Jolene Griffith1960s, oklahoma, illinoisSUMMARY: Jolene Griffith, age 33, died on March 25, 1926 after an abortion perpetrated by Dr. W. J. Bryan Henrie in Grove, Oklahoma.

Dr. HenrieOn March 3, 1962, Dr. W.J. Bryan Henrie, an osteopath, performed an abortion on 33-year-old Jolene Joyce Griffith, at his clinic in Grove, Oklahoma. Jolene developed an infection, and, according to her survivors, Griffith abandoned her and provided no care to treat the infection.

On March 10, Jolene was admitted to a hospital in Tulsa. She died there on March 25, leaving behind a husband and three minor children.

Henire pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, and served 25 months of a 4-year sentence. Upon his release, he went right back to doing abortions.

Jolene’s abortion was typical of illegal abortions in that it was performed by a doctor.

Abortion rights activists continue to revere Henrie, and to totally ignore the fate of Jolene Griffith. What’s a few dead women among friends?

In the 1960s, we see the 20th Century downward trend in abortion mortality resumed — until a brief upturn starting in 1968, when some states first started loosening their abortion laws. For more, see Abortion Deaths in the 1960’s.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

Sources:

• 395 P.2d 809, 1964 OK 215; Supreme Court of Oklahoma.J. Bryan HENRIE, Plaintiff in Error,v.Derrell H. Griffith, Administrator of the Estate of Jolene Joyce Griffith, Deceased
• “Grove Osteopath Arrested,” The Oklahoman, Nov. 17, 1970
• “Abortion Murder Charged”, The Oklahoman, Apr. 12, 1962
• “Abortion Charge Hits Grove Man”, The Oklahoman, Oct. 20, 1962
• “Abortion Count Filed,” The Oklahoman, Mar. 9, 1961
• “Term in Fatal Abortion,” Kansas City Star, Apr. 12, 1962

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