SUMMARY: Gertrude Gaesswitz, age 27, died on February 8, 1934 in Chicago after an abortion perpetrated by Dr. Lou E. Davis.

Dr. Lou E. Davis was tried three times for the February 8, 1934 abortion death of 27-year-old Gertrude Gaesswitz.

The first trial resulted in a hung jury, the second in an overturned conviction. Davis was acquitted in the third trial.

Davis was implicated in five other Chicago abortion deaths:

• September, 1913, 27-year-old Anna Adler
• April, 1924, 26-year-old Mary Whitney
• November, 1928, 22-year-old Anna Borndal
• December, 1928, 23-year-old Esther V. Wahlstrom
• May, 1932, 24-year-old Irene Kirschner

Sources:

• “Third Abortion Trial Begun for Dr. Lou E. Davis,” Chicago Tribune, Apr. 2, 1937
• “Woman Freed in 3D Abortion Murder Trial,” Chicago Tribune, Apr. 4, 1937