The two illegal abortion deaths on this date both took place on exactly the same day in Illinois.
Matilda "Dollie" Tidrick, a 38-year-old waitress, was taken to a hospital in Danville, Illinois, in June of 1917. There, she was operated on by Dr. George Lotz. He called in other doctors "who assisted until they learned the nature of the case."
Dollie died on June 9, in spite of the surgery, along with her unborn child. The autopsy found that both had died from the results of an attempted abortion.
Dollie left behind her husband, Clarence, along with seven children and at least one grandchild.
Lotz, who was held without bail, "admitted ... that he was guilty, and had been arrested for the same offense at Chicago and 'paid the price.'" This Chicago case was most likely the June 25, 1911 abortion death of 20-year-old Anna Mueller.
Oddly, though Lotz admitted guilt, he was acquitted.
The same day as Dollie Tidrick's death, June 9, 1917, 26-year-old homemaker Emma Melvin died at Chicago's St. Mary's Hospital from infection caused by a criminal abortion. A person or persons unidentified in the source document indicates that the abortion was perpetrated by Dr. M. Meinhardt, who was never tried in Emma's death.
Watch "Why Was Dr. Lotz Acquitted?" on YouTube.
Sources:
- "Physician Held For Their Mother's Death," Urbana (IL) Daily Courier, June 12, 1917
- "Danville Doctor Held For Death Of Woman," Decatur (IL) Herald, June 13, 1917
- "Acquit Physician on Manslaughter Charge," Urbana (IL) Daily Courier, December 1, 1917
- Homicide in Chicago Interactive Database
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