Notice: The body of Mabel Gormly, who died on November 15, 1909, is being held at the county morgue. If the same is not claimed by relatives within five days it will be disposed of according to law.
Disposed of according to law means that it will be turned over to the medical schools for dissection, or if the body is not fit for such, will be carted to the pauper's graveyard at the poor farm.
With a few changes in minor detail this tells the story of the five thousand.
It tells of the end of the 5,000 innocents who yearly are lured to a life of shame in the city of Chicago alone.
It tells the story of the vacant chair at the hearthside of many a home throughout the country.
It is the annual tragedy, repeated not once, but 5,000 times yearly, in Chicago.
The end is the dissecting table—the potter's field—the lake.