Some Things Are Hard to Swallow
March 30, 2009
Not a damn thing to do with Lizzie Borden.
Fall River – A City Overwhelmed in an Economic Crisis
March 20, 2009
While towns and cities across the nation suffer during this economic crisis, Lizzie Borden’s Fall River with its nearly 17% unemployment (more than twice the State’s average) has laid off nearly 150 city workers of which the majority are police and fire personnel. When a community starts laying off “first responders” you know they are in deep trouble. Police patrol levels are down to 1976 levels and most special services have been eliminated or seriously cut back.
Click HERE for a brief video from Boston.com on what is happening to Fall River. This is a very graphic and depressing report, and certainly does the City no favors in attracting new business or residents.
Even the arts community is suffering from lack of civic support and must deal with inept, unresponsive city officials lacking vision, ethical leadership and appreciation for what the City once had, what it has left, and what still can be saved.
Local activists recently held a rally against the Fall River Redevelopment Authority’s action on proposals to renovate the old Durfee Textile School. The activists wanted the building to be primarily for artists with no low income housing. That very afternoon the City went with Peabody Associates (which the group did NOT want) who will have mixed use of condos and arts. So the group lost.
Stefani Koorey recites a metaphoric poem in the video where she is introduced as “Goofy” and begins by declaring she chose to move to Fall River. The video is about 35 minutes long but once you click it to start and it comes on, slide the bar to 14 minutes, 48 seconds (14.48) and Stefani will be introduced.
Of more importance to Borden buffs who have visited Fall River – but what is off the town’s radar in terms of project priorities – is the bank foreclosure on Abbey Grill, aka the “Central Congregational Church”.
Side view 2008
When the Fall River Herald News reported the closure of the Abby Grill most online citizen comments seemed in agreement that this historic and beautiful and unique edifice should be torn down and made into a parking lot!
The property will be the subject of an auction next week but given there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in needed repairs and upgrades, prospects for saving it from the wrecking ball seem slim. This structure is as iconic to Fall River as is the Braga Bridge, Battleship Cove, St. Anne’s and many of the old mills with their towering smoke stacks.
Front view 2006
Fall River’s golden decade was the 1870’s but it never fully recovered from the mid 1920’s when most of the mills had failed. Today it suffers from lack of industry, severely reduced police and fire services, closing schools, increased crime, high unemployment and a general population that cares little for the historic fabric that made Fall River so important to America’s Industrial Age.
Running silent and unseen beneath the surface of the City,
the Quequechan River empties out into the Bay.
Quiet too are the tears that flow by those who love Fall River
Tears that grieve for its yesteryears
and saddened for its Today.
The Gentling Box
March 16, 2009
Here’s a cool video of the book, The Gentling Box, by my friend, award winning author Lisa Mannetti. This isn’t usually the genre I read, but I absolutely LOVED this book. It’s a terrific story that keeps you up to the finish. She’s up for more awards for this book and I encourage all to read it. Also, check out her blogsite on my blogroll to the right.
What Pushed Lizzie Over the Edge?
March 12, 2009
Most scholars on the Lizzie Borden case believe she was guilty and that money was the motive. But why were the murders done in broad daylight on the very next morning after a visit from John Morse?
District Attorney Hosea Knowlton was quoted after the Trial as saying if he knew what Andrew Borden and John Morse (uncle to Lizzie and Emma) discussed the afternoon before the murders (August 3, 1892) he “would have convicted somebody.” We have Lizzie herself (in her Inquest Testimony) saying she stayed in her room all day that Wednesday because she wasn’t feeling well, and that the voices of her father and uncle “disturbed” her.
The curving staircase in the front hall affords one the ability to linger part way down and not be observed while listening to a conversation in the Sitting Room.
If we assume Lizzie guilty and that money was the motive, the following exchange extracted from an old screenplay I wrote could have occurred which Lizzie, indeed, would have found extremely “disturbing”.
(Morse has shown up unexpectedly that afternoon, and after eating in the dining room, he and Andrew and Abby go into the Sitting Room and engage in conversation. Lizzie is upstairs in her bedroom.)
MORSE reaches over to a small table and picks up a newspaper.
