Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Pierce, Nina H. – Age 22 – Died at the Chicago Lying In Hospital from a criminal abortion alleged to have been performed by Lucy Hagenow, who, with Logan Pierce, the husband, was arrested and booked. On 3/5/25 both were exonerated by the Coroner. On 6/10/25, however, Lucy Hagenow was held to the G.J. in $25,000.00 bond and Pierce was discharged, by Judge Schulman. 4 Dist. July 1925 – No Bill on Hagenow.

Case Number

8776

Circumstances

Date of offense	February 15, 1925
Date of death	February 15, 1925
Time between offense and death	Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
Address	Chicago Lying In Hospital
Type of location	Medical facility (Hospital, doctor's office, clinic) Midwife, Abortion place
Type of medical facility	Hospital
Location description	Chicago Lying In Hospital
Type of death	Accident
Type of accident	Death from abortion
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Circumstances description	Illegal abortion
Total number of victims	1
Total number of defendants	2
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Victim

Name	Pierce, Nina
Age	22 years
Gender	Female
Race	White
Ethnicity	Other, european
Name of hospital where victim was taken	Chicago Lying In
Victim/defendant relationship	Not related by family

Defendant

Name	Magenow, Lucy
Gender	Female
Race	White
Ethnicity	Other, european
Killing while providing medical services as a	Abortion Provider
Defendant/victim relationship	Known (recognized person)

Police

Precinct	4
Date defendant arrested	February 15, 1925
Total number of defendants arrested	1
Defendant ID'd at scene	No
Time between crime and arrest	Less than 1 day
Arrest made at crime scene	Yes
Allegations of police corruption	No

Legal

Date of coroner's decision	March 5, 1925
Outcome of coroner's judgement	Defendant held to Grand Jury
Bailset	Yes
Judge associated with bail	Shulman
Charges against defendant	No charges recorded
Type of legal decision recorded	Coroner's verdict and grand jury
Date of Grand Jury decision	July 1, 1925
Outcome of Grand Jury decision	Indictment for felony murder
Allegations of police corruption	No

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