Typical Chicago Abortion Deaths

Ellen Haro, a 31-year-old domestic servant, died at Illinois Masonic Hospital on April 2, 1943 from abortion complications.  Prior to her death, she named a female physician as her abortionist.

On April 2, 1924, 26-year-old homemaker Mary Whitney underwent an abortion at the Chicago office of Dr. Lou E. Davis. On May 17, Mary died at St. Mary's Hospital of complications of that abortion. Dr. Davis was held by the coroner on May 19. Davis was also implicated in five other Chicago abortion deaths:

• September 1913, 27-year-old Anna Adler
• November 1928, 22-year-old Anna Borndal
• December 1928, 23-year-old Esther V. Wahlstrom
• May 1932, 24-year-old Irene Kirschner
• February 1937, 27-year-old Gertrude Gaesswitz

On April 2, 1912, 25-year-old homemaker Elizabeth Jorgeson died from an abortion reportedly perpetrated that day by Katie Sauer, whose profession is not given. Sauer was held by the Coroner's Jury and indicted by a Grand Jury on November 30. The case never went to trial.