Evelyn Dellorto1930s, 20s, chicago, illinois, illegaldoctorSUMMARY: Evelyn Dellorto, age 20, died on July 25, 1930 after an abortion perpetrated in the Chicago office of Dr. Frank Psota.

On July 16, 1930, homemaker Evelyn Dellorto (nee Strick), age 20, underwent an illegal abortion believed to have been performed at the office of Dr. Frank Psota. Evelyn died on July 25, leaving behind her husband, James, and their daughter.

On August 1, Psota was booked for murder by abortion even though the coroner’s verdict was “undetermined.” Psota was indicted, and held on $10,000 bond by Judge Lyle. On December 10, he was acquitted of the murder charge.

Evelyn’s abortion was typical of illegal abortions in that it was attributed to a physician.

Keep in mind that things that things we take for granted, like antibiotics and blood banks, were still in the future. For more about abortion in this era, see Abortion in the 1930s.
For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

Sources:

• Homicide in Chicago Interactive
• “Messages Tell of Death of Daughter of Former Residents,” Manitowoc (WI) Herald Times, Jul. 26, 1930

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