MORSE
I see in here where Carnegie is selling his yacht. Might be a good
purchase for you, Andrew.
ANDREW
(grinning)
Ha! What would I do with such a thing?
MORSE
I got your letter of the 25th, Andrew, about wanting to talk to me on getting a man for the farm.
ABBY
I’ll be going upstairs and lay down a while. This heat has wore me down. And that stomach sickness we told you about. I’m just a little poorly.
Abby gets up and leaves the sitting room through the door to the dining room. Andrew watches Abby leave and waits until Abby is out of hearing distance.
ANDREW
I didn’t want you making arrangements on a man for the farm at Swansea until I talked to you.
MORSE
That’s what you wrote.
ANDREW
You know, John, I’ve been thinking about making a Will. When I’m gone Abby is never going to be able to live under the same roof with Lizzie and Emma. Things have gotten worse than when you were here two weeks ago. Emma took off to Fairhaven, staying over at old Moses Delano’s place. Lizzie went with her, far as New Bedford, but
came back early.
MORSE
Haven’t seen Lizzie last few times here. How is she?
ANDREW
Sulks in her room all day. They can’t live together those three. And I won’t be around forever to keep things together.
MORSE
Never have taken to Abby, have they? Maybe they should have separate houses. How ‘bout Swansea?
ANDREW
No, I won’t be going over there until things get settled here. Time’s not right. Too much trouble right now.
MORSE
I meant how about giving the girls the Swansea place in your Will.
ANDREW
I’ll not leave them any property. Abby will get this house and my property. She wants to live near her sister anyways. The Swansea place - well I’ve been thinking of maybe donating it the Old Folks Home. As for the girls, I’ve settled on $25,000 each. They can both buy their own house with that and manage to live comfortably.
CUT TO:
Lizzie on the staircase, leaning over and listening. She has heard every word. She blanches. She is deeply shaken by what she has just heard.
CLOSE ON LIZZIE
MORSE’S VOICE
(registers surprise)
But no property Andrew?
ANDREW’S VOICE
They can’t manage property. Made a mess on the rentals of the Ferry Street homestead. And I took a big loss on it when I bought it back of them just two weeks ago. You know that, you were here then. Remember the fuss? No, they can’t be trusted with property. They haven’t got the heads for it.
MORSE’S VOICE
And Abby does?
ANDREW’S VOICE
Not much more. But of the three, she’s the more deserving. Besides, she’s my wife. I need the Will to make sure she gets her due. Fact is, I’ll most likely have one drawn up in a day or two.
ANGLE ON Lizzie, almost tottering on the staircase, grips her hand around the railing.
CUT TO:
SITTING ROOM
MORSE
Andrew, don’t you figure this a bit unfair? These are Sarah’s daughters. And your own flesh and blood as well. Seems with the money you have the girls should get a better share. I’m only suggesting, mind you.
ANDREW
(adamant)
It’s my money.
MORSE
True. Your money. Your daughters.
CUT TO:
LIZZIE ON STAIRCASE:
ANDREW’S VOICE
(raising his voice)
MY money! Mine! To do with as I see fit!
CUT TO:
MORSE
(raises voice)
You expect them to be happy with that?
ANDREW
I expect them to be grateful for whatever I choose to give them. They’ve gotten plenty from me. Plenty. There’s trouble in the house over my money and I aim to set it out, plain and solid, in a Will.
MORSE
I’ve known you a long time, Andrew. I know when to end an argument with you.
(Morse rises from the chair.)
MORSE
(friendly)
I better see about getting a rig and drive over to the farm. Expect I’ll be back before nine. I’ll get your eggs. Probably take supper at Luther’s.
CUT TO:
INT. LIZZIE’S BEDROOM
Lizzie is pacing in her room, then sits at her desk and takes a piece of stationery and begins writing “Dear Emma”. We don’t see what else she writes, but in a few moments she crumbles up the paper and throws it in her wastebasket. She is extremely distraught. Emotionally on edge. Almost out of control, but not quite. Something inside her steels her nerves.
LIZZIE
(quietly to herself)
Alice. I’ll go talk to Alice.
FADE OUT.
*****************
So if Lizzie *did* hear such a conversation and feared her father would write a Will favoring Abby – and that he was going to do it in the next day or two – she would have to act immediately. But the good and evil forces were at bay within her. Her forebodings of “something terrible will happen” to Alice Russell was clearly a cry for help while also setting the stage.
The next morning on August 4, 1892, at the very first opportunity Lizzie had to be alone with Abby, she killed her. An hour and a half later, at the very first opportunity Lizzie had to be alone with her father, she killed him.
Never so much a “who dunnit” as a “how dunnit” to me, the real mystery is what happened to the murder weapon and how could Lizzie be seen within 10 minutes of her father’s murder and no blood found upon her person?
“It was a terrible crime. It was an impossible crime. And yet it happened.” -Hosea Knowlton, 1893.
Fall River Police Dept
March 6, 2009
Fall River, MA., like so many other cities across the nation struggling to provide necessary services in the face of ominous budgetary shortfalls, is laying off 149 employees. Even worse, 98 of those are policemen and firemen. Now when a city lays off “first responders” you know it’s in trouble.
With its unemployment already nearly 14% (and we all know with high unemployment comes an increase in crime) Fall River is reverting back to its 1976 levels of uniformed police coverage. Even Lizzie Borden would not be pleased.
From the Fall River Police Department website here is their Uniform Police Compliment of 1976.
In 1976, they had 12 men in patrol cars, 10 on walking beats and 1 K-9 unit. The Fall River Herald News reported there would be only 10 patrol cars, no walking beats, and special police services cut or eliminated altogether. This is not good news, and my heart goes out to those men and women losing their jobs. An unpopular mayor is looking at restructuring departments, and outside challenges to look closer at salvaging some of these jobs is still being raised.
Having worked for the Long Beach (Ca.) Police Department for 11 years in a non-sworn capacity (Vice, Narcotics and the Deputy Chief’s office) and having a father who’s a retired Watch 3 Captain (night Chief) and several cousins who are police officers and sheriff’s, I know about the “culture of cops”, aka “the brotherhood.” Unless you are a law enforcement officer or someone in your immediate family is one, it’s very difficult for the average citizen to truly realize and appreciate the job they do.
Old Station on Bedford Street
I’ve met several Fall River police officers over the years, beginning in 1977 at the old station on Bedford Street. Police Chief Henry Ramos led the Department during the turbulent times of the mid and late 1970’s and was, in fact, the incumbant Chief when I was first there. I remember going inside the old Station, cramped and dingy as it was, and inquired if they had any police records on the Lizzie Borden case. And yes, I got the eye-rolling look but the officer at the counter near the front door was courteous and chatted up the case with me for some time before directing me to the public library.
During Lizzie Borden’s Day, the image below was the Central Police Department from officers were dispatched to 92 Second Street. After investigations, trial and her acquittal, those officers progressed within the department, several becoming Police Chiefs, and Lizzie outlived most of them. But can you imagine the conversations these men had over the decades talking about that incredible case in which they all took part. Would love to see some of *their* private correspondence!
Central Police Station
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City Marshal Rufus B Hillard (1886-1909) Arresting officer of record Lizzie Borden |
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City Marshal John Fleet (1909-1915) |
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NOTE: This is the transition period from City Marshal to Chief of Police.
