Paul Worrall Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Buttermere Road Abortionist - When we lived on Buttermere Road, part of the Abbeydale Road ‘Lake District’ in the 1970’s, several of the older residents told us of the famous case of the ‘Buttermere Road Abortionist’, who was imprisoned for the illegal services she performed. However, I have no idea of the person’s name or when these crimes took place. Can anybody help please? Wazzie Worrall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Helen (or Ellen) Bonnington, also known by her maiden name of Powell, of 57 Buttermere Road was sentenced in December 1920 to 16 months imprisonment for performing an illegal operation on a married woman from Phillimore Road, also another woman from Dunlop Street. She was prosecuted again in February 1935 with co-conspirators Walter (a Post Office telegraphist and father of the unborn) and Gladys Carnell of Fitzwilliam Street. Walter Carnell threatened the pregnant woman, a Miss Patchett with violence unless she had the abortion, which was arranged to take place at the Carnells premises. Miss Patchett complained to the police who hid in her house and overheard a conversation between Bonnington, Mrs Carnell and Miss Patchett, and subsequently found equipment including a syringe in the room. Miss Patchett later suffered a miscarriage in January. The two women were acquitted as it was found that they had been incited to conspiracy by the actions of the police in laying a trap, but Walter Carnell was found guilty of inviting and was sentenced to 6 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Worrall Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 Hi Edmund. Thanks for the very comprehensive description. We lived on Buttermere Rd for nearly 10 years and often heard mention of what had gone on, however details were often vague. Cheers, Wazzie Worrall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrup Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 17 hours ago, Paul Worrall said: Buttermere Road Abortionist - When we lived on Buttermere Road, part of the Abbeydale Road ‘Lake District’ in the 1970’s, several of the older residents told us of the famous case of the ‘Buttermere Road Abortionist’, who was imprisoned for the illegal services she performed. However, I have no idea of the person’s name or when these crimes took place. Can anybody help please? Wazzie Worrall Here are some of the News articles covering the story. 30 August 1920 - Sheffield Independent 03 September 1920 - Sheffield Daily Telegraph 07 February 1935 - Sheffield Independent 15 February 1935 - Sheffield Independent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Worrall Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 Hi Syrup, Thanks for those wonderful press clippings. Is it a trade secret how you managed to access them? Cheers, Wazzie Worrall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrup Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 14 hours ago, Paul Worrall said: Hi Syrup, Thanks for those wonderful press clippings. Is it a trade secret how you managed to access them? Cheers, Wazzie Worrall No problem Paul, I use Find my Past that gives access to News archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Worrall Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share Posted September 1, 2019 Thanks. I'll check it out. Cheers, Wazzie Worrall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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