February 23, 1928: Another Unidentified Chicago Perp

On February 22, 1928, 26-year-old waitress Martha S. Deidrich Watson, a Wisconsin native, was dropped off at West End Hospital in Chicago by a man who immediately left without giving his name. 

Madeline was taken into the hospital and observed to be delirious and in critical condition. She died the following day, February 23, leaving behind a four-year-old son. Her death was determined to have been caused infection from a criminal abortion.

Martha had lived in Sheboygan, moved to Milwaukee around 1927, and then at some undetermined point went to Chicago. She had been married to her child's father, John Watson, about six years earlier but at some point the couple divorced and he disappeared from the area.

The person or persons responsible were never identified or prosecuted.

Sources:

• "Sheboygan Co. Girl Dies at Hospital Door," Manitowoc (WI) Herald, February 24, 1928
• "Operation Is Believed To Be Death Cause," Sheboygan (WI) Press, February 24, 1928
• "Delay Inquest Into The Death Of Mrs. Watson," Sheboygan (WI) Press, March 16, 1928