Merl Williams |
A midwife, 57-year-old. Cordelia "Della" Moore, was charged with abortion murder. An investigation found evidence that Moore, formerly a registered nurse, had perpetrated hundreds of abortions in her home in Longdale, Oklahoma.
Moore was arrested on April 25 and was held without bond until she was released on $6,000 bond on May 14. After her arrest, she "unworriedly set her glasses on the end of her nose and continued her quilting in the county jail." Her husband, John, actually got up in his cell and jigged when a jaunty tune came on the radio.
Della's trial was delayed so many times that eventually the judge dropped the bail requirement in August of 1939.
W. C. Mouse, a railroad engineer, testified that he had taken Merl to Moore's 3-room farm house on April 11, not knowing the reason for the visit. He said only that he had heard Merl ask Moore, "Will it be dangerous?"
The state also gathered 14 additional witnesses in the case against Moore, including women swearing under oath that Moore had done abortions on them. The prosecutors were also investigating the possible abortion death of a married woman a few years previously.
W. C. Mouse, a railroad engineer, testified that he had taken Merl to Moore's 3-room farm house on April 11, not knowing the reason for the visit. He said only that he had heard Merl ask Moore, "Will it be dangerous?"
Cordelia Moore |
In October, Moore took ill, resulting in a continuance of her trial. At the time she was free on a $6,000 bond.
Cordelia Moore was tried for the crime; her husband, John, was arrested but released. I have been unable to determine that outcome of any trial in Merl's death.
Cordelia Moore was tried for the crime; her husband, John, was arrested but released. I have been unable to determine that outcome of any trial in Merl's death.
Sources:
- “Murder Is Charged In Abortion Death,” Miami (OK) Daily News-Record, April 28, 1937
- “Midwife Nabbed In Abortion Racket In Oklahoma; 500 Case Are Aired,” (Harlingen, TX) Valley Morning Star, April 29, 1937
- “Abortions Admitted By Watonga Midwife,” Pampa (TX) Daily News, April 29, 1937
- “Seek New Evidence of Illegal Operations,” Cleveland Plain Dealer,” April 29, 1937
- “Huge Abortion Racket Found,” Greensboro (NC) Record, April 29, 1937
- “Death of Girl is Basis of Couple’s Arrest for Murder,” Miami (OK) Daily News-Record, April 30, 1937
- “Officer Seeks 11 Patients in Abortion Quiz”, The Oklahoman, May 1, 1937
- “Abortion Death Hearing is Set,” Brownsville (TX) Herald, May 2, 1937
- “Mrs. Moore is Bound Over on Murder Count”, The Oklahoman, May 15, 1937
- “State to Help Push Charge on Abortion”, The Oklahoman, June 1, 1937
- “Watts is Assigned to Aid in Murder Case,” Miami (OK) Daily News-Record, June 1, 1937
- untitled, The Arapaho Bee, October 8, 1937
- "Keen Ends Case Against Midwife," Geary (OK) Star, August 24, 1939
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