Contrary to popular belief, the abortions before legalization were not typically of the coathanger variety. Most were performed by medical professionals. This was especially the case in Chicago, where midwives and physicians competed for customers.
Today's anniversaries are two of those dad deaths.
On February 9, 1913, 30-year-old milliner Elizabeth Spalding died at
Rhodes Avenue Hospital in Chicago of septicemia caused by an abortion
perpetrated that day by midwife Caroline Sandberg. Sandberg was tried
but acquitted on July 9.
On February 9, 1911, 47-year-old homemaker Elizabeth Martin died at German American Hospital in Chicago from sepsis caused by of an abortion perpetrated at 1310 Eddy Street. Mrs. Schutner,
identified as a midwife (which means she might have been an
obstetrician) was held by the Coroner's Jury and indicted, but the case
never went to trial.
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