A young girl ran screaming “murder” as she escaped from a house of abortion in Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania in 1896. The operators of the house, Henry H. Seitzinger and his wife, Mercy Seitzinger, were soon after arrested, convicted and sentenced to two years in jail. The man who was identified in the case was Maurice Morrisey (also spelled Morissey and Morrissey), who made his living by playing a violin at dances. He had to be chased down by the authorities as he tried to escape. No information was found as to what happened to him after he was arrested and charged with abortion.
Also, not much more is known about the house of abortion in Ashland. Apparently, the judge who sentenced the Seitzingers received word from “respectable” people that much more was going on there than was brought out at the trial.
The last Miners Journal comment about the sentencing included the statement that the “business” that the Seitzingers engaged in is “not only unlawful but is calculated to cheapen virtue and cause human life to be held very cheaply.”
The story is told below from brief articles that have been found in available on-line newspapers.
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From the Shenandoah Weekly Herald, May 2, 1896:
A YOUNG GIRL’S PITIABLE PLIGHT
Henry H. Seitzinger and his wife keep a notorious den in Ashland. Tillie Schultz, of Colorado, of respectable parents, has been an inmate of the house for week. While in a state of delirium Wednesday night she broke away from the house in her night clothing and fled through the street screaming murder. She gained entrance to the house of Frank McDonald with Seitzingers in pursuit. She remained there until yesterday morning when a warrant was sworn out against Seitzinger and his wife, charging abortion, and with having $25 of her money. They were given a hearing and in default of bail committed. The Schultz girl is now at home, but refuses to give the name of the man in case.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, May 2, 1896:
HELD ON SERIOUS CHARGES
TILLIE SCHULTZ TELLS A COMPLETE STORY OF HER TROUBLES
ANOTHER ARREST THE RESULT
Maurice Morrisey, of Lost Creek No. 2, Taken Into Custody Upon Statements Made by the Young Woman and Held in $600 Bail
Tillie Schultz, the young woman of Colorado whose pitiable plight was referred to in yesterday’s Herald, and who caused the arrest of Henry H. Seitzinger and wife of Ashland, but refused to disclose the name of the man in the case, changed her mind yesterday and gave information upon which a young man of Lost Creek No. 2 was drawn into the affair. This party is Maurice Morrisey.
Seitzinger and his wife kept a notorious den at Ashland. The Schultz girl had been an inmate of the house for a week and while in a state of delirium last Wednesday night, escaped from it. The Seitzingers were subsequently arrested on a charge of abortion.
Last night Tillie Schultz went before Justice Garner, of Ashland, and made affidavit charging Maurice Morrisey with f. and b. [fornication and bastardy] and attempted abortion. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable August Schreider, who sought the assistance of Detective Amour, and they sought the man at a dance in William Penn, but found he had left there. It was reported that Morrisey anticipated that he would be drawn into the case and would give the police some trouble in locating and arresting him. From William Penn the officers went to Lost Creek No. 2 and were joined there by another constable and Chief Burgess James Woodward, of Ashland. Three of the officers took positions at the rear and sides of Morrisey’s house and Amour stood in front. While Woodward was trying to gain entrances at the rear door Amour heard the noise of a window being raised. It was so dark that the noise could not be easily located, but in a moment or two Morrissey walked into the detective’s arms. Morrissey carried his shoes in one hand. He was fully dressed for a journey, with the exception of his shoes. On hearing the noise at the rear of the house he stole out a window at the front, having no idea that anyone was on guard there. He showed no fight, however, as was expected and was taken to Ashland without trouble. Justice Garner committed him without bail. Morrissey is about 25 years of age and derived a living principally by playing a violin at dances.
The Seitzingers, contrary to all expectations, have secured bail. They were not confined in jail, for the reason that when they reached Pottsville, they found a friend in J. H. Zerbey, editor of the Pottsville Daily Republican, who furnished $1,000 bail for them.
At noon today Morrissey, in company with an Ashland constable, went to Justice Shoemaker’s office, in this town, and entered $600 bail for trial, Lewis Klein furnishing the security.
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From the Pottsville Miners Journal, May 4, 1896:
AN ASHLAND SCANDAL
A Man and His Wife Were Arrested on Serious Charges.
H. H. Seitzinger and wife, Mercy Seitzinger, were committed to jail by Justice John C. Garner on the serious charge of criminal malpractice on oath of Miss Tillie Schultz. The pair were brought to Pottsville, but were not placed in jail J H. Zerbey, of town, became their surety before Squire J. H. Fister in the sum of $1,000.
The Ashland Telegram says the people of that town were much surprised when Seitzinger and his wife got back from Pottsville. The man and woman have been running an unsavory dem and according to the Telegram the woman had openly boasted of having been a successful abortionist in the old country. Seitzinger it is claimed met the woman in a large city and brought her to Ashland. They have led a rough life together and have figured in numerous counter suits before the local justices.
