Three typical criminal abortion deaths

On November 30, 1874, Mrs. Mary Dix died at her Chicago home from complications of a criminal abortion performed there. Dr. W. F. Aiken was arrested and charged with murder.

On November 30, 1936, 34-year-old Sophie Peterson died at Chicaog's Mercy Hospital from complications of an abortion performed October 27 in the Chicago office of Dr. Frederick Springe. Springe was indicted for felony murder by a grand jury on December 15.

On November 30, 1927, 22-year-old Lucille van Iderstine died in the Chicago office of Dr. Emil Gleitsman, from an abortion that had been performed on her that day. Gleitsman was indicted for felony murder in Lucille's death on January 15, 1928.

All three of these fatal abortions were typical of illegal abortions in that they were performed by physicians.



For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

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