Sophie Herman1900s, 20s, chicago, illinois, illegalmidwifeOn October 31, 1903, Miss Sophia Herman, a 23-year-old woman living with her sister in Chicago, finally relented after several days of illness and allowed a doctor to be summoned.

Dr. H. L. Latimer examined her briefly then ordered her taken quickly to Norwegian Hospital, where she died in the early morning hours of November 1.

This was a sad end for the young woman who had just immigrated from Germany 18 months earlier.

A midwife, named either Hortensia or Harla Faustman was arrested November 2 and held without bail. Police said she’d been tending to Sophia for two weeks, though Faustman denied that she’d ever given care of any kind to Sophia.

Franz Wehfritz was arrested as an accessory and held by the Coroners Jury on November 5, but he was later released.

Note, please, that with general public health 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. For more about abortion and abortion deaths in the first years of the 20th century, seeAbortion Deaths 1900-1909.

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

Sources:

• “Girl Dies In Hospital And Woman Is Arrested,” Chicago Tribune, Nov. 2, 1903
• Homicide in Chicago Interactive

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1. 1900s
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11. 19th century
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