| Emma Chandler, Illegal Abortion Death | |
Some time in early 1913, Mrs. Emma Chandler died suddenly from complications of a criminal abortion. Dr. J.A. Richmond was arrested in Denver for her death. Note, please, that with 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 information about early 20th Century abortion mortality, see Abortion Deaths 1910-1919.
Source: "Colorado State News", San Juan Prospector, July 26, 1913
For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion