April 25, 1902: Most Likely the Work of a Physician

In January of 1902, Abraham Conheim promised marriage to 19-year-old Harriet "Hattie" Larocque, originally of Canton, New York.  According to Hattie's father, Leon, Hattie was the seventh of his nine children, and was "previously chaste and of good reputation." With the promise of marriage, Hattie became sexually involved with Conheim, who had hired her to work for him as a cloak model. 

In April of 1902, about 18 months after moving to New York City, Hattie discovered that she was pregnant. Conheim reneged on his promise of marriage. Instead he and his friend, traveling salesman Leo Asher, arranged a criminal abortion for her.

At some point, Hattie was attended by Dr. Mary J. McCleery in the McCleery home. Martha Collier, who was a boarder at the McCleery home, said that Harriet had arrived there on April 9. Dr. McCleery said that she had only given Hattie simple medications.

Hattie took ill after the abortion and was admitted to New York Hospital as "Hattie Bailey," a name she was using while in New York. She was visited at the hospital by the coroner, and again gave her name as Hattie Bailey. She told the coroner conflicting stories. First she said that she was secretly married to Abraham, but later she denied that she was married to anybody. Of Conheim and Asher, Hattie said that "both had wronged her" and that Asher had promised her marriage but had instead sent her to "Dr. McCleery." 

Hattie's mental state deteriorated and she began speaking to Asher as though he was present in the room. She died at the hospital of peritonitis on April 25. 

Hattie's father sued Conheim for seducing and debauching his daughter, impregnating her, and causing her death. There were never any arrests to hold anybody else accountable, largely because Hattie's statements at the hospital were never formally taken down as an ante-mortem statement.

Sources:

• 42 Misc. 613, 87 N.Y.S. 625; Supreme Court, Oneida County, New York, Special Term. Larocque v. Conheim February, 1904. Action by Leon Larocque, administrator of Harriet Larocque, deceased, against Abraham Conheim
• Funeral notice
• "$20,000 Demanded: Miss Harriet Larocque's Sensational Death Recalled," The Lowville (NY) Journal and Republican, undated clipping
• "Dislikes Detective Methods," New York Sun, Apr. 27, 1902
• "'Hattie Bailey' is Identified," New York Press, Apr. 28, 1902
• "No One Held For Model's Murder," Leavenworth (KS) Times, 13 May, 1902