On this day, 121 years ago, a young mother lost her battle against puerperal fever. Marion Alsobrook Stahlman, 33 years old, fell ill just days after giving birth to her second son. Her doctor, Andrew P. Letherman, kept her alive for nearly a month– until her husband returned to her bedside in Valparaiso, Indiana from Chicago. A member of a cult that advocated faith healing over medical care, Douglas Stahlman dismissed her doctor and threw away her medicines. She died shortly afterward. On her death certificate, Dr. Letherman noted that “abuse and neglect by husband” was a contributory cause of death.
My book, CURSED, tells Marion’s tragic story. Find it on Amazon here.
Rest in peace, Marion.