In July 1917, Mrs. Regina Michel, a midwife of Pottsville, who had in 1913 been convicted of abortion and was sentenced to two years in jail, was again accused of performing an abortion on a woman from Wyoming, Mrs. Eva Corby. Mrs. Corby died at the Pottsville Hospital only days after she had an “illegal operation” which was allegedly performed by Mrs. Michel in July 1917. Although Mrs. Michel claimed she was innocent and had an alibi, she was convicted by a jury in September 1917. The judge showed no mercy referring to her failure to amend her ways following her first conviction. She was sentenced to seven years in jail despite a pleading from her attorney that she be granted mercy because of her age.
The story, which did not get as much newspaper coverage as did her first trial in 1913, is told here through stories from the local press:
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From the Pottsville Republican, July 18, 1917:
WOMAN HELD UNDER BAIL
Mrs. Regina Michel, of 1596 West Market Street, was arrested by State Troopers Robert Adams and William Corbin, and Constable Hogan, on Wednesday morning, charged with performing an illegal operation upon Mrs. Eva Corby, of Wyoming, a former resident of this section. The alleged operation is said to have taken place on July 3rd at the home of Mrs. Michel on West Market Street. She was brought to the office of Alderman Freiler on Wednesday morning and held under $5000 bail for her appearance at court. The case will be called in September.
Mrs. Corby came here to attend the funeral of her mother and died last week in the Pottsville Hospital. For three days the police worked on meagre clues after learning of the nature of the case. District Attorney Whitehouse took charge of the prosecution. The defendant was represented by J. H. Rothstein. Mrs. Michel was arrested on a similar charge several years ago and at that time was convicted in the local court and served a portion of her sentence.
Mrs. Michel protested her innocence at the office of Alderman Freiler, saying she knew nothing whatever of the charges the police were bringing against her. She told the police and Alderman that she was a law abiding citizen and that her arrest was a hard blow to her.
Coroner Moore and Deputy Coroner Heller conducted an inquest into the death of Mrs. Corby and the jury after hearing the evidence of three witnesses rendered the following verdict:
“We the jury find that Mrs. Corby had a criminal operation performed by a Mrs. Michel of 16th and West market Streets, Pottsville, from which Mrs. Corby died at the Pottsville Hospital on July 11th and we advise that Mrs. Michel be held under $2,000 bail.”
The jury was composed of T. C. Knowles, George Ochs, E. P. Lewis, T. E. Hummel, C. W. Klars, and George P. Coombs.
At the inquest there was evidence introduced showing that Mrs. Corby came here to attend the funeral of her mother. She was taken ill and admitted to the hospital on a Sunday. Her death occurred on Wednesday, July 11th, and when she was told by the attending physician how ill she was and that her chances for recovery were scant, Mrs. Corby told the doctor that she went to the home of a Mrs. Michel and paid $12 and a ring. That is what Mrs. Corby told the doctor. She told her brother J. Brown that she gave Mrs. Michel $12 and a ring.
A nurse who was in attendance at the hospital said she heard Mrs. Corby implicate a Mrs. Michel.
Mrs. Corby has been a resident of Wyoming for some time. She has three children surviving her besides her husband. At the inquest it developed that she was the mother of six children, three of the children dying within three days a couple of years ago. She was 33 years of age and before her marriage was a Miss Mae Eva Brown of Port Carbon.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, July 19, 1917, a correction:
ABORTION VICTIM DID NOT DIE
The statement that a former girl operated upon by Mrs. Michel, who was again arrested yesterday for the same offense should have been made with reference to the child of the woman who died. Another error was to the effect that Mrs. Michel was held without bail but she entered $3,000 bail after the amount had been fixed by the District Attorney.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, September 12, 1917:
MRS. MICHEL ON TRIAL BEFORE JUDGE BERGER
Pottsville, September 12 [1917] – Charged with having performed a criminal operation upon Mrs. Evan Corby, of Rock Strings, Wyoming, Mrs. Regina Michels, of West Market Street, Pottsville, was placed on trial before Judge Berger, in Court No. 2, today. Mrs. Michel, it is alleged, by the State Police, performed the said operation on July 3rd, and the patient died at the Pottsville Hospital later, the prosecution being brought several days later.
Mrs. Shalters, of Port Carbon, a companion of Mrs. Corby’s, testified that she accompanied the woman to Mrs. Michel’s home, on several occasions about that time and that on July 3rd accompanied her to the corner, meeting her there later in the day. The Commonwealth is being represented by Deputy District Attorney M. P. Duffy and his colleague, E. J. Maginnis, while J. H. Rothstein appears for the defense.
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From the Pottsville Republican, September 13, 1917:
MRS. MICHEL IS FOUND GUILTY
The jury in the case of Mrs. Regina Michel, Pottsville, charged with a criminal operation, abortion and the use of drugs found her guilty of the second and third counts, covering abortion, and not guilty of the first count use of drugs. State Policeman Adams is the prosecutor.
Deputy District Attorney M. F. Duffy made a masterly address to the jury for the Commonwealth and Jacob Rothstein, attorney for the defendant made an able speech. The defense was an alibi, that Mrs. Michel was not at home the day of the crime.
Judge Berger directed that the defendant’s bail be increased to $5,000 from $3,000.
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From the Pottsville Republican, September 14, 1917:
COURT COMES TO A CLOSING HOUR
Mrs. Michel is to be sentenced next Monday, having been given time to arrange her affairs….
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, September 17, 1917:
Pottsville, September 17 [1917] – Mrs. Regina Michel, of Pottsville, who was convicted of performing an illegal operation upon Mrs. Eva Corby, will be sentenced by Judge Berger on Thursday morning of this week. sentence was to have been imposed today, but was deferred because of the absence of her attorneys.
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From the Pottsville Republican, September 20, 1917:
MRS. MICHEL’S SENTENCE PUT OFF
A certificate of illness submitted to Judge Berger, proved that Mrs. Regina Michel, a midwife, convicted of malpractice, is ill of tonsilitis and influenza at her home in this city, and that she was not able to appear for sentence Thursday morning, as ordered. Next Monday was fixed for the date. J. H. Rothstein, her attorney, was not sure that she would be able to appear then.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, September 24, 1917:
MRS. MICHEL IS SENTENCED BY JUDGE BERGER
Pottsville, September 24 [1917] –Judge Berger today sentenced Mrs. Regina Michel of Pottsville to pay a fine of $10 and the costs and to serve seven years at separate and solitary confinement for performing an illegal operation upon Mrs. Eva Corby, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, on July 3rd last. The woman came east to attend the funeral of her mother and according to the allegations of the Commonwealth, had an operation performed at the home of Mrs. Michel, which resulted in her death at the Pottsville Hospital several days later.
In imposing sentence Judge Berger pointed out the fact that this was the second conviction upon the same offense, and that society would have to be protected from the woman, in light of the failure of the first conviction to reform her.
Before sentence was imposed, J. H. Rothstein, attorney for the defendant, pointed out the advanced age of the defendant and stated that in spite of her conviction, she had steadfastly maintained her innocence.
Judge Berger stated also in imposing the penalty of the law that the Court could take cognizance of the parole clause in the act of assembly and would probably do so, but did not intimate at what time this would be done. Mrs. Michel is now above 70 years of age, it is said, and would hardly be expected to survive the sentence, if compelled to serve it all.
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News articles are from Newspapers.com.
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