On January 4, 1924, Elizabeth Strobel, age 28, died in Chicago's Columbus Hospital from complications of an illegal abortion performed that day. Mrs. Anna Wenzig, whose profession is not given, was arrested January 15 for Elizabeth's death. On June 15 she was indicted for felony murder by the grand jury.
Shirley Payne, age 33, underwent an abortion January 4, 1983 at Woman's Care Center in Miami. She was 16-18 weeks pregnant. Shirley suffered a perforated uterus. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they reportedly found Shirley lying on a couch, bleeding heavily. Shirley arrived at the hospital in critical condition due to delay of transfer. An emergency hysterectomy was performed to try to save Shirley's life, but she bled to death in surgery. Clinic documents were unclear as to who did Shirley's abortion. Shirley, along with Ruth Montero, Myrta Baptiste, Maura Morales, and Shirley Payne, died in a clinic owned by Hipolito Barreiro, trained in Argentina and West Africa, but not licensed in U.S. Barreiro was accused of practicing without a license and tampering with witness.
For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion
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