July 31, 1918: Abortionist Who Died in Prison

Dr. Herman Spangler, age 27, of Easton, Pennsylvania was arrested in the summer of 1918 on two charges of abortion. One woman survived her ordeal, though her husband, Samuel Tauber, reported Spangler to the police. 

The other woman, silk worker Cecelia Dieber, age 20, was not so fortunate. She died on July 31 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown 48 hours after being admitted. Fetal tissue had been left in her uterus and she had contracted tetanus from her injuries.

Spangler, who had just been drafted and was about to be shipped out for induction, was arrested and brought to the hospital shortly before Cecelia's death. There, both she and her mother identified him as the man who had perpetrated Cecelia's abortion on July 20. 

Cecelia's lover had been drafted and sent to France in the Army, which might have contributed to her decision to abort the pregnancy. Cecelia refused to give his name.

Spangler was also charged with practicing medicine without a license, though he claimed to be a graduate of the Metropolitan College of Chicago.

Spangler, a married father of one, pleaded guilty on all charges and was sentenced to serve 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in prison and faced a fine of $1,500. He died at Eastern State Penitentiary of pulmonary tuberculosis on March 3, 1920.

Watch Abortionist Dies in Prison on YouTube.

Sources:

• "Another Charge Made Against Dr. Spangler," Allentown Democrat, August 1, 1918
• "Second Charge Against Dr. Herman Spangler," Allentown Morning Call, August 1, 1918
• "Woman Dies Following Illegal Operation," Allentown Democrat, August 1, 1918
• Death certificate
• "Names Doctor Before Dying," Reading Times, August 5, 1918
• "Spangler Remanded for Trial on Four Charges," Allentown Democrat, August 8, 1918
• "'Dr.' Spangler Receives Heavy Sentence When He Pleads Guilty," Allentown Democrat, September 4, 1918
• "Allentown Doctor Gets 10-Year Sentence," Lancaster New Era, September 5, 1918
• Eastern State Penitentiary Convict Reception Register