Three Pre-Roe Tragedies

Today's first sad story, which transpired in the autumn of 1862, is one about which I found bountiful sources and poignant information. Clementina Anderson placed her disappointed faith in her duplicitous cad of a lover. This man's choice killed Clementina, and left her father devastated. Click on her name to learn about those tragic events.

I know far less about 27-year-old Catherine Seabrooke, who died on November 19, 1913, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Chicago from an abortion performed that day by an unknown perpetrator.

Another Chicago death with scanty source documentation is that of 38-year-old Elizabeth Strazdas. She died on November 19, 1924, at Chicago's Mother Cabrini Hospital from complications of a criminal abortion performed that day.The person responsible for Elizabeth's death was never identified.

Note, please, that with overall 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 during the era in which these women lost their lives.