September 25, 1892: The Second Chicago Victim of Dr. Lucy Hagenow

At about 9:00 on the morning of Sunday, September 25, 1892, 30-year-old Sophia Kuhn "died in great agony" at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She had been brought there by ambulance the previous evening from Dr. Louise Hagenow's practice at 882 West Madison Street.

"That the woman died from the result of a most cruel criminal operation is fairly well established, and an inquest to-day will beyond question reveal the details of what has every appearance of being little less than a butchery."

Louise "Lucy" Hagenow

Louise Hagenow and Ellen Hellieu were arrested. Sophia's father identified them as responsible for his daughter's death. Sophie, who had been separated from her husband for about two years, had been living with her sister, Mrs. White, at the time of the pregnancy and abortion. Sophie's brother-in-law, William White, said, "My sister-in-law left home about two weeks ago. She was then complaining of being sick and in trouble. I am certain she did not go to Mrs. Hagenow and the other doctors of her own accord. There was a man in the case who must have persuaded her to submit to an operation."

While police were interviewing Hagenow, who also used the name Lucy Hagenow, at her practice, Hellieu "rushed breathless into her apartments. When she saw Dr. Hagenow's interviewer, she exclaimed: 'Don't say anything!' Then she sank exhausted upon a sofa."

Hagenow had already been implicated in the abortion deaths of Louise Derchow, Annie Dories, Abbia Richards, Emma Dep in San Francisco before relocating to Chicago in 1890.

She was implicated in the abortion death of Minnie Deering in 1891. Shortly after Sophie's death in 1892, Hagenow was again arrested, this time for the abortion death of Emily Anderson. Further abortion deaths associated with Hagenow's Chicago practice include Hannah Carlson in 1896, Marie Hecht in 1899, May (or Mary) Putnam in 1905, Lola Maddison in 1906, and Annie Horvatich in 1907.

Hagenow went to prison for Annie's death. After her release she went back to business and was implicated in the deaths of Lottie Lowy, Nina Pierce, Jean Cohen, Bridget Masterson, and Elizabeth Welter in 1925. She was imprisoned for the last time for the 1926 death of Mary Moorehead.

Watch Dr. Lucy Hagenow Strikes Again on YouTube.