July 16, 1903: Friend's "Help" Proves Fatal

Mrs. John A. Morris of Jacksonville, Illinois, died at 3:00 the morning of July 16, 1903.

An investigation found that she had tried a do-it-yourself abortion with an instrument given to her by a friend, Belle Osborne.

The abortion had caused septic peritonitis that took Mrs. Morris' life. She was about 29 years old, and left two children motherless.

Source: "Woman Caused Her Own Death", The Quincy Daily Journal, July 17, 1903