March 11, 1929: Another Chicago Midwife's Fatal Work

On February 13, 1929, 30-year-old homemaker Catherine Mau went to the office of 51-year-old Chicago midwife for Anna Heisler an abortion.

According to one of Catherine's friends, she was seeking an abortion because, "she had three children and her husband was out of work and she could not support another one, and that her husband was sickly." Frank admitted that he took his wife to the abortionist. 

Afterward, Catherine took sick at home. Her friend assisted the midwife in providing aftercare that did nothing to help. 

Finally Catherine's husband, Frank, called a doctor to report that his wife was in great pain. This doctor told Catherine that she was near death. Catherine reportedly said, “What will my children do?” 

A few days later, on March 11, Catherine died from infection. Prior to her death she made a statement implicating Heisler.

Heisler was charged with murder by abortion. On July 20, 1929, she was sentenced to Joliet Penitentiary for manslaughter Catherine's death. Heisler immediately appealed unsuccessfully. She was sentenced to 14 years in the penitentiary. 

Heisler had been convicted of murder by abortion in 1919 and sentenced to 25 years. She was free after the Supreme Court reversed the decision due to an error in the indictment.

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Source: 

• "Convict Midwife for 2d Time of Woman's Death," Chicago Sunday Tribune, July 14, 1929
• "Midwife Gets 1 to 14 Years on Manslaughter Charge," Chicago Sunday Tribune, July 21, 1929
• "Cook County Cases are Affirmed by High Court," The (Mattoon, IL) Daily Journal-Gazette and Commercial-Star," February 22, 1930
• Homicide in Chicago Interactive