Spooky Southcoast
August 24, 2007
I’m off to an 8(a) seminar at Raytheon in Andover, MA to be held Monday and Tuesday (yea, business)
but will also be dug in for a while at one of my favorite places in Boston for Borden research: The Boston Public Library.
Planning to slide down to Fall River if timing and events allow.
Meanwhile, enjoy this interview I did in the cellar of 92 Second Street on August 4th. It was going on midnight after a long and hectic day, so I apologize for the few flubs which Lizzie scholars will catch. After the interview, at the start of the second segment, Tim Weisberg describes what happened afterwards with Andrea Capulet, Colleen Johnson, Matt Moniz, Tim and myself. Surprised even me. Here’s the direct link:
Spooky Southcoast Radio (corrected link – thank you Jeri)
You’ll get the significance of these “Oak Grove Notables” once you hear the broadcast.
Son of Colonel Richard Borden
Richard B. Borden and The “Greater” Bordens
The other Emma Borden who died in 1927.
Lizzie’s cousin and cabinmate on the 19-week Grand Tour
Mea Culpa Notice: I was in error. McWhirr’s Dept Store, as shown here was not inside the Cherry & Webb Building. It was a separate structure subsequently torn down and another building in its place. The Cherry & Webb building, however still stands as indicated below.
In Lizzie’s day this was McWhirr’s Department Store, 
an upscale department store where anybody who was anybody shopped. Shown in this photograph, the name “McWhirr” can be made out on the top of the white building in the background.
The Cherry and Webb Building (so stated on the front of the building) is located at 139 South Main and is now the UMASS-Dartmouth Professional and Continuing Education Center a learning center for professionals, night students and other students. On the ground floor is the Café Arpeggio. Bristol Community College has recently leased space for special courses for special needs. Baker Books, once there
on the ground floor in April 2007, gone by August 2007. Darnit.
Previously “one of the city’s most underutilized downtown structures”, Mayor Lambert is credited with its current public use.When I spoke to security, building maintenance technicians, administrators and students, one of the things I learned is that this 
facility is being used to assist with GED education for a number of the nearly 900 employees who lost their jobs by the closing of Quaker Fabric. I also learned that the only interior “original” to this building is the grand staircase shown below.
There was a time when the building was known to all Fall Riverites as “McWhirr’s”. Imagine Lizzie in her blue India silk bengaline inside this store moving about amongst the crowd. Imagine Lizzie taking a five fingered discount
of oh, say, a pansy broach and sliding it up inside her so conveniently fitted gloved hand. Then, with a casual grace and the deportment of “a Borden” strolling towards this staircase and ascending to the second floor.
Without batting an eye nor turning her head to see if she’s being followed, she would maintain a steady but lady-like gait as she faked interest in nearby displays of hats, porcelain figurines, and petite carved bottles of French perfume. With a skill only acquired from experience, she would be diligently aware of any store employee watching her from a near distance.
Her heart beating to the exhiliarating thrill of this familiar challenge and satisfied no one was following, she would turn back to the stairway and begin her descent, one lady-like step at a time. Below her she would survey the vast array of glass table top and standing shelved display cases, filled with products from near and abroad. Men, women and children busy shopping, strolling and admiring all the goods. Busy store clerks packaging purchases and preparing sales slips. Busy, busy, busy. She would survey it all, calmly determined in her objective.
One gloved hand on
the railing, the other modestly angled upright, her fashionable cloth purse looped over it. Posture perfect, a lady of some stature, she would have looked straight ahead, a seemingly blank stare masking a steeled will. She would descend, slowly, each step measured with her resolve and comforted in the fact her broach not the least bit detected as it nestled securely inside her modestly priced but exquisitely stitched leather glove.
Pausing at the bottom step, brazenly she would hold up that gloved hand with its secret deposit and there she would act as if only adjusting the fitting. Only a moment, but pause enough to quickly ascertain once more with a quick scan if any authoritative and watchful eyes were upon her. They are not. Only a fresh-face counter girl who looks directly at her and says: “Good morning, Miss Borden”. She would respond with a tilt of the head, a forced, kindly smile, and she would begin her walk towards the front door. A slight turn to the left and she would be on her path, curving here, curving there passing the cases, dodging a small child, brushing skirts against other ladies. Closer, each step closer. The front door now in sight.
Only 32 paces,…. now 20, and the heartbeat accelerates,….. now 12, and the breathing more pronounced…..now 9, and a slightly fevered brow…..now 7 and a quivering chin….the uniformed doorman sees her approach… now 2 steps, two steps only as the doorman pulls upon the door and tips his hat…the step across the threshold…, now daylight. No arm upon hers. No hand upon her shoulder. Big exhale. The quivering chin ceases to quiver, the pulse rate subsides, the fevered brow cools in the bright sun. A liberating wave of relief engulfs her. She feels…. a profound sense of…..special achievement by way of genetic entitlement.
Actually, considering the fashions of the day, forget the broach. She could have concealed a Virginia ham under those skirts. And many of the “ladies who went a-thieving”, in fact, did just that. But not at McWhirr’s.
TRIBUTE TO ED THIBAULT – “ANDREW BORDEN”
August 19, 2007
I’d like to pay tribute and express my appreciation for a life long scholar and generous devotee of “all things Lizzie” – Mr. Edward R. Thibault, Jr. of Somerset, Mass.
So often we give tributes when the recipient is no longer among us, and had we done so earlier they would have known how much we think of them and are grateful for their contributions to this most enigmatic case.
Until recently, Ed was a tireless worker at the Lizzie Borden B&B, dressed as Andrew Borden greeting and guiding guests through The House. He was a particular favorite of the tour bus crowds and delighted everyone with his annual re-enactments as Andrew on August 4, 1892. Ed pitched in on many special occasions with both former and current B&B operators. Ed even put on an apron and helped out cooking the breakfasts when there were exceptionally large numbers of overnight guests.
But Ed was into this case for decades: famous for making replicas of the skulls of Andrew and Abby, which were a big hit at the 1992 Centennial Conference (see 1992 article below), when I first met him. Ed has more factual knowledge about the case than just about any one I know
and is always willing to share that knowledge.
It is the visiting public’s loss that Ed is now “retired” from guiding tourists who flock to 92 Second Street. It’s now the public’s loss that they do not get to see Ed himself acting out “Andrew”. He was so perfect in pose and prose!
Even before the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast opened on August 4, 1996, Ed was there in the thick of it, helping with the renovation. Ed has amassed an incredible newspaper collection of Fall River and the Borden case…articles starting in 1845 and up to 2002, which were used for extensive reference by Len Rebello in his writing
of Lizzie Borden Past & Present (1999). Ed has since donated this massive collection to the B&B. With Ed taking life easier now, his wife Eleanor, another exceptional tour guide/innkeeper, and Cook 
Dave Quigley, are the only remaining original employees to the B&B. (One of Ed & Eleanor’s grandaugters now works at the B&B as well.) It should also be mentioned that along with the lovely and always extremely interesting Eleanor, Ed appeared in numerous documentaries on Lizzie Borden and both are always immediately recognized by B&B visitors.
It’s been my great privilege to know Ed these past 15 years and to have spent hours in talks of “all things Lizzie”. He’s been a good friend to many, an outstanding contributor to the body of tangible emphera and collectibles about the Borden case, and a memorable character and guide. For this, I curtsy before you Ed, and say:
Put cursor on image and right click to view larger image
OH, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO LAURA JAMES FOR ADDING ME TO HER BLOGROLL FOR “INTERESTING BLOGSITES” at http://laurajames.typepad.com/clews/2007/06/genre-news.html
AND TO RJR “LEFTY” FOR LINKING THIS BLOGSITE TO HIS AT
http://aviewfrombattleshipcove.blogspot.com/
LUTHER’S MUSEUM – SWANSEA, MASS.
