Pelagia Ussarowski, age 32, died on October 19, 1910 in a Chicago residence after an abortion perpetrated in Chicago.
Who was Pelagia?
According to a Grok review and timeline based on available records, Pelagia Kowalczyk Ussarowski was a Polish immigrant who had come to the United States in 1895. She married Ignatz Ussarowski, a laborer, in Chicago in 1899. They two sons and a daughter, ages 8, 5, and 3.
In the early to mid 1900s, the couple settled in a Near North Side tenement at 1234 Bradley Place. Ignatz found work as a laborer in the stockyards.
The Pregnancy and Abortion
In early October of 1910, Pelagia realized that she was pregnant. Due to financial worries and some concerns about Pelagia's health, the couple decided on an abortion. They tracked down an abortionist named Rosalie Tomajoski by asking around the neighborhood.
On October 13, 1910, Pelagia and Ignatz went to Tomajoski's apartment at 728 Noble street, about a block from their own home. At around 2 pm, Tomajoski used unsterilized metal sounds to insert some sort of herbal paste, likely ergot and/or savin, into Pelagia's uterus. Ignatz had paid Tomajoski $15 for the procedure (a little more than $500 in 2025).
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Though Pelagia was bleeding heavily, she was able to walk home.
Over the next few days, Pelagia suffered from fever and cramps which she treated with home remedies. On October 16, Ignatz summoned the family physician, Dr. Stanley Kowalski. Pelagia refused a full examination, so Dr. Kowalski diagnosed her with a miscarriage and prescribed opiates for the pain.
The next two days were terrible. Pelagia became delirious and began vomiting black fluid. On the 19th, Pelagia collapsed. Ignatz summoned a priest who performed last rites just in time. Pelagia died at 3:45 pm.
Investigation and Trial
Ignatz reported the death to the Chicago police department, and Pelagia's body was taken to the Cook County Morgue for an autopsy. Over the next two days, an inquest was held. An autopsy indicated that the cause of death was the abortion. Witnesses including Ignatz and neighbors identified Tomajoski.
The case was referred to the State's attorney. On November 2, Tomajoski was indicted for first-degree murder. She was arrested at her home on November 5 and was held pending $5,000 bail (over $100,000 in 2025). Police searched her home and found abortion supplies.
Over November and December of 1910, pretrial hearings were heard. Tomajoski's attorney painted the fatal abortion as having been legal because it was done for health reasons. Ignatz sided with the prosecution. The children temporarily went to stay with relatives.
The trial was held from January 16 through February 13 of 1911. The prosecution focused on medical evidence, while the defense focused on character witnesses. The charge was downgraded from homicide to manslaughter because Tomajoski had no intention of causing Pelagia's death. After 8 hours of deliberation the jury found Tomajoski guilty.
On February 14, Tomajoski was sentenced to five years at Illinois Women's Prison. She entered the prison in March of 1911.
Aftermath
The children went back to live with their father, who eventually remarried and had two more children. He became a naturalized citizen. Pelagia's children went on to become a truck driver, a soldier, and a homemaker. Ignatz died of pneumonia in 1937 at the age of 62. The last of the children, Mary, died in the 1950s.
Tomajoski was granted parole for good behavior in June of 1913. She relocated to Milwaukee and found work as a domestic servant.
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