Historic Chicago Abortion Deaths
1917: An Unknown Perp in Chicago
On March 15, 1917, 24-year-old waitress Celia Steele died at Chicago's Jefferson Park Hospital from septicemia and purulent peritonitis caused by a criminal abortion. The coroner was unable to identify the guilty party.
1915: Two Deaths in Two Days Attributed to Chicago Doc
On March 15, 1915, 22-year-old homemaker Elenora Cassidy died at Cook County Hospital after being treated for two days for septicemia. Before her death, Elinor named Dr. Julia Patera as the guilty abortionist, and indicated that the abortion had been done at Patara's house on March 6.
Patara was indicted for Elinor's death on March 15 by a Grand Jury, but the case never went to trial, even though the very next day another woman, Hazel Wilcox, died after an abortion attributed to Patera.
On March 15, 1917, 24-year-old waitress Celia Steele died at Chicago's Jefferson Park Hospital from septicemia and purulent peritonitis caused by a criminal abortion. The coroner was unable to identify the guilty party.
1915: Two Deaths in Two Days Attributed to Chicago Doc
On March 15, 1915, 22-year-old homemaker Elenora Cassidy died at Cook County Hospital after being treated for two days for septicemia. Before her death, Elinor named Dr. Julia Patera as the guilty abortionist, and indicated that the abortion had been done at Patara's house on March 6.
Patara was indicted for Elinor's death on March 15 by a Grand Jury, but the case never went to trial, even though the very next day another woman, Hazel Wilcox, died after an abortion attributed to Patera.