August 8, 2007
So now, anyone who Googles Swansea Historical Society, Lizzie’s chairs, Swansea farmhouse, etc. and live a remote distance from Swansea will hopefully land here and get a FREE peek at the chairs and inside the Luther’s Museum. But nothing beats being there, absorbing the ambience and touching these historical artifacts so indigenous to early American history and specifically the history of Swansea and its farming families. (Additional info follows with the link at the end of the slide show).
On August 3, 2007, Kristin Pepe and myself went to Swansea to visit Luther’s Museum at Luther’s Four Corner’s. For over 20 years I’ve been going past 160 Old Warren Road often stopping to take exterior pictures but never inside. Carl Becker, who lives only a block or two away, offered to open it up any time during my 5 day stay in Fall River.
The historical significance to Borden buffs is that Uncle John Vinnicum Morse stopped off at “Luther’s” after getting some farm fresh eggs at Andrew’s upper farmhouse at 217 Old Warren Road. (And hey, if they had farm fresh eggs on Wednesday night, why did Abby order 5 day old mutton for breakfast? Maybe Andrew wanted them to peddle for a penny more on the street.)
Hearing Mr. Becker relate the history of the area and the people over the decades who came to this store to talk and exchange information, purchase and trade necessities, Swansea comes alive with it’s rich history of the Gardners, the Luthers, the Braytons, etc. It’s much bigger inside than it looks from the outside….the second story is loaded with old furniture, tools, sewing machines, antique photographs and paintings of prominent families of eras gone by.
It is said that the two cane seat and wood chairs pictured here once belonged to Lizzie Borden, but the provenance is a little weak. I have a letter from a minister who knew the Borden girls obtained from his copy of an original Porter (Fall River Tragedy, 1893). In the letter he remarks about Lizzie, post 1905, going to the Swansea farm to see the horses, afterwards sitting in a chair for a while before her driver would take her back to “Maplecroft”. Pretty slim. But maybe they are. I was more impressed with the chair President George Washington sat in, as well as many other objects housed in this unique and wonderful museum operated by the Swansea Historical Society. THANK YOU MR. & MRS. BECKER!
Next time visiting Fall River or the area be sure to visit Luther’s.
(Slide cursor over image for comments. Pause by clicking pause icon.)
FOR MORE ON LUTHER’S MUSEUM
AUGUST 5, 1892 – VICTORIAN MOURNING FOR ABBY & ANDREW BORDEN AT THE LIZZIE BORDEN BED & BREAKFAST
August 7, 2007
Good print coverage of this successful turnabout from the usual “re-enactments”. (Right click”View image” for bigger picture.) 
Lizzie’s antics breaks up a guest (he and his wife spent the night as did the couple shown below).
The parlor, sitting room, front entry and dining room were decorated with victorian mourning consisting of covering mirrors,
personal funereal cards, exquisite floral arrangements, floral offerings from close friends and family, prayer cards, printed hymms and prayers. These elaborate additions to the rooms contributed to the deportment of the guests who came…somber, respectful, quiet, almost sullen….But the best was that the “actors” never broke character and did some wonderful ad-libs playing off the individuals from the more than 300 guests. Great stuff!
Donald Woods escorts Lizzie and Bridget into the “barn”.
Barbara and JoAnne (Emma and Mrs. Churchill) covering mirrors.
A floral offering from Alice Russell.
A distraught Emma contemplates funeral arrangements, her sister’s state of mind, and the bloody wash basin near her used by so many doctors.
The crowds lined up from around the house, down the driveway and almost to the gift shop. Groups of 25 went in at a time. To make their wait entertaining instead of tedious, I stood on the front steps and used blown up official photographs mounted on poster board to illustrate what the house and both sides of the street – looking north and south – actually looked like in 1892.
Alice Russell tells the guests of her ministrations to Lizzie the day before and how she is spending nights – but not in the guest room – to help the grieving sisters.
Taking a break on the cellar stairs.
