January 21, 1899: Keeping Deadly Abortions in the Family

Chicago law enforcement officials originally didn't know who was responsible for the January 21, 1899 death of 28-year-old homemaker Caroline Schroeder, wife of Otto F Schroeder. According to genealogy rerecords, Caroline, a native of Chicago, also left behind a son about seven years old. 

Authorities got their answer in August of 1901 when Caroline's sister-in-law, Annie Robinson, lay dying from a botched abortion. She named midwife Teresa Muenster of North Clark Street not only as the abortionist responsible for her own impending death, but as responsible for Caroline's death as well.  

Given the plethora of doctors and midwives openly advertising abortions in Chicago, it's bizarre that Annie would entrust herself to the woman who had killed her sister-in-law.

Muenster was born around 1841 in Holsten Schleswig, which would have made her nearly 60 years old at the time of the women's deaths. She had been practicing in Chicago for about thirty years.

Watch First in the Family on YouTube.

Sources:

• "Held for Woman's Death," Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1901
• "Midwife is Held on Serious Charge," The Inter-Ocean, August 19, 1901
• "Midwife Held Without Bail," The Inter-Ocean, August 20, 1901