April 25, 1899: Perpetrator's Profession Unknown

According to the Homicide in Chicago Interactive Database, Sarah Messinger, age 30, died in St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago on April 25, 1899, from an abortion performed by Marie Kampfer. 

Sarah died on the day the abortion was performed. 

Kampfer, whose profession is not listed, was held for $5,000 bond by Coroner's Jury. Most Chicago abortionists of that era were physicians or midwives.

According to public records, Sarah and her husband, Henry, had three sons: Henry, Edward, and Walter. Henry had just turned 5 years old nine days before his mother's death. Edward had turned 3 less than a month earlier. Walter was only 8 months old. To add to the family's tragedy, baby Walter only outlived his mother by two months, dying on July 2.