Tuesday, December 16, 2008

1925: A busy year for Chicago's notorious Dr. Hagenow

On December 16, 1925, 22-year-old Bridget Masterson died in her Chicago home from a botched abortion. Police were able to question Bridget prior to her death, but she refused to implicate anybody.

John O'Malley, a boarder and the father of Bridget's baby, committed suicide by gas after learning of Bridget's death. He left a note implicating "a lady doctor at 310 W. North Ave." This was the address of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida Von Schulz.

There were a number of deaths in Chicago attributed to Hagenow, including:

  • 1899: Marie Hecht
  • 1906: Lola Madison
  • 1907: Annie Horvatich
  • 1925: Lottie Lowy, Nina H. Pierce, Jean Cohen, and Elizabeth Welter
  • 1926: Mary Moorehead

    Hagenow was typical of criminal abortionists in that she was a physician.



    For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

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  • 1 comment:

    Michelle Therese said...

    Preach it! I'm so sick and tired of hearing about all the "back alley abortions" that necessitated the legalization of baby murdering. Gaaah!!