February 22, 1929: First Victim of Roswell Dentist

Milton A. Grissom, whose age was given as 58, was a dentist in Roswell, New Mexico. On February 22, 1929, he admitted 34-year-old widow Mary Parsell to St. Mary's Hospital. He reported that she had been at his home practice for three days and was suffering from pneumonia.

Mary, who hailed from the area of Dexter, NM, died shortly afterward.

The coroner's jury looked at the evidence and pretty quickly dismissed the pneumonia claim. Mary, they concluded, had bled to death from a criminal abortion.

Mary's family told the authorities they'd been unable to find a valuable diamond ring that had belonged to her. Grissom said he hadn't seen it. Mrs. Hattie Sommers-Hill, Grissom's office assistant, said she'd seen the ring on Mary's finger. Police patted Grissom down and found the ring in his clothing.

Grissom was held in Chaves county jail, pending bond set at $20,000. He faced charges for second-degree murder, which carried a possible sentence of 3 - 99 years.

Grissom appealed his conviction, challenging the New Mexico abortion law. While free on appeal he performed a fatal abortion on Lillian Morris.

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Sources:

• "Dentist to go to Trial for Woman's Death," Santa Fe New Mexican, March 25, 1929
• "Jury Selected for Doctor's Murder Trial," Albuquerque Journal, April 23, 1929
• "Grissom Case to be Short," Carlsbad Current-Argus, April 23, 1929
• "Grissom Contests Validity of Law," Carlsbad Current-Argus, May 13, 1929