This gentleman came dressed to the gills, could have played Undertaker Winward. But actually he was there to present Donald & Lee-ann with an 1892 full edition of August 5, 1892 Fall River Globe newspaper. He represented the Southeastern Mass. Convention & Tourism Bureau of Bristol County. I escorted him into the kitchen and “Emma” and “Mrs. Churchill” immediately played off his amusing intro as “Mr. Swift from the Wasamutta Mill coming to pay respects to Andrew on behalf of the Board of Directors” of which AJB was a member. Hilarious.
In my 5 days in Fall River I spent part of two days with the owner of Maplecroft. We had a matter of mutual interest to discuss so I was lucky enough to be invited into his home for several hours. On Sunday, after chatting on the porch (great swing) he invited me to brunch at Abby Grille, the old Central Congregational Church on Rock Street, now a culinary institute. While I had been inside many times, including the church structure, I had never eaten there. Back at French Street, Robert D., the owner of Maplecroft (and there’s only been 4, not counting Charles Allen) showed and explained to me the changes Lizzie made. This was my fourth visit inside but this time I was able to see parts of the house I never had before, such as using the first floor bathroom with the original gas lighting scounce still in place – a different commode and sink of course, but this little bathroom was original to when the house was built.) It is a beautiful home, immaculately kept, and Robert is a gracious host, a true gentleman.
In New Bedford, I met up with my friends Carl and Linda who are staying in Swansea for 6 months while engaged in a grant program at the UMass-Dartmouth Marine campus. We had lunch at Davey’s Locker just around the bend from Fort Taber. It was so hot that day that I just jumped into the Achusnet River, clothes and all! Great to watch the little sailboats, jet skiis, etc. in the water….Loved the feel of the salt water – something we don’t have here in the high desert of Arizona!
Carl Becker, President of the Swansea Historical Society, opened up Luther’s Museum on a day and time it was normally closed and spent over an hour with another new friend, Kristen P. (yes, the Wheaton discoverer) giving us the history of the strucure, the four corners, the artifacts inside. I was more impressed with the big black chair George Washington sat on during the time of the Battle of Monmourth (sp) than I was the aledged chairs of Lizzie Borden. There’s a lot more history to Swansea than that farm house, that’s for sure!!
I’ll be relating more of my Fall River trip later but it was great to see old friends again and, as is usually the case, make some new ones. 
AUGUST 3 & 4, 1892 – THE BORDEN MURDERS TIMELINE
August 2, 2007
Let us remember:
“It was a horrible crime. It was an impossible crime. And yet it happened.”
-Hosea Knowlton, District Attorney
-As we approach yet another onslaught of redundant “On this date” media mentions and website wordsmithing concerning America’s 115 year old classic unsolved crime, here’s an extract from my work-in-progress Timeline.
The What is a given. The Who and the How badger our brains for a solution. Well, for some anyway. For me, it’s less a Who-dunnit than a How-dunnit. But let us examine this resource for the When of things.
It should first be mentioned that times given are based on various testimonies taken from the Fall River Police Witness Statements, Coroner’s Inquest, Preliminary Hearing and Superior Court Trial and are approximated as close as possible. It is nearly impossible to construct an absolutely correct Timeline for the following reasons:
1. Witnesses often changed their statements among any two or more of the above cited source documents and, having forgotten or realized their times were off, may have knowingly changed their testimony in order to be more credible.
2. Clocks and watches were not all in sync, and not all testified as to how they fixed the time.
3. Witnesses often drew their recollection of the time based on their routine daily schedules which cannot be precise day-to-day.
