April 25, 1908: Friend Tried to Prevent Fatal Abortion

On Thursday, April 23, 1908, 32-year-old homemaker Annie Johnson was taken by private ambulance to Wesley Hospital in Chicago, suffering form complications of a criminal abortion. She died on Saturday night, April 25. 

Albert Stevens, age 39, was arrested as an accomplice to the fatal abortion. Mrs. Laura R. Flinn, one of Annie's friends, was held as a witness. 

Laura, who said that the abortion had been performed over her protests, identified midwife Augusta Heiderich as the abortionist. Heiderich was arrested and held by the grand jury.

Sources:

• "Woman Dead; Man Arrested," Chicago Inter-Ocean, Apr. 27, 1908
• "Mystery in Death of Woman," Chicago Daily Tribune, Apr. 27, 1908
• "Held for Deaths of Women," Chicago Daily Tribune, Apr. 28, 1908