1901: Abortion by midwife proves fatal

On January 7, 1901, Mrs. Julia K. Pettinger died in her home from an abortion performed there that day. Dr. Maggie Becker was arrested April 24, based on a coroner's verdict that day. Becker was held to grand jury, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 14 years in Joilet Penitentiary.

Read here for more about abortion in the beginning of the 20th Century.

Of course, now we care far too much about women to put abortionists who kill them in prison. We invite them to come to our college campuses and tell us how we can be more like them.



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

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