The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-08-11
To the Charge of Attempting
to Procure an Abortion
But Will Now Await the Action
Of the Grand Jury
On the More Serious Charge of
Manslaughter.


to the charge of abortion. After consid-
erable arguing by the attorneys she was
dismissed on this charge and immediate
ly arrested for the more serious crime of
manslaughter. Bond was then furnished
in the sum 81 900, her father j. j. Bordner
being her surety.
Attorney Charles c. Upham appeared
for the defendant while Prosecutor Bow
looked after the states interests. Mr..
Upham moved to dismiss the defendan,
as the affidavit didn't charge a crime un-
der the laws Of the state. He said abor-
tion came under the head OF crime against
the person aud conse equentIy q woman
could not commit an assault upon herself.
The statute he said did not contemplate
the punishment of the woman, looking
upon her more as the victim instead Of as
an accomplice. He closed by saying the
woman was morally but not legally guilty,
and the afll layit must therefore be dis
missed. The argument made by Mr..
Upbam was eloquent and powerful.
Prosecutor Bow addressed the court,
claiming fair Interpretation Of the law
would hold the woman. He said the
intent of the law was to punish woman
who destroyed the life of her unborn
babe. His argument was clear but the
prosecutor knew he had no case and
consequently spoke very briefly.
Mr.. Upham again addressed His Honor
and Mayor Blake at once discharged Mrs.
LohT. The prosecutor was prepared for
this move and had an affidavit already
prepared charging her with the grave
crime of manslaughter. The hearing was
set for 2 o'clock this afternoon and ]. j..
Bordner signed her bond in the sum OF
$1,000 and Mrs. l ohv was released.
Under the present law any woman can
perform an abortion upon herself and
unless the child happens to be born alive
she cannot be convicted of any crime.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONER.
Two more Witnesses In the inquest were
examined by Conorer Openhimer in the
Mayors private office, this morning.
Mrs. Elizabeth Shank was the first person
called, while DR.. A. b. Walker rendered
his statement thereafter.
Mrs. Shanks appeared in low spirits
when called upon TO testify. In substance
she said: reside at No. 245 West Eighth
street. On April 4th last Mrs, Lohr rented
room from me saying she wanted it for
dressing. At that time / did not know
she was in critical condition, until she
called me in when the baby was born at 5
o'clock in the evening. She told me
when I went In that she guessed she
would have to tell me what was wrong
with her, and that she was going to be
sick. DR.. A. B. Walker came and told
her that child would be born.
The doctor told her TO tell US what she
had done to bring this on. She told us
she had used sharp lead pencil. The
doctor went away and returned short
time thereafter. The grass widow Mrs.
BrocketO came In when tie child was
born. Mrs. Lohr then called Mr.. Unger-
shick to come and see the baby. The
doctor came back, soon after and attended
to the child, and received It from his
hands. wrapped II up in white cotton
flannel and then showed it to Mrs. Lohr,
told her that she had punched the top of
its head up with the leadpencil. She said
she didn't care as she wanted II to die
The child commenced to scream and
asked the doctor IL l should give II any
thing TO eat. He said he didn't think II
could eat anything. The doctor then
asked Mrs. Lohr to explain what she had
done to bring this about. Then
she again told us about it. The
doctor then left saying that he
did not want to be connected with any
such cases. Mrs. Brockett then covered
the child up, she said go that the neigh
bors could not hear 1t. / took II out again
saying, they would smother IL. Mrs. Lohr
then covered the child herself. went out
then leaving Mrs. Lohr and rUngeshick
together. About o'clock Mr.. Ungershick
called me and Mrs. Lohr said she believed
the child was dead. took it up, and
carrying it to the light discovered that Its
face was all black and blue, that its mouth
was open and its tongue was sticking out
Mrs. Lohr told me to put il in the box IL
which it was found and that Mr., Unger
shick would take II away and bury 1t. Hi
came in the evening and took II away II
| the box. When he came back l asket
him where he had buried 1t, and he TOLD
me he took It up the railroad track anC
buried II in swamp across,from pond
Ungershick said he had left the factory
and when the coroner came should tel
him where he buried it.n
DR.. A. b. Walker was next called. HI
related his story about Mrs. Lohr callinl
at his Office Saturday afternoon, July 2;
and requested him to operate upon her
which he refused to do. He said he visiteC
Mrs. Lohr twice, and the last time thu
| child WAS born. These visits were Satur
day evening about 6 80 o'clock and later
~ told Mrs Lohr that did not think tn,
child could live owning to the EXTENSIVE
injury on its head. suppose the chill
was six or seven months old; IL had al
extensive lacersted wound on top of it
head. fused no instruments upon Mrs
Lohr, whatever. My opinion, from tn
examination made at the time, is tina
death resulting within few hours there
after was caused by the injuries which
have described. ah
WAIVED EXAMINATION.
Mrs. Amanda Lohr was arraigned befor
Mayor Blake this afternoon, to answer
the charge of manslaughter. She waive
examination and was bound over to ava
the action OF the grand jury In the sum c