Two Midwives's Fatal Work

A coroner's inquest into the January 30, 1893 death of Bertha Kern at St. Mark's Hospital in New York concluded that she had died as a result of an abortion performed on her by midwife Caroline Kraft. The conclusion was based on statements made by Bertha prior to her death. Her lover, Franz Steinbrenner, was exonerated.

On January 30, 1912, 21-year-old Jeanette Mebzarek died in Chicago from an abortion perpetrated by nurse/midwife Anna Chezanowaki that same day. Chezanowaki was indicted by a Grand Jury on February 15, but the case never went to trial.