Conflicting testimonies from the same witness are sometimes shown and cited here. It is important to realize that there are three – and only three – times that definitively establish the window of opportunity for Andrew’s murder, the explosive first knowledge of the crime and subsequent entry into the house by “outsiders”. These 3 times are :
1. Bridget hearing the City Hall clock strike 11:00.
2. Officer Allen noting the time as 11:15 when City Marshal Hilliard received the call.
3. The 11:32 am timestamp on the telegram Dr. Bowen sent to Emma.
All others are at the least conjecture in comparison, or at the most best-guess estimates – much like the following:
AUGUST 3, 1892
THE DAY BEFORE THE MURDERS:
8:00 am Abby goes to see Dr. Bowen & tells him she fears she’s been poisoned. 9:00-10:00 Dr. Bowen gos to check on the Bordens notices Lizzie rushing up the stairs. Bowen is rebuked by Andrew for his unsolicited professional call.
10:00-11:30 am Lizzie visits Smith’s pharmacy on Main & Columbia Street & attempts to buy
prussic acid from pharmacist Eli Bence. (PH310)
12:00 Noon Lizzie joins Andrew and Abby for the supper in the dining room.
12:35 am Uncle John Vinnicum Morse takes the train from New Bedford to Fall River. (CI98)
1:30 pm Morse walks from the train station to the Borden house.
2:00-4:00 pm John Morse and Andrew talk in Sitting Room; Lizzie hears their conversation. (TT141)
4:00 pm John Morse hires horse and wagon at Kirby’s Stable and drives to Swansea in late afternoon. (CI 99)
7:00 pm Lizzie visits Alice Russell with telling her she’s afraid “something will happen”.
8:45 pm Morse returns from Swansea, talks in sitting room with Andrew and Abby. (CI99)
9:00 pm Lizzie returns from Alice Russell’s, enters and locks the front door and goes immediately up to her room without speaking to her father or uncle.
9:15 pm Abby Borden retires to bed.
10:00 pm Andrew and Morse retire to bed.
AUGUST 4, 1892
THE DAY OF THE MURDERS:
6:15 am Bridget goes downstairs, gets coal and wood in cellar to start fire in kitchen stove, and takes in milk.
6:20 am Morse goes downstairs to Sitting Room.
6:30 am Abby comes downstairs, gives orders for breakfast to Bridget
6:40-6:50 am Andrew goes downstairs, empties slops, picks up pears and goes to barn.
6:45 am Bridget opens side (back) door for iceman.
7:00 am Bordens and Morse have breakfast in Dining Room. (Lizzie is still upstairs).
7:15 am Bridget sees Morse
for first time at breakfast table.
7:30 am Bridget eats her breakfast, and then clears dishes.
7:45-8:45 Morse and Andrew talk in Sitting Room; Abby sits with them a short while before beginning to dust.
8:30 am Morse sees Abby go into the front hall.
8:45 am Andrew lets Morse out side door, invites him back for dinner. 
8:45 am Morse leaves for Post Office and then to visit niece at Daniel Emery’s #4 Weybosset Street.
8:45-9:00 am Andrew goes back upstairs and returns wearing collar and tie, goes to sitting room
8:45-9:00 am Abby tells Bridget to wash windows, inside and out.
8:45-8:50 am Lizzie comes down and enters kitchen
8:45-9:00 am Bridget goes outside to vomit.
9:00 am Andrew leaves the house.
9:00 am Bridget returns, does not see Lizzie, sees Abby dusting in dining room, does not see Andrew.
9:00 am Abby goes up to guest room.
9:00-9:30 am Bridget cleans away breakfast dishes in kitchen.
9:30-10:00 am Abby Borden dies from blows to the head with a sharp instrument.
9:30 am Abraham G. Hart, Treasurer of Union Savings Bank, talks to Andrew at Bank.
9:30 am Morse arrives at #4 Weybosset Street to visit his niece and nephew.
9:30 am Bridget gets brush from cellar for washing windows
9:30 am Lizzie appears at back door as Bridget goes towards barn; Bridget tells Lizzie she need not lock door.
9:30-10:05 Andrew visits banks.
9:45 am John P. Burrill, Cashier, talks to Andrew at National Union Bank.
9:40 am Morse arrives at the Emery’s on Weybosset Street.
9:50-10:00 am AJB deposits Troy Mill check with Everett Cook at First Nat’l Bank; talks with William. Carr. (WS29)
9:30-10:20 am Bridget washes outside windows, stops to talk to “Kelly girl” at south side fence.
