May 5, 1941: Mysterious Phone Call Alerts Doc to Dying Woman

Rose Smith, a 23-year-old mother of five, died May 5, 1941 after an abortion perpetrated in Chicago. Midwife Magdaline Motzny-Stegeman was investigated by a grand jury, which despite powerful circumstantial evidence, concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to indict her. 

According to public records, Rose was born Rose Marie Battaglia, the child of Calogero "Carl" Battaglia and his wife, Antonia, nee Buttacavelo. She and her husband, a die caster in a foundry, had five children all under the age of six. 

AI Rendition

Rose's husband, Beve (short for Beverly, which was originally a masculine name), told Assistant State's Attorney Samuel Papanek that he and Rose had gone to Mrs. Stegeman's office at 1041 Noble Street on May 1, but, according to the July 10, 1941 Chicago Tribune, "told the elderly midwife there must be no abortion." 

Evidently Beve left his wife at Stegeman's practice, because he said that the following Saturday he got a phone call to pick his wife up there. When he arrived he found Rose sitting on the front steps. Somebody called from an upstairs window, "She needs attention." 

St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital

A car had evidently been arranged for the couple, and they were transported to St. Mary's of Nazareth Hospital. Rose, Beve relayed, said that they were to ask for Dr. Mix.

Dr. Mix testified that shortly before the Smiths arrived, he had gotten a "mysterious phone call" to expect them.

Bernice Wysocki, of North Oakley Avenue, was one of Rose's friends. She testified that Rose told her of a visit to Mrs. Stegeman's office. Rose's brother Jack Battaglia and his wife, Theresa, testified that Rose had told them she'd undergone an abortion.

Stegeman's second husband, William Stegeman, had been a member of the state's attorney's staff before being promoted to Police Lieutenant. Stegeman had already been implicated in the 1926 abortion death of Emily Mueller. She died in August of 1946.

Watch Police Lieutenant's Wife not Prosecuted for Abortion Death on YouTube.
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Sources:

• "Open Hearings on 3 Abortion Slaying Cases," Chicago Daily Tribune, July 10, 1941
• "Abortion Death Quiz Abandoned by Grand Jury," Chicago Tribune, July 1, 1941
• "Seize Physician as Abortionist; Patient Very Ill," Chicago Tribune, November 13, 1942