The Most Factual Telling on the Lizzie Borden Case Has Not Yet Been Produced

• 

  Frank Warren Knowlton
  

One specific letter in The Knowlton-Pearson Correspondence pretty well sums up where we are today relevant to the most interesting book on this case.  Written 35 years after the murders by the son of the prosecuting attorney to the prolific true crime writer who published the first widely read book on the murders we have this:

                         Knowlton to Pearson October 28, 1930

It was only six years after Studies in Murder was published but over three and a half decades since the Superior Court Trial when Frank Knowlton wrote to Edmund Pearson that: 

         “The really interesting book About the Borden case has not yet been     written,”

He could be saying that today, 128 years later.   Knowlton says most of what has been written relates to the circumstances and tries to reason back to find the cause.  He posits that it should be a psychological study of Lizzie imagining her life, comprehensive and in depth.  (We get a shadow image of that through Parallel Lives – Fall River Historical Society – but even that was limited to her society and not the psychology or dynamics of Lizzie and her household).  If a book did deal precisely as Knowlton suggests, we would have a completely different image of this most enigmatic character of American unsolved crime  – now evolved into a bloody icon of almost epic status in the occult pop culture.

What we have today is represented by the very latest of Lizzie Borden t.v. docudramas with an emphasis on the paranormal.  It’s the “Curse of Lizzie Borden” premiering this date but I do not recommend it nor provide any information to promote it.  But like so many that have come before it, it has a “hook”.


“Demons” is the hook with this one. When renewed interest in the paranormal exploded in the early 1990’s, the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast became a recurring focal point for “investigations”. As books, documentaries, films, and t.v. programming grew, so did the need for program content. Productions metastasized and distribution poured into various entertainment programming channels. The caveat is always “entertainment” but the minions of those interested in the occult usually accept the productions as fact. Lizzie Borden, due to her mystique as a person and the case being a classic unsolved crime, was a natural for exploitation. Regurgitation of misinformation has necessitated “hooks” to sustain an audience eager to be thrilled and shriek  with things that go bump in the night.

Spin-off websites and podcasts are part of the metastasizing process. Lizzie Andrew Borden’s evolution from the virginal, church-going middle class daughter of a well-to-do banker and real estate investor, has morphed into a crazed axe-wielding psychopath who haunts 92 Second Street. Thus, the parade of paranormal investigators and their followers continue. “If you build it, they will come.” Alas, we live in an America where half believe in the falsities media presents to them. The subject of Lizzie Borden is a simple case in point to this cancer among us.

 

If You Could Have Only One Book on Fall River’s Lizzie Borden – This Would Be It.

Click HERE

 

Prepare yourself – – this book is justly warranted, as well as worthy, of such a lengthy review.

Exquisitely produced, brilliantly structured, thrilling and groundbreaking in its content, Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River is a seven pound, 1,179 page, ten-years- in-the-making epic that had it been written as a historical novel it would be right up there with Roots, The Secret Magdelene, and Gone With The Wind. It is a book of transformation and revelation – transforming in the way it compels readers to alter their mental landscape when thinking of Lizzie Borden, and filled with stunning revelations that meticulously dissect rumors and legend long thought to be truth. It is so rich and full it would constitute several Master’s Thesis, multiple biographies, and even a few individually published books based on its title. Indeed, it is so spectacular in scope and content, all future authors who write of Lizzie Borden must incorporate information from Parallel Lives or find their work irrelevant.

The book is a treasure trove of new information about Lizzie taken from the journals, letters, cards, photographs, artifacts and remembrances of those that knew her personally, much of which was coveted by their owners who were resolved in their belief that Lizzie “could not have committed those crimes.” Their beliefs and tangible mementos were passed down to third and fourth generation descendents who continued to keep them sequestered and private until trusted relationships were established between them and the authors.

Masterfully woven within the new information are expanded stories of known individuals and events (some prominent, some little or previously unknown) that had an impact on Fall River’s history and society.  The authors have beautifully crafted the world in which Lizzie Borden lived (from her birth in 1860 to her death in 1927). And while the crimes of August 4, 1892 are presented, allusions to or fresh insights on whether or not Lizzie was guilty are not presented. In fact, the murders and who did them become almost inconsequential to the broader tapestry presented throughout the chapters with its more than 500 photographs and other images, including 5 new images of Lizzie never seen before. Who committed the crimes or the case itself, are overshadowed by the depth and breadth of all that which deals with the people and stories within.

