On January 7, 1901, 21-year-old homemaker Juliet Pottinger died in her home at 520 Wood St., Chicago, from an abortion performed there that day. She left her husband, 23-year-old James, alone to raise their toddler daughter.
Dr. Maggie Becker was arrested April 24, based on a coroner's verdict that day. Becker was held to grand jury, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 14 years in Joliet Penitentiary. It had taken the jury five hours to reach the verdict.
Though the actual deathbed statement Juliet had given was not admitted as evidence, both Juliet's husband and her mother were permitted to testify about things Juliet had said to them before dying.
Juliet's abortion was typical of criminal abortions in that it was performed by a physician.
Watch A Typical Criminal Abortion on YouTube.
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