1899: Where Fast Eddie got his inspiration?

Marie Hicht, employed as a domestic on Dearborn Avenue, died September 2, 1899 at the office of Dr. Louise Hagenow from complications of an abortion performed there that day.

Dr. Hagenow was sentenced to Joliet prison in 1900 for Marie's death.

It is likely that this Dr. Louise Hagenow is the Dr. Lucy Hagenow mentioned in Leslie J. Reagan's book, When Abortion Was A Crime. Reagan says that Dr. Lucy Hagenow was connected with the 1899 abortion death of a patient.

There were a number of deaths in Chicago attributed to either a Lucy Hagenow or a Louise Hagenow. I believe these to be the same woman. The deaths include:

Lottie Lowy

Bridget Masterson

Nina H. Pierce

Mary Moorehead

Jean Cohen

Elizabeth Welter

Lola Madison

How typical of criminal abortionists was Hagenow in that she was a doctor?
Very unusual -- probably less than 6%.
Not the norm, but not rare, either -- probably about 25%.
Fairly common -- about 50%.
It was the norm -- probably about 90%.

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

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