Ethel Juanita Spinelli

The first to die by lethal gas in California on 11/21/41.

http://www.geocities.com/trctl11/gascham.html

    Spinelli, an ex-wrestler who ran a Bay Area robbery gang, 
    had drugged a suspected squealer and helped drown him. 

    "The Duchess was a hag, evil as a witch, horrible to look at, 
    impossible to like," Duffy wrote, "but she was still a woman, 
    and I dreaded the thought of ordering her execution." 
    
    http://www.santegidio.org/pdm/news/01_12_01.htm

About 30 prisoners signed a petition protesting the execution of a woman 
and offered to draw straws among themselves to select a replacement

http://www.kevinroderick.com/gas.html