STONE JUSTICE is the true story of the life, trials, and death of beautiful, twenty-six-year-old Toni Jo Henry, the first and only woman ever executed in the electric chair in Louisiana, and the last woman to be executed in the state. Toni Jo, abused as a child and homeless by the age of thirteen, faced maturity far before she was ready. In spite of the gravitational forces in her life working against her, she is determined to fulfill her dream of having a loving husband, a stable home, and a happy family. She finally finds her dream in the form of Claude "Cowboy" Henry, a professional boxer. Fate intervenes to send her back to despair when Cowboy is arrested and sent to prison. In desperation, Toni Jo conceives an ill-fated plan to gain money for his appeal by planning a bank robbery. She chooses the wrong accomplice and the result is a tragedy, culminating in her death in the electric chair on November 28, 1942.
The tragic life and death of Annie Beatrice McQuiston
Born Annie Beatrice McQuiston, she suffered much in childhood. After a particularly severe beating, she ran away to live with her widowed aunt, Emma Cook. When her aunt remarried, her new husband would not allow the girl to stay. She was 13. She began working in a brothel, calling herself Toni Jo to dissociate herself from her former life and family.
When she met Claude "Cowboy" Henry, it was love at first sight. As soon as they married, however, Cowboy was arrested and convicted for murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. In an attempt to get the money to appeal Cowboy's sentence, Toni Jo and a friend of Cowboy's planned to rob a bank.
But first they needed a car, so they kidnapped and murdered a man for his car. Toni Jo promptly confessed to Aunt Emma and Toni Jo was arrested for murder.
If I had proofread this book, I would have corrected 33 errors.