Two well-known Pottsville men, W. H. Mortimer, and Robert Wessinger, were arrested in 1933 and charged with performing an illegal or criminal operation (abortion) on Anna Snyder of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which resulted in her death. Snyder had been employed as a domestic in the Mortimer household, and it was assumed that it was Mortimer who was responsible for her “delicate condition.” Although a coroner’s jury concluded that some kind of operation had been performed to terminate the pregnancy, and that “it cannot be proved that any crime was committed,” the men went to trial anyway, probably because Mortimer, at the time of his arrest, confessed to the abortion. After presentation of the evidence by the Commonwealth, the judge freed Wessinger on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The jury took the case on Mortimer and returned with a verdict of “not guilty.”
The story is told here through newspaper articles of the time.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, January 12, 1931:
TWO MEN HELD IN DEATH OF LYKENS WOMAN
The arrest of two men by Pottsville police, followed by the death of Miss Anna Snyder, 39, of Lykens, after an autopsy revealed that she had undergone an illegal operation. The men are W. H. Mortimer, age about 40, and Robert Wessinger, 55, both of Pottsville.
Police are said to have learned that the woman had been staying at Mortimer’s home for several days. When Miss Snyder’s condition became serious Saturday evening, a physician was summoned, who found her dead upon his arrival. He called a second physician. Later after police investigated, a third physician was ordered to perform an autopsy and he declared that death followed an illegal operation.
Miss Snyder was a native of Orwin. Since the death of her parents some years ago, she had made her home with her sister, Mrs. Harry Kolva, in Lykens.
Mrs. Kolva and a brother Edward Snyder of Pottsville are her survivors. Funeral services were held from the Kolva home in Lykens at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Ira Frankenfield, pastor of the Tower City Lutheran Church officiated and interment was made at Orwin.
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From the Hanover Evening Sun, January 9, 1933 (AP wire service story). This article has several statement not seen in other articles, including “giving deadly drugs” and that Snyder was dead for two hours when the coroner arrived.
TWO HELD IN DEATH OF POTTSVILLE GIRL
POTTSVILLE, Pennsylvania, January 9 [1933] (AP) — Miss Anna Snyder, 23 [sic], pretty Lykens girl, who has been living in this city only since last Tuesday, was found dead by police in her apartment.
William Mortimer and Robert Weissinger, two members of prominent families, were last seen in the girl’s company and have been placed under arrest charged with giv-… deadly drugs.
Dr. Charles V. Hogan, city coroner, after an examination said the girl had been dead for two hours when he arrived, but Mortimer says the girl was living when he telephoned for medical aid.
Mortimer has been placed in jail and Weissinger will be given a hearing later. They are charged with manslaughter.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, January 9, 1933:
WEISINGER ENTERS BAIL
Judge Palmer handed down an order this afternoon fixing bail at $3,000 in the cases of Robert Weissinger and William Mortimer, both charged with performing an illegal operation which resulted in the death of Anna Snyder, of Pottsville, formerly of Lykens. Weisinger entered bail with H. F. Davies as surety.
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Pennsylvania Death Certificate, signed January 11, 1933:
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, January 31, 1933:
MORTIMER OUT ON BAIL
William Mortimer, of Pottsville, who has been held in prison for the past two weeks to answer charges preferred against he and Robert Weissinger, was released upon $3,000 bail and is awaiting trial at the forthcoming session.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, January 10, 1933:
POTTSVILLE MEN FREE UNDER BOND
William Mortimer Jr., and Robert Weissinger, married men of Pottsville, jailed Saturday night on charges of having caused the death of Anna Snyder, 39, of Lykens, as the result of an illegal operation alleged to have been performed by Weissinger, were freed yesterday under $3,000 bond each upon order of court. Evidence was presented to show that Mortimer was guilty of the woman’s condition, she having been employed as a domestic in his home, and that Weissinger had performed the illegal operation.
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From the Lykens Standard, January 13, 1933:
2 HELD FOLLOWING DEATH OF ANNA SNYDER
Charged with being implicated in an illegal operation upon Anna Snyder, 39, Lykens, W. H. Mortimer Jr. and Robert Weisinger, both of Pottsville, were being held in the Schuylkill County Prison following their commitment without bail by Alderman Joseph Higgins Sunday.
Bail was fixed at $3000 by Judge Palmer upon petition of A. D. Knittle, attorney for Weissinger, and he was released shortly after noon, Monday, when the surety was posted.
The woman died Saturday night in a room of the Mortimer Building, Pottsville. After an investigation, Weissinger was charged with performing the operation and Mortimer with being an accessory before and after the fact.