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Chief William N Medley (1915-1917) |
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Chief Martin Feeney (1917-1931) |
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Other officers involved in the case:
Captain Patrick H. Doherty (1896)
Captain Desmond
Captain Francis L. Edson
March Timeline
March 1, 2009
| March 1, 1851 | Emma Lenora Borden is born to Andrew and Sarah Borden.  |
| March 1, 1872 | The Boston Globe makes its debut. |
| March, 1864 | Bridget Sullivan is born in County Cork, Ireland. |
| March 1, 1866 | Notice in FR Daily Evening News of remains of military officers on view at Borden & Almy. (LR52) |
| March 2, 1778 | Wealthy storekeeper 60-year-old Joshua Spooner’s battered and bloody body is pulled out of a well in his backyard in Brookfield, Ma.; pregnant wife Bathsheba tried and hung. (image from O.T.I.S.) |
| March 2, 1888 | Fall River Evening News reports Abby Borden ill at home with severe bronchitis. |
| March 2, 1932 | Charles Lindberg’s baby is kidnapped. |
| March 3, 1791 | U.S. begins taxing distilled spirits and carriages. |
| March 3, 1898 | John Morse returns to Hastings, Iowa after spending the winter in California, reports The Glenwood Opinion.  |
| March 3, 1918 | Dr. Seabury Bowen dies at the age of 78 in Fall River. |
| March 3, 1933 | Grace Hartley Howe & Helen Leighton sign 4th & Final Account of Probate. |
| March 4, 1933 | Franklin Delano Roosevelt is inaugurated as the 32nd U.S. president. |
| March 4, 1872 | First meeting to organize Shove Mills; Board members included Josiah C. Blaisdell. (Peck/Earl-145) |
| March 4, 1867 | Hiram & Lurana (Borden) Harrington’s son George, dies of brain disease at the age of 9. |
| March 5, 1770 | “Boston Massacre” – 5 colonists killed by British troops. |
| March 5, 1868 | Court of Impeachment organized against President Andrew Johnson. |
| March 6, 1876 | James Buffington, 1st Mayor of Fall River, dies. |
| March 7, 1893 | Fall River Electric Light Co. founded to manufacture and distribute commercial street lighting. |
| March 9, 1903 | Reverend Edwin A. Buck dies of pneumonia in Fall River.  |
| March 10, 1858 | Alice Esther Borden, 2 yrs old, dies of hydrocephalus.Andrew is 36 years old. Emma is 7 years old. |
| March 12 1904 | Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River established by Pope Pius X.  |
| March 12, 1939 | John E. Sullivan, Bridget’s husband, dies. |
| March 14, 1812 | Ladowick Borden (Andrew’s uncle, brother of Cook) born. |
| March 16, 1955 | Grace Hartley Howe has a seizure & slips into a coma. (LR333)  |
| March 16, 1900 | Justice Dewey dies. |
| March 17, 1905 | Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt marry. |
| March 17, 1931 | Dr. Thomas F. Gunning dies (last of the doctors who witnessed the August 4th autopsies). (LR107) |
| March 18, 1854 | Charles C. Cook, long time Borden real estate manager,is born in Fall River. |
| March 18, 1941 | Arthur Sherman Phillips dies at the age of 76. (Wrote 3 volume History of Fall River) |
| March 20, 1942 | Bridget Sullivan signs her Last Will & Testament in Butte, Montana. |
| March 20, 1901 | Andrew Jennings speaks to legislative Committee onEducation on importance of having a Textile School. |
| March 23, 1775 | Patrick Henry delivers “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. |
| March 23, 1894 | Emma writes letter to dressmaker Mrs. Cummings that is “suitable for church wear or calling”. (FRHS) |
| March 24, 1893 | The Fall River Bar Association considers charges against Judge Josiah Blaisdell. |
| March 25, 1911 | Triangle Shirtwaist Co. fire on New York’s Lower EastSide. 147 die, mostly women and young girls. |
| March 25, 1948 | Bridget Sullivan, age 73, dies and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Anaconda, Montana. |
| March 25, 1965 | New York City Opera Co. premieres “Lizzie Borden – A Family Portrait in Three Acts” by Jack Beeson |
| March 26, 1863 | Sarah Morse Borden (mother of Lizzie and Emma) dies atthe age of 39 of uterine congestion. |
| March 27, 1940 | Mandel Mark sells 2nd Street house to The Fall River Trust Company.  |
| March 18, 1849 | John Fleet (later Asst. City Marshall of Fall River) is born in Lancaster, England. (LR149) |
| March 28, 1858 | Nathaniel B. Borden gives his inaugural address as Mayorof Fall River. |
| March 28, 1966 | Author Edward Radin, age 56, dies of cancer. (LR366) |
| March, 1878 | Fall River mill worker wages reduced another 15%. |
| March 30, 1926 | Charles Cook buys land and house from Harriet E. Henry on behalf of Lizzie. (LR560) |
| March 31, 1919 | Lizzie writes instructions for her funeral and burial service. (MHS website) |
