Forced Sterilizations Transcript
[Headline] “‘Forced’ Sterilizations: Two Mothers Make New Charges”
[Photograph under heading depicts two children on tricycles. The caption reads: “Mother Tells Story — Here are Kathleen and John, only children of Mrs. Theresa Sweeney of Contra Costa County. Mrs. Sweeney yesterday declared relief director tried to force her to submit to a sterilization operation. When she went to the county hospital for a minor operation, Mrs. Sweeney said, she believes the sterilization took place.” — Examiner Staff Photo]
[Subheading]
Two mothers made startling new charges yesterday in Contra Costa County’s wholesale sterilization of men, women and single girls who were on relief.
Mrs. Frances Herrera of Pittsburg, Calif., declared Mrs. Ruth McCord, fugitive relief director, withheld groceries for four months until Mrs. Herrera submitted to sterilization, which shattered her health and broke up her home.
[Photograph depicts a man in a suit, wearing round spectacles and holding a piece of paper. The caption reads: “District Attorney Healy Investigates Relief Charges” — Examiner Staff Photo]
The other case was that of Mrs. Theresa Sweeney, who believes she was sterilized without her consent or knowledge at the same time she underwent a minor operation at the county hospital shortly after birth of a child 16 months ago. She has had no children since then.
As these cases came to light, District Attorney Francis P. Healy appointed Gordon Turner, Alamo attorney, as a deputy prosecutor so Deputy District Attorney R. L. Boyer could give his full time to investigation of the sterilization scandal.
Also, Superior Judge T. D. Johnston took under advisement a grand jury request that Mrs. Helen Swett Artieda, widely known Alameda County social worker, be named a special investigator.
The County Supervisors formally entered the inquiry with a promise made to a delegation of citizens at yesterday’s board meeting that a full investigation of the County Hospital and Dr. Edwin Merrithew, who admittedly performed most of the operations, would be conducted.
The scandal came to light following indictment of Mrs. McCord, who has disappeared, on embezzlement and falsification of records charges. A Federal inquiry appeared likely as a result of reports that white slavery was the motive back of sterilization of some of the single girls involved.
[Photograph of a middle-aged woman with short, curly hair, looking forlorn. The caption reads: “Makes Charge — Mrs. Theresa Sweeney, who says she believes a sterilization operation was performed on her without her knowledge or consent.” — Examiner Staff Photo]
[Subheading] “2 Mother’s Stories of Operations”
Two more mothers added their chapters of the story of Contra Costa County’s wholesale sterilization scandal yesterday. They were Mrs. Frances Herrera and Mrs. Theresa Sweeney.
“I was starved into submitting to the operation by Mrs. McCord (Ruth McCord, fugitive relief director),” Mrs. Herrera said. “She withheld food from me and my five sons and five daughters for four months.
“I agreed when I couldn’t stand it for the children’s sake any longer. My husband refused to sign the release. Now he has left me — he said he wanted a normal wife — and the operation has broken my health.”
Mrs. Sweeney said:
“When my husband, John, was laid off by an oil company, Mrs. McCord made our life a hell on earth. She cut off our food, gas and light, and had us ejected, saying we could have help if John would submit to an operation.
“We finally got help through Joe Pascoe, secretary of The Chamber of Commerce. I have only two children, John 4, and Kathleen, 3. Kathleen was born in January, 1933. I went back to the hospital shortly afterwards for a minor operation. I don’t know what they did to me, but we haven’t had any children since then.”