According to police, the operation was performed some time Thursday in Mortimer’s apartment in the Mortimer Building, Centre and Norwegian Streets, and on Saturday night, shortly after 8 o’clock, Miss Snyder became so ill that Mortimer attempted to get a physician. failing to obtain one on the first attempt, he called Dr. Vincent Gallo, who found the woman dead upon his arrival. He summoned Dr. C. V. Hogan, deputy coroner, and the police were also called.
Mortimer and Weissinger were placed under arrest by members of the Pottsville police force and questioned at headquarters, following which they were taken before Higgins and arraigned.
The remains of the woman were turned over to Dr. Leigh who conducted an autopsy at the Claude A. Lord Mortuary. Later the body was turned over to Reiff and Helt, local undertakers.
Miss Snyder who made her home for some time with her sister, Mrs. Harry Kolva, was born in Armstrong Valley and was a daughter of the late Simon Snyder and Elmira Snyder. She is survived by one other sister, Mrs. Samuel Gamber, Colorado, and one brother, Edward Snyder, of Pottsville. She was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the home of her sister in South Second Street [Lykens], with Rev. Ira Frankenfield, of Tower City, officiating. Burial was made in the Orwin Cemetery.
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From the Pottsville Republican, January 27, 1933:
CORONER’S INQUEST
[An inquest was held] into the death of Miss Anna Snyder, Lykens, who died here, January 7, [1933] in Room 16, Mortimer Building, Centre and Norwegian Streets.
The verdict of the jury was: “That Anna Snyder came to her death in the Mortimer Building, Room 16, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on the night of January 7, 1933, from internal and external hemorrhages caused by some method of operation that had been performed.
Only two witnesses, both local members of the medical profession, testified.
Dr. Vincent A. Gallo testified he had been called about 9:30 o’clock on the night of January 7 to the Mortimer Building. Arriving there about an hour later, he said he found a man, whom he named as Mortimer, waiting at the top of the steps. He said he was taken to the room, and that on looking inside he saw the body of a woman, whom he said was dead. He testified there was blood on her garments, and also said he did not examine the body, leaving thew place immediately. He was unable to identify Mortimer by his full name, but said Mortimer had been to see him prior to January 7 relative to a case involving a woman. Whether this case involved the Snyder woman he was unable to say. When asked whether he had prescribed for Mortimer when the latter visited his offices, he said he did not.
Dr. Gallo continued his testimony, stated that Mortimer had attempted to call another doctor the night the Snyder woman died. He said Dr. Meikrantz had been called, but could not be reached. He said Mortimer had told him the woman had been dead for about one hour before the arrival of Dr. Gallo. When asked why he did not examine the body, Dr. Gallo replied that he was suspicious that an operation had been performed.
Dr. William F. Leigh, who performed an autopsy on the body of Miss Snyder, testified her death was caused by internal and external hemorrhages, which he said could have been caused by some method of operation. He gave a detailed description of what he found in the condition of the woman’s organs, and testified there were a number of small tumors.
With this testimony, the jury was unable to agree whether or not an illegal operation had been performed and was unable to fix the responsibility for the death of the woman.
William Mortimer Jr., and Robert Weissinger, both of Pottsville, are being held for the death of Miss Snyder. Mortimer, the police say, has confessed an illegal operation had been performed, and that in the confession he named Weissinger as having performed the operation in the room in which the woman died. Both are being held in heavy bail for the grand jury at the next term of criminal court.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, February 2, 1933:
JURY FAILS TO FIX BLAME IN WOMAN’S DEATH
Although a coroner’s jury at an inquest held in Pottsville last Thursday evening failed to fix the blame, two Pottsville men are being held to await action of the Schuylkill County Grand Jury in the death of Miss Anna Snyder, of Lykens.
The men held are Robert R. Weissinger, who was liberated on bail, and William Mortimer, released this week on $3,000 bail.
The jury returned the verdict “that Anna Snyder came to her death in Room No. 16 of the Mortimer Building at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on the night of January 7, 1933, from internal and external hemorrhages caused by some method of operation performed for the elimination of pregnancy.”
The jury in rendering its decision, added that “it cannot be proved that any crime was committed.”
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, May 3, 1933:
ABORTION CASE AGAINST TWO MEN TRIED IN COURT
William H. Mortimer and Robert Weissinger Are Accused of Death of Anna Snyder
Pottsville, May 3 [1933] — Charged with attempting to procure and abortion and performing the same, which was followed by the death of the victim, William H. Mortimer and Robert Weissinger were placed on trial today before President Judge R. P. Hicks, as the result of the death of Anna Snyder, who died in a room in the building owned by the defendant’s father at Centre & Norwegian Streets on January 7th last.
The work of empaneling a jury was commenced at three o’clock yesterday afternoon and was concluded at 10:20 this morning, when twelve members were finally picked from among thirty members of the jury panel called for the purpose.
