April 16, 1920: First of Two Deaths Attributed to Dr. Webber

Grant Hospital in Chicago

On April 16, 1920, 24-year-old Rose Seibenmann (erroneously recorded as Lieberman in the Homicide in Chicago Interactive Database, died at Chicago's Grant Hospital from a criminal abortion. 

Rose's father, Otto Siebenmann, swore out warrants against Dr. Herman J. Webber and Walter Biesse. 

"My daughter and Beisse expected to be married. They had been engaged for four years," Otto told detectives.

Webber testified at the inquest that Rose had come to his office a dozen times but he had not perpetrated an abortion. Beisse said that he had only asked Webber to examine Rose.

Webber was indicted by a Grand Jury in June, and released on $10,000 bond, but the case never went to trial.

Webber was later implicated in the 1927 abortion death of Irene Campbell.

Keep in mind that things that things we take for granted, like antibiotics and blood banks, were still in the future. 

Sources: 

• Homicide in Chicago Interactive
• "Two Women Die; Fiance of One and Doctor Held," Chicago Tribune, April 17, 1920