10:00-10:30 am Mrs. Churchill sees Bridget outside washing NE windows. 10:15-10:30 am Andrew stops to talk to Jonathan Clegg, picks up old lock; Southard Miller (at Whitehead’s Market) sees AJB turn onto Spring St; Mary Gallagher sees AJB at corner of South Main & Spring with a small package in his hand (WS10); Lizzie Gray sees AJB turning north on Second Street. (WS10, 43)
10:20 am Bridget re-enters house from side door, commences to wash inside windows.
10:29 am Jonathan Clegg (fixed time by City Hall clock) stated Andrew left his shop heading home. (TT173)
10:30-10:45 Joseph Shortsleves& James Mather finish talking with Andrew on Main St. as he heads towards Spring Street. (WS10)
10:30-10:40 am Joseph Shortsleeves sees Andrew.
10:40 am James Mather sees Andrew leave shop (fixes time by City Hall clock)
10:40 am Mrs. Kelly observes Andrew going to his front door.
10:40 am Andrew Borden can’t get in side door, fumbles with key at front door, and let in by Bridget
10:40 am Bridget hears Lizzie laugh on the stairs as she says “pshaw” fumbling with inside triple locks.
10:40 am Bridget sees Lizzie go into Dining Room and speak “low” to her father.
10:40-10:43 am Andrew goes upstairs to his bedroom and returns in a few minutes, going to Sitting Room sofa.
10:45 am Mary Chase, residing over Wade’s store, sees man on Borden fence taking pears. (WS45)
10:45-10:55 am Lizzie puts ironing board on dining room table as Bridget finishes last window in the dining room
10:45-10:55 am Lizzie asks Bridget in kitchen
if she’s going out, tells her of note to Abby & sale at Sargeants.
10:50-10:55 Mark Chase observes man with open buggy parked just beyond tree in front of Borden house.
10:55-10:58 am Bridget goes up to her room in attic and lies down on her bed. (WS3)
10:55-11:00 am Andrew Borden dies from blows to the head with a sharp instrument.
11:00 am Addie Churchill leaves her house for Hudner’s grocery store on South Main. (WS8)
11:00 am Bridget hears City Hall clock chime 11:00.
11:05-11:10 am Hyman Lubinsky, peddling ice cream, drives his horse cart past the Borden house. (TT1423)
11:05-11:10 William Sullivan, clerk at Hudner’s Market notes Mrs. Churchill leaving the store. (WS10)
11:10 am Lizzie hollers to Bridget to come down, “Someone has killed father”. (TT244)
11:10-11:12 am Lizzie sends Bridget to get Dr. Bowen. (TT245)
11:10-11:13 am Bridget rushes back across the street from Bowen’s, tells Lizzie he’s not at home. (TT245)
11:10-11:13 am Lizzie asks Bridget if she knows where Alice Russell lives and tells her to go get her. (TT245)
11:10-11:13 am Bridget grabs her hat & shawl from kitchen entry way and rushes to Alice Russell’s. (TT245)
11:10-11:13 am Mrs. Churchill observes Bridget crossing street, notices a distressed Lizzie and calls out to Lizzie 
who says “someone’s killed father’. (PH281-282) 11:10-11:13 am Mrs. John Gormely says Mrs. Churchill runs through her house yelling “Mr. Borden is murdered!” (WS9)
11:10-11:12 am Mrs. Churchill goes to side door of Borden house, speaks briefly to Lizzie then crosses street looking for a doctor. (PH283)
11:12-11:14 am John Cunningham sees Mrs. Churchill talking to others then uses phone at Gorman’s paint shop to call Police.
11:15 am Marshall Hilliard receives call from news dealer Cunningham about disturbance at Borden house.
11:15 am Marshall Hilliard orders Officer Allen to go to Borden house. (Allen notes exact time on office wall clock).
