Four years later, Dr. Nicholas J. Phelan was tried of murder in her death from illegal abortion, but he was acquitted by reason of insanity and sent to a mental hospital.

The next year, Mary's body was exhumed, and Dr. E.L. Willis of Denver was subsequently tried and convicted in her death. He had been party to the abortion, performed at the Colonia Hotel in Denver. Willis was sentenced to 10 - 15 years in prison for Mary's 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: "Must Serve His Sentence for Illegal Operation", Telluride Daily Journal, May 7, 1923; "Dr. Phelan is Soon to Face Lunacy Board", Telluride Daily Journal, December 9, 1921; "Supreme Court Upholds Murder Case Decisions", Fort Collins Courier, May 8, 1923; "Phelan Acquitted of Guilt for Death of Greely Girl, but is Sent to State Insane Assylum", Fort Collins Courier, December 9, 1921

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