Before entering any testimony to the case, M. J. Ryan, attorney for the Commonwealth made his opening address to the jury and stated that the Commonwealth would attempt to prove that the two defendants had performed an illegal operation on the woman, Anna Snyder, formerly a domestic in the household of the Mortimer family, and that their efforts had been successful but had been followed by death.
The line of testimony to be introduced, it was stated, would prove that Mortimer importuned Weisinger to assist him and that the operation had been performed in a room where Mortimer was temporarily residing in the building. The woman suffered a punctured spleen, which resulted in peritonitis and death. He testified that Mortimer, becoming alarmed, had sent for Weisinger, who informed him that the woman’s condition was not dangerous; but believing that it was, called Dr. Gallo, who found the woman in a dying condition and notified Dr. Hogan, deputy coroner, who caused the arrest of the two defendants, after which Mortimer had made a confession, implicating Weissinger.
Dr. Leigh performed an autopsy upon the woman on the day following the death of the Snyder woman and death was found to be due to the illegal operation.
These doctors are all subpoenaed by the Commonwealth and were in court to testify for the Commonwealth.
Four attorneys are engaged in the case for the defendants, led by H. O. Bechtel, representing Mortimer, with J. C. Seesholtz and Leon Mandell as assistant, while A. D. Knittle represents Weissinger.
District Attorney L. E. Enterline and M. J. Ryan represent the Commonwealth.
Hearing of testimony was begun at this mornings session and will occupy several days.
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, May 4, 1933:
TWO ON TRIAL FOR DEATH OF GIRL
William H. Mortimer and Robert Weissinger, prominent young men of Pottsville, went to trial yesterday before Judge Hicks in Schuylkill County courts, charged with causing the death of Anna Snyder, of Tower City, whose body was found in Mortimer’s apartment at Pottsville last winter. The accused men are alleged to have performed a criminal operation upon the woman.
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From the Pottsville Republican, May 3, 1933:
WEISSINGER FREED OF CHARGE
William Mortimer and Robert Weissinger, of Pottsville were placed on trial before Judge Hicks in number two court room Wednesday morning following the completion of the selection of a jury that started late Tuesday afternoon and continued until Wednesday morning. It required the calling of 26 jurors before ten men and two women were chosen to hear evidence in the alleged attempt to procure an abortion and abortion followed by death.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, May 4, 1933:
ACQUIT MAN IN COURT CASE
William Mortimer and Robert Weissinger of Pottsville were placed on trial in Schuylkill County Court, Wednesday, in connection with the death of Anna Snyder, formerly of Lykens. The woman’s death it was alleged, was caused by an illegal operation.
After the prosecution had entered its testimony, the court directed the acquittal of Weissinger on the grounds of insufficient evidence leaving Mortimer as the only defendant in the case.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, May 4, 1933:
WEISINGER IS FREED OF ABORTION CHARGE
Mortimer Offers Little Defense As Case Goes to Jury; Refuse Incompetence Plea
Pottsville, May 4 [1933] — After presenting no defense to the jury in the case in which he was charged with performing an abortion upon Anna Snyder, a former domestic in the home of his parents, William Mortimer, who was on trial before President Judge Hicks upon charges growing out of his attempt, heard the charge made by Judge Hicks to the jury this morning when the court convened.
Robert Weissinger, a gunsmith of Pottsville, was freed when his attorney A. D. Knittle, demurred to the testimony of the Commonwealth and the demurrer was sustained. Judge Hicks immediately ruled that there was not sufficient testimony adduced to hold Weissinger and he was freed of the charge. Mortimer, however, was directed to proceed with his defense, and to the surprise of the assemblage made practically no defense, no testimony being offered in evidence to contradict the case presented by the Commonwealth.
An effort was made to prove himself incapable of making a confession and of impaired or immature mentality, but Dr. Mary Kingsbury, of Pottsville, who was called for this purpose, was not permitted to testify and the defense immediately closed its case, although Judge Bechtel made an earnest plea to the jury for an acquittal.
Judge Hicks in charging the jury this morning, carefully weighed every part of the evidence and plainly instructed the jury as to their duty and the law upon the subject….
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From the Shamokin News-Dispatch, May 5, 1933:
MEN ACQUITTED OF CAUSING A GIRL’S DEATH
Jury In Schuylkill County Court Acquits William Mortimer And Robert Weissinger
A jury in the Schuykill County criminal courts late yesterday afternoon acquitted William Mortimer and Robert Weissinger, prominent residents of Pottsville, on trial two day charging them with having caused the death of Anna Snyder, of Tower City, thru alleged abortion. The girl had been a domestic in the home of Mortimer’s parents, having been found dead in young Mortimer’s apartment. Mortimer confessed the abortion at the time of his arrest but despite this the jury acquitted both youths.
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News articles from Newspapers.com. The Pennsylvania Death Certificate is from Ancestry.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.