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| Dr. Robert J. C. Hamilton |
I've since discovered that the girl's name was actually Lillian Schwinn and that the doctors involved were Dr. Robert J. C. Hamilton and Dr. Evangeline Shaver.
According to death records, Lillian was a factory worker.
Lillian Schwinn, a 15-year-old factory worker, died in Chicago on August 15, 1909. The undertaker had obtained a burial permit based on a death certificate signed by Dr. Evangeline Shaver attributing the girl's death to acute yellow atrophy, an obsolete term that would now be identified as acute liver failure.
Two days later, an anonymous letter to Coroner Hoffman changed everything. The proceedings were halted, and police interviewed Lillian's mother, identified in the news as Mrs. John Kappes of 371 North Clark Street. She told police that Lillian had undergone an abortion at the hands of Dr. Hamilton of 176 Sedgwick Street, aided and abetted by Dr. Shaver of 46 Oak Street, who cared for Lillian as she was dying from complications.
Hamilton testified at the inquest that he truly believed that Lillian's death was due to acute yellow atrophy. Shaver testified that she had signed the death certificate based not on her own conclusions, but on what she'd been told by Hamilton. Hamilton and Shaver were released on bonds of $25,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Coverage of Hamilton's trial for the 1922 death of Frances Guest seems to indicate that Hamilton's trial for Lillian's death resulted in a hung jury. A January 28, 1910 article in the Inter Ocean indicated an expected verdict, but I've found no coverage that confirms this.
Hamilton testified at the inquest that he truly believed that Lillian's death was due to acute yellow atrophy. Shaver testified that she had signed the death certificate based not on her own conclusions, but on what she'd been told by Hamilton. Hamilton and Shaver were released on bonds of $25,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Coverage of Hamilton's trial for the 1922 death of Frances Guest seems to indicate that Hamilton's trial for Lillian's death resulted in a hung jury. A January 28, 1910 article in the Inter Ocean indicated an expected verdict, but I've found no coverage that confirms this.
Watch "Silent Press on 1909 Death" on YouTube.
Sources:
Sources:
- "Girl Dies; Physicians Held," The Inter Ocean, August 18, 1909
- "Three Physicians Are Held; Serious Offenses Charged," Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1909
- "Doctors Held to Grand Jury for Death of Young Woman," Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1909
- "Death Case Verdict Today," The Inter Ocean, January 28, 1910
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