The book progresses almost chronologically in terms of events of each decade. People are often introduced in chapters with no mention of Lizzie but later re-introduced in the decade in which they factored into her life. The chapters are so beautifully written and the photographs so beautifully reproduced within the book that we can almost feel the silk and lace as we read their wonderfully detailed descriptions. We can rub our finger across the image of a pocket watch and feel the grooved indentations, or one of Lizzie’s traveling suitcases and feel the contrast of the brass to the leather. We can smell and see the wedding flowers and the sparkle of jewelry at the Assemblies and grand parties. The meticulous effort in the use of adjectives is remarkable. It is fairly obvious the authors wanted to be as accurate and precise as possible when applying descriptors to people, places and things.

The “reveals” of new information and closure of legends are bountiful and thoroughly engaging. We learn so much of Mary Ella Sheen (Mrs. George S. Brigham) and her sister, Anne Eliza Sheen (Mrs. William Lindsey, Jr.), two sisters whose lives took very different trajectories. Mary was Lizzie’s friend since girlhood and the future mother-in-law of Florence Cook Brigham, but Anne had been her friend as well for most of their lives. Anne was a “Grand Dame” and lived the kind of life that Lizzie most probably would have wanted for herself. We also learn that not only was Grace Hartley Howe such a close and devoted second cousin to Lizzie, we discover that Helen’s mother had a friendship that also was life lasting with Lizzie.The reveal of the true identity of “Todd Lunday” would have been anticlimactic had it not been for the intriguing story associated with it, or the story of Officer Phillip Harrington and police reporter Edwin Porter who penned the Fall River Tragedy and why Porter may have left Fall River so soon after its publication. Nor have we read anywhere the connection of reporter McHenry and City Marshall Hilliard. (I suspect that many “reveals” were derived from the so called “Hilliard Papers” which have been in the Society’s hands for 22 years).

We learn certain elitist members of the seven “first” families did a fine job in two-facing Lizzie after the Trial; they “cut” her quite severely and most obviously spoke of her “guilt”- handing down their opinions to their children who maintained those opinions and passed them down to their children. On the other hand, those that kept friendships and believed Lizzie was not and “could not” be guilty passed that info down to their children. The difference was that many of those who believed in her guilt spoke out, influenced by a biased press and the embryonic beginnings of misinformation that would grow with a sinister sustainability. Between those that “cut” (socially banished) her and the relentless and continuous newspaper coverage, the damage had been done. She endured that damage throughout her post-Trial life, and it subsequently served to give us a Lizzie Borden that is so grossly mis-characterized in contemporary pop culture.

Mr. Martins and Mr. Binette have stated it was only when they explained the kind of book they were writing and, more importantly, after a solid basis of trust was established, that the possessions and remembrances were revealed. I strongly suspect much of what may have been was done so with soft-spoken caveats or perhaps some asserted caveats along the lines of:“Well, you may use these journals (or photos, or letters, or cards, or remembrances) but I trust you will present Auntie Borden (or Lizzie) in a good light because she never could have done those murders.”And/or:”I would consider it a great injustice to finally make this information known if it were used to give a poor impression of this wonderful woman or lend any credibility to the horrible reputation she endured during and after her life.”For decades, the curators of the FRHS have been meticulous in documenting the “drop in” visits or phone calls from people – many descendents of the principals – as to what they had to say and when. These “notes to file”, so to speak, have been preserved in their respective file folders and filed with the relative topics. These contain more of the “reveals”, some as surprising as finding out JR getting shot was only a dream, or Scarlett realizing she loved Rhett all along, or Edward glistening out of the cloud bank. As stated, the revelations are thrilling and and transforming.

The authors were literary craftsmen in the way they told these stories, presenting the information from the journals or letters, and in detailing information about the people involved without trumpeting a new path but sufficient to give you pause. The book is peppered with phrases such as: “Is it possible that…”, or “Although we can never know for certain, could it be that…”, or “Would it seem likely that…” and we pause on the page and hearing ourselves utter “hmmmm” and suddenly realize we are thinking things differently.

