31 Facts About Madame Restell

Ann Trow Lohman, better known as Madame Restell, was a British-born American abortion provider and midwife who practiced in New York City.

Madame Restell was a radical and freethinker, a friend and colleague of George Matsell, the publisher of the radical journal the Free Inquirer.

Madame Restell sold these products through the post and performed house visits.

Madame Restell advertised her services as a "Female Physician" in newspapers such as the Herald and even the New York Times.

Madame Restell became so well known throughout New York City that copies of her trials were published in the Times and the Police Gazette.

Madame Restell was listed as a New York City attraction in tour guides.

In 1840, a patient named Maria Purdy accused Madame Restell of causing tuberculosis through the abortion procedure.

The press erupted with anger against Madame Restell, calling her "the monster in human shape" and charging her with acts against God.

Madame Restell promised monetary compensation to anyone who could prove that her methods were dangerous, and while she was initially found guilty, her appeal overturned said verdict.

The father had arranged for Madame Restell to adopt the baby for other people.

Applegate then went back to Madame Restell to ask for her child back, but Madame Restell claimed to know nothing of the infant.

Madame Restell immediately was painted as the villain by the press in publications such as the New York Medical and Surgical Reporter.

Madame Restell's case was made more famous due to the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Mystery of Marie Roget".

Madame Restell skirted the legalities by advertising her services as methods to regulate menses.

In 1847, Charges were again brought against Madame Restell for performing an abortion, which led to a conviction.

Madame Restell determined that Maria was too far along to have an abortion, but Maria's master insisted.

Madame Restell fell ill and upon visiting a doctor, was forced to admit her abortion.

Madame Restell lost the case and was charged with a misdemeanor and a one-year prison sentence which was on Blackwell's Island.

Madame Restell removed surgical abortions entirely, and concentrated her efforts on pills and her boarding house.

In 1854, Madame Restell applied for US citizenship and was granted it.

Madame Restell was dubbed "The Wickedest Woman in New York".

In 1855, Frederica Medinger, a German immigrant, approached Madame Restell asking for a room to stay in until the birth of her child.

When Madame Restell was taken to court, Medinger did not show.

Many assumed Madame Restell had paid her to drop the case.

Madame Restell was dismissed, and the woman and her baby were never heard of again.

Madame Restell owned several plots of land, one of which featured an extravagant mansion.

Madame Restell had the finest horses, carriages, and silk dresses.

The Civil War gave Madame Restell the cover she needed to get her business back on her feet.

Madame Restell considered any information about the prevention or termination of a pregnancy to be pornographic.

Madame Restell was arrested by Comstock, who posed as a customer looking for birth control pills and took the police around the next day to have her arrested.

Madame Restell was said to have reached into her purse to pull out $10,000, but the judge would accept only regular bail bonds, so Restell had to pay a bondsman.