December 14, 1917: Teen Wife of Deployed Soldier

Mary Francis Falls was the 18-year-old wife of soldier Leo Falls, who was deployed in France. She died on December 14, 1917 from peritonitis caused by an abortion. According to her mother, Mrs. A. S. Stringfield, the abortion had been perpetrated on November 15 by Dr. John C. Dysart in El Paso, Texas. Mrs. Stringfield had reported the abortion to police. She said that she hadn't wanted Dysart to perform the abortion. 

Leo's sister, Mrs. L. Bailey of Minneapolis, testified that after Mary Francis had died, Dysart had prepared a paper for all the concerned parties to sign stating that they would not press for prosecution if he covered the costs for Mary Francis' treatment and funeral expenses.

Dysart was released on $5,000 bond ($85,000 in 2020 dollars) -- $1,000 for the charge of abortion and $4,000 for murder by abortion.

 
During Dysart's trial for murder by abortion, Dr. Hugh White testified that Mary Francis had called him about two weeks before her death, saying that she had malaria. Dr. White doubted this and later discovered that his suspicions were correct and that his patient was suffering complications from an abortion. He performed the post-mortem examination and found pus throughout her abdomen.

 
Dysart's defense was that he had only treated Mary Francis for complications of a self-induced abortion. He was acquitted on the murder charge after five hours of deliberation. Another unspecified charge related to Mary Francis's death was not dismissed.

Mary's baby might have been born alive; he was buried with his mother and noted in cemetery records.

Sources:

• Death Certificate
• "El Paso Doctor Arrested on an Abortion Charge," El Paso Herald, April 22, 1918
• "Dr. Dysart's Bond Fixed," El Paso Herald, April 23, 1918
• "Dr. John Dysart gives $5000 in Two Cases," El Paso Herald, May 9, 1918
• "Dr. White Gives Testimony In Dr. Dysart Case," El Paso Herald, May 25, 1918
• "Dr. Dysart Acquitted on First Charge; Another Yet," El Paso Herald, May 28, 1918