11:16 – 11:20 am Mrs. Churchill returns from giving the alarm. (PH284)
11:16 – 11:20 am Dr. Bowen pulls up in his carriage, met by his wife, rushes over to Borden’s. (PH 273)
11:16-11:20 am John Cunningham checks outside cellar door in Borden back yard, finds it locked.
11:18-11:20 am Dr. Bowen sees Andrew, asks for sheet; alone with Lizzie for approx. one minute.
11:20 am Office Allen arrives and is met at door by Dr. Bowen. Sees Lizzie sitting alone at kitchen table.
11:20-11:21 am Allen sees Andrew’s body at same time Alice Russell and Mrs. Churchill come in. (Where was Bridget?)
11:20-11:22 am Allen checks front door and notes it bolted from inside, checks closets in dining room and kitchen.
11:20 am Morse departs Daniel Emery’s on Weybosset Street, takes a streetcar back to the Borden’s.
11-22-11:23 am Officer Allen leaves house to return to station, Bowen goes out with him. Allen has Sawyer guard back door.
11:23-11:25 am Dr. Bowen returns home, checks rail timetable, goes to telegram Emma, and stops at Baker’s Drug store. Telegram is time stamped at 11:32. (PH274)
11:25 am Off. Patrick Doherty, at Bedford & Second, notes City Hall clock time enroute to Station. (T589)
11:23-11:30 am Lizzie asks to check for Mrs. Borden; Bridget & Mrs. Churchill go upstairs, discover body. (PH29-30)
11:35 George Petty, former resident of 92 Second Street, enters the house with Dr. Bowen. (WSp21)
11:40 am Bowen returns to Borden house. 
Churchill tells him they’ve discovered Abby upstairs. (TT322)
11:34 am Bridget fetches Doctor Bowen’s wife, Phoebe. (T250)
11:35-11:40 am Officer Patrick Doherty & Deputy Sheriff Wixon arrive at house, see Manning sitting on steps, met at backdoor by Dr. Bowen, who lets them in. (T447)
11:35-11:40 am Francis Wixon and Dr. Bowen check Andrew’s pockets and remove watch.
11:35-11:40 Officer Doherty questions Lizzie who tells him she heard a “scraping” noise.
11:35-11:40 am Officer Doherty views Abby’s body with Dr. Bowen, pulls bed out to view her better. (PH330)
11:35-11:45 am Morse arrives at Borden house, first going to back yard.
11:39-11:40 am Officer Medley arrives at 92 Second Street. (T686)
11:40-11:45 am Doherty runs to Undertaker Gorman’s shop around corner and phones Marshall Hilliard. (PH331)
11:45 am Doherty returns; Officers Mullaly, Allen, Denny, and Medley arrive.
11:45 am Dr. Dolan arrives, sees bodies.
11:45 am Morse walks thru side gate, talks to Sawyer at side door, (later testifies he heard of murders from Bridget.)
11:45-11:50 am Morse sees Andrew’s body, then goes upstairs and sees Abby’s body.
11:50 am Morse speaks to Lizzie as she lays on lounge in dining room.
11:50-11:55 Lizzie goes up to her room.
11:55 am Asst. Marshall Fleet arrives; sees bodies; 
talks to Lizzie in her room w/Rev. Buck, says “…she’s not my mother, she’s my stepmother” (PH354)
11:55 am Morse goes out to back yard and stays outside most of the afternoon.
11:50 am -Noon Deputy Sheriff Wixon climbs back fence cutting his hand, and talks to workmen sawing wood in Chagnon yard. (TT452)
11:50-Noon Doherty, Fleet and Medley accompany Bridget to cellar where she shows them a handless hatchet in a box on a shelf.
12:15-12:20 pm Officer Harrington arrives at the Borden house. (WS6)
12:25 pm Officer Harrington interviews Lizzie in her bedroom (she wears pink wrapper). (WS6)
12:45 pm Marshall Hillliard & Officers Doherty & Connors drive carriage to Andrew’s upper farm in Swansea.
