January 17, 1912: Repeated Arrests for Dr. Klinetop

On January 17, 1912, 38-year-old homemaker Minnie Miller died at Columbus Hospital in Chicago from septicemia caused by an abortion perpetrated on January 2 by Dr. Charles W. Klinetop. Klinetop was identified by Coroner's Verdict on January 26. Minnie's husband Julius is the one who named Klinetop as the guilty party. Minnie herself also identified Klinetop in a deathbed statement.

While Klinetop was awaiting trial -- which was delayed due to a crowded docket -- in Minnie's death, a woman called the police from Lake Shore Hospital, reporting that there was a woman there "dying from an abortion." The police suspected that Klinetop was involved, but before they arrived at the hospital the woman, identified as Grace Smith, had been spirited away under mysterious circumstances. I have been unable to determine of she lived or died.

Klinetop was later implicated in the 1917 abortion death of Edna Lamb and the 1923 abortion death of Lydia Nelson.

He had also been arrested in 1909 when a young woman filed a complaint against him and her in-laws, reporting that they had forced her to undergo an abortion at Klinetop's hands.

Watch Dr. Klinetop's Bad Habit on YouTube.

Newly added sources:

• "Girl is Doctor's Accuser," The Inter Ocean, July 31, 1909
• "Physician is Indicted," The Inter Ocean, February 20, 1912