On Wednesday night last, Miss Schultz, a young girl who lives in Girardville, but had been staying with the Seitzinger’s, ran along the streets of Ashland screaming for help. She tried several doors and finally found entance in F. C. McDonald’s house. She was followed by Seitzinger and his wife and prayed McDonald for protection. This was granted to her and she preferred the charges against the pair the next day. The case has created a great sensation in Ashland and the good people of that town were astonished when the notorious pair succeeded in getting back to town before their appearance in court.
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From the Pottsville Miners Journal, May 8, 1896:
CRIMINAL COURT – General Legal News
The most sensational criminal case of the first week of May term of court was put on trial before Judge Bechtel at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It is a case that is not only sensational in its character, but also abounds in testimony that is not calculated to sound well to modest ears. Still Court Room No. 1 was well filled with spectators and there were many women in the throng, who gave close attention to revolting particulars as they were brought out in the testimony. This is the case of H. H. Seitzinger, his wife Mercy Seitzinger, of Ashland, who are charged with attempted abortion by Tillie Schultz, of Colorado.
The defendants occupied seats at a table with their counsel, William A. Marr and J. Harry James. Mr. Seitzinger is an old man, short of stature with a fringe of gray whiskers framing his face. His wife is large and is inclined to be stout, with a face that shows traces of former good looks. The prosecutor, who was seated near District Attorney Bechtel, is a young woman of about 25 years. She is slightly built.
Some care will be taken in the selection of a jury and then District Attorney Bechtel opened the case by giving a short synopsis of the incidents. Miss Schultz, who had been sent to the Seitzinger house in Ashland by her betrayer, had become frightened on Wednesday night of last week by hearing Seitzinger crying out the “Jack the Ripper” was about. She had run down stairs in her nightclothes into the street followed by Seitzinger and his wife. She sought refuge in F. C. MacDonald‘s house, where she was kept for the night. It was also stated that the girl had become suspicious of the actions of the two. She saw Seitzinger with a small bottle. He was taking the wrapper off. When she had gone to bed for the night the woman had acted mysteriously and she became thoroughly frightened at the man’s mention of “Jack the ripper.”
The girl was put on the stand and told her story in a straightforward manner. She told of the different visits she made to the house and the money paid and what she had submitted to there. Then she went there to stay until the trouble was all over. Mr. Marr put her through a rigid cross-examination and she only left the stand when the court adjourned at 5:30 o’clock.
Maurice Morrissey, of Lost Creek, is the alleged betrayer of the girl and he is charged with procuring the abortion.
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From the Pottsville Miners Journal, May 26, 1896:
A MAN AND WIFE SENTENCED
Judge Bechtel, in Room No. 3, passed sentence on H. Seitzinger and his wife, Mercy Seitzinger, who were convicted at the last session of Criminal Court of attempted abortion on Tillie Schultz. His Honor stated that it was not customary to go outside of the evidence in imposing sentence, but in this case he felt obliged to do so. He stated that he had been informed by a reputable citizen of this town, that Seitzinger had approached him and said he could take care of any case of abortion he might have, and that at least two physicians had been called treat cases that had passed through the ordeal of operation at the Seitzinger house in Ashland. The man and woman were each sentenced to pay a fine of $100 and undergo two years imprisonment at solitary confinement. When this pair of criminals were arrested and bound over by a Pottsville justice, bail was furnished to keep them out of jail by the proprietor of a Pottsville evening paper.
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From the Pottsville Miners Journal, May 27, 1896:
The sentencing of the Seitzingers — husband and wife — to two years imprisonment each is regarded by all as a just sentence. Such business as they engaged in is not only unlawful, but is calculated to cheapen virtue and cause human life to be held very cheaply. It is well they have been separated from the world. Their fate should prove a warning to others….
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From the Pine Grove Press Herald, May 29, 1896:
Motions for a new trial in the case of Henry D. Seitzinger and his wife, recently convicted of an attempt to procure an abortion and keeping a house for that purpose in Ashland were withdrawn, and, as announced by M. P. McLaughlin, the prisoners were present for sentence. The prisoners stood up before Judge Bechtel, who spoke at some length on the gravity of the case. Judge Bechtel further stated that he had information from respectable people in Ashland, which showed a worse state of affairs than were really proven at the trial. Fortunately, however, no abortion was produced. The sentence of the court, therefore, is that each pay a fine of $100 costs and undergo two years’ imprisonment in separate and solitary confinement.
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From the Shenandoah Weekly Herald, October 30, 1897:
RELEASED FROM PRISON
Henry Seitzinger of Ashland, who with his wife was sentenced to two years imprisonment, was released from prison last evening. This case is familiar to the people of the county and while the husband now enjoys liberty, it is likely his better half will have to serve the full term of imprisonment. Mr. Seitzinger was incarcerated about 18 months.
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Note: Colorado is a small village in the western part of Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
Articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.