The People of the State of New York v. Max Krakauer, 15 February 1905 (Case 491)
Max Krakauer is indicted for seduction. Lillian Schlosser, 19, a recent immigrant from Hungary, testifies that in August 1903, on account of severe toothache, she visited the office of Max Krakauer, a dentist. Later that week, Krakauer, after visiting Schlosser at her lodgings in Stanton Street, told her that he wanted to marry her. She was initially hesitant – she told him that she was only a poor girl with no expectation of marrying a doctor – but on Thanksgiving Day in November 1903, Krakauer held an engagement party when he announced to various friends and acquaintances that they were to be married. In December 1903, at Christmastime, Krakauer first persuaded her to have sex. Schlosser testifies that she became ill in March 1904. Krakauer took her to a doctor who performed an abortion. They had intercourse again that summer and in August the same doctor performed a second abortion. Krakauer stopped visiting her that month and she no longer had contact with him. Several acquaintances and relatives testify that they witnessed Krakauer give Schlosser an engagement ring at the Thanksgiving party and that he had announced his intention to marry her. The defense presented two witnesses who claimed that they had had sex with Schlosser either before or during her engagement. William Lubliner, a photographer, testified that he had sex with her four times in July 1903 and three times later that year, in November 1903; Joseph Silverman said he had sex with Schlosser four times in October 1903. Arthur Camnitzer, a physician, testified that he had examined Schlosser in March and August 1904. He denied ever having performed an abortion and claimed that Schlosser had twice experienced a natural abortion. The transcript is incomplete and there is no record of a verdict.
[Note: The jury found Krakauer guilty and the judge, Warren Foster, sentenced him to a term of imprisonment not less than 42 months and not more than 54 months.]