Sunday, January 15, 2023

January 15, 1907: A Repeat Offender in Chicago

On January 15, 1907, 24-year-old housekeeper Sarah M. Cushing died in Wesley Hospital in Chicago, from septicemia caused by a criminal abortion perpetrated on December 29 at the home of a midwife or "lady doctress" named Gertrude Plenz. From coverage of matters, it's pretty clear that Plenz was a doctor, identified as a "midwife" in some instances because at that time and place, female obstetricians were often identified as midwives.

Plenz was arrested on January 24, and held by the coroner's jury. Mrs. Plenz had already been implicated in the abortion death of Margaret McCarthy in 1904. Plenz and her sister, Sophie Mann, were both indicted in the 1937 abortion death of Mary Kissell. 

Not that any of this slowed Dr. Plenz down. The November 30, 1939 Bridgeport (IL) News notes that Plenz was thrown a high-society surprise birthday party on November 21. 

Watch Mourning Interrupted on YouTube.

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