3:00 pm Bodies are photographed by Walsh. (PH160)
3:30 pm Crime scene photographs are taken of Andrew & Abby.
3:40 pm Emma leaves on New Bedford train for Weir Junction to return to Fall River. (CI107)
4:00 pm Stomachs of Andrew and Abby removed and sealed by Dr. Dolan.
5:00 pm Emma returns from Fairhaven and arrives at the Borden house. (TT1550)
5:00-5:30 pm State Detective George F. Seaver arrives from Taunton. (PH453)
5:30 pm Dr. Dolan “delivers” bodies of Andrew and Abby to Undertaker James Winward. (PH388)
6:00 pm Alice leaves 92 Second Street to return home for supper. (CI149)
8:45 pm Officer Joseph Hyde, observing from a northwest outside window, sees Lizzie & Alice go down cellar.
9:00 pm Officer Hyde observes Lizzie return to cellar by herself.
Sources:
1. 100 Years of The Boston Globe. Louis M. Lyons. 1971
2. A Fall River Incident, Jno. Gilmer Speed, 1895.
3. Constant Turmoil-Politics of Industrial Life in 19th Century. New England. Mary H. Blewett. 2000.
4. The Democrat & Chronicle Newspaper, Rochester, New York
5. Description and Biographical Record of Bristol County, MA. Hon. Alanson Borden. 1899.
6. Fall River – A Pictorial History. Judith A. Boss. 1982.
7. Fall River and Its Industries. Frederick M. Peck and Henry H. Earl. 1877.
8. Famous Front Pages from The Boston Globe, 1982-1972
9. History of Fall River, Massachusetts, Henry M. Fenner. Fall River Merchants Association, 1911.
10. Inquest Upon the Deaths of Andrew J. and Abby D. Borden, August 9 -11, 1892, Volume I and II. Fall River, MA: Fall River Historical Society
11. Lizzie Borden Murder Case Chronology. Neilson Caplain. Lizzie Borden Quarterly, Jan. & July 2001.
12. Lizzie Borden, Past & Present. Leonard Rebello. 1999.
13. LizzieBorden Sourcebook. David Kent and Robert A. Flynn. 1992.
14. Preliminary Hearing, Second District Court, Fall River. August 25-Sept. 1, 1892.
15. The Phillips History of Fall River, Fascicles I, II, and III. Arthur Sherman Phillips. 1941.
16. Trial Transcript (Commonwealth of Mass. vs. Lizzie Andrew Borden).
17. Victorian Vistas, Fall River 1865-1885. Philip T. Silvia, Jr. 1987.
18. Victorian Vistas, Fall River 1886-1900. Philip T. Silvia, Jr. 1988.
19. Victorian Vistas, Fall River 1901-1911. Philip T. Silvia, Jr. 1992.
20. Witness Statements (Fall River Police Department officer interview reports)
Key:
ASPI, II, III = The Phillips History of Fall River
AB = Arnold Brown
Beasley = David Beasley, McKee Rankin & Heyday of American Theatre
CI = Coroner’s Inquest
D-C = The Democrat & Chronicle Newspaper
DK = David Kent, Forty Whacks
ER = Edward Radin
ES = The Evening Standard (New Bedford)
Fenner = History of Fall River
FREN = Fall River Evening News
FRHN = Fall River Herald News
FRI = A Fall River Incident
HBW = Borden Genealogy, Hattie Borden Weld
KP = Knowlton Papers
KPC = Knowlton-Pearson Correspondence
LR = Leonard Rebello, Lizzie Borden Past and Present
NYT = New York Times
OG = Oak Grove (taken from Headstones)
PH = Preliminary Hearing
TT = Superior Court Trial Transcript
VL = Victoria Lincoln, A Private Disgrace
VVI = Victorian Vistas, Volume I
VVII = Victorian Vistas, Volume II
VVIII = Victorian Vistas, Volume III
WP = Washington Post
WS = Witness Statements
Faye Musselman©1998 All Rights Reserved
