse: Overbeck (first name unknown, divorced 1917) William Gaertner, married and divorced several times, until his death 1948) Fictional Appearances: Joe Steele POD: 1878; Relevant POD: July, 1932 Novel or Story?: Novel only Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference

Belva Gaertner (born Belva Eleanora Boosinger, September 14, 1884 - May 14, 1965), was an American cabaret singer who was famously acquitted for murdering her lover in Chicago in 1924. She inspired the fictional character Velma Kelly/Velma Wall in the play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The character also appears in the musical based on the play.

Belva Gaertner in Joe Steele

Future U.S. Attorney General Andy Wyszynski first rose to prominence as part of the team that prosecuted Belva Gaertner in 1924. While the case should have been open and shut, Gaertner was nonetheless acquitted, prompting Wyszynski to proclaim that "Juries are full of jerks."