October 6, 1904: Chicago Allopath Convicted then Acquitted

On October 6, 1904, Mrs. Mary Lawson, age 33, died at Passavant Hospital in Chicago, from complications of a criminal abortion.

Dr. Alois Rassmussen, being held without bail, attempted suicide in jail by taking an overdose of morphine he had smuggled into his cell by hiding it under his collar. He had been unconscious when found, but recovered at Passavant Hospital, the same hospital where Mary died.

Three witnesses had testified against Rassmussen at the inquest.

Dr. J. J. Muldoon testified that he had attended Mary after the abortion. Two other witnesses, Mary Golden and Mary Duffer, gave what the Chicago Tribune called "damaging testimony."

Rassmussen was sentenced to fifteen years at Joliet for the murder, but was able to get a new trial. In this second trial, he was acquitted.

Note, please, that with issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. 

Sources: 

• Homicide in Chicago Interactive Database
• "Physician Tries Suicide in Cell," Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct. 15, 1904

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Veteran pro-life investigator Kevin Sherlock asks people of good will to help him have Planned Parenthood prosecuted for profiteering from the rapes and incests of underage girls many thousands of times each year.

Sherlock has  pulled the police records of hundreds of cities and has pulled the child protective services records of multiple states to prove Planned Parenthood staffers are violating mandated reporting laws designed to protect girl victims.   But there is more to be done. Sherlock will make sure more and more evidence gets to federal and state prosecutors who care about protecting girls from abusers and profiteers.

If you would like to help, please click the following link:

https://www.givesendgo.com/stop-pp-from-profiteering-from-the-rapes

Sherlock has talked to many girls and young women who trust him. Their stories and the forensic evidence shows most of them undergo pill abortions or humiliating invasive surgical abortions due to fear or ignorance or pressure or coercion. He treats the girls or women carrying children or devastated from their abortions as friends and neighbors in his home town, not afterthoughts.

Thank you for doing what you can to help girls and fight sexual predators and rape profiteers.