The End Notes are extraordinary and I found them thrilling to read. When reading, one says: “Where did they get that from?” and we go to the End Notes which are flush with information. Our eyes don’t just stay on the sight bite but naturally scroll downward until we know where most all the information for that chapter came from. The End Notes tell us more about relationships and just who had what information and for how long. The End Notes help us identify what came from FRHS “notes to file” as opposed to who held on to what for decades and allows us to identify from where the bulk of new information came.

Lizzie Borden has long been encapsulated in pop culture based on an inaccurate quatrain characterizing her as a one dimensional psychopath wielding a bloody axe. Parallel Lives has irrevocably transformed and revealed Lizzie Borden to be a three dimensional flesh and blood human being with heart, spirit and soul. Indisputably, this is the new “go to” book which researches and scholars studying the history of Fall River during its rise and decline, as well as the woman herself, will discover impossible to find anything more definitive or comprehensive, more exciting or enlightening.

Parallel Lives is a monumental achievement and a body of work to make the entire Fall River Historical Society proud. It is representative of that level of excellence consistent in all endeavors of Messrs. Martins and Binette. It is truly a remarkable and unique work – the likes of which we shall not see again.

 

LEGEND OF LIZZIE BORDEN ON DVD & OTHER COLLECTIBLES

If you’re looking for this I have it on DVD – $25.00 plus $3.50 shipping.

Some other items for sale:

The above CD is a researchers dream, just read the label to see what all it includes!  $25.00 plus $3..50 shipping.

The much coveted Lizzie Borden – A Study in Conjecture – WITH hard to find dust jacket.  $125.00.  Usually sells for several hundred.

Three Lizzie Borden plays = $20 plus $5.00 shipping.

Look me up on eBay – user name: promedimi888. or just enter Lizzie Borden at the eBay search line.

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE, EMAIL ME AT:  phaye@outlook.com.

 

LIZZIE BORDEN PHOTO IN 1922

 

This is Lizzie Borden in 1922. This image appeared for the first time in the magnificent book: Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River – written by Michael Martins and Dennis Binette, Curator and Assistant Curator of the Fall River Historical Society. I snatched it from Pinterest, as posted by Stephen Martin. Lizzie died in 1927, just short of her 67th birthday.  If you really want to know about Lizzie, buy the book. 

   

 

Lizzie Borden CD’s – Unique – Christina Ricci could have used these. ;()

I have copies of these for sale – $15.00 each, plus postage.  Email me at phayemuss@gmail.com

 

 

Lizzie Borden Video – Fall River Historical Society

This excellent video produced by the Fall River Historical Society bears repeat posting.  The clarity of the crime scene photographs and others are because they were taken from first generation photos taken at the time of the early murder investigation on August 4, 1892.   At the beginning part of the video we hear Lizzie’s words written while in the Taunton Jail…based on an actual letter acquired by the FRHS while developing their massive, award winning book Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.

While the video was produced to promote the Society, Parallel Lives,  and its collection during the peak visitor period – August – it is well worth watching because whatever the FRHS does, it is always of the highest quality.   Michael Martins and Dennis Binette are your tour guides.  Enjoy.

 

Another Opera on Lizzie Borden

Well, here’s another production based on Lizzie Borden – another opera.  This is  another artistic endeavor that will serve only to perpetuate the myth of this much maligned woman.

I’ve had “Google Alerts” on Lizzie Borden emailed to me for several years, and the only time “The Hatchet”  or  “The Literary Hatchet” is ever mentioned is when the gal who creates it mentions it in her own blog.

Cover of  The Literary Hatchet (and No, it’s not supposed to be Lizzie).

Every time there’s an “Alert” on Lizzie about any of the dozens of people across the country who lecture on her and where they will be speaking, or musicals or plays, or day-of-crime re-enactments at the infamous house, or new skateboard shops named “Lizzie Boarding”…the two publications mentioned above are never cited.  Even individual bloggers and online posters to Borden case comments never even mention Parallel Lives  let alone The Hatchet.  They speak of the Lizzie the myth has created.  Thing is, the content of  Parallel Lives  and The Hatchet are based on facts.  They are  much better than all the other crap out there.

I tend to think poor Lizzie will continue being the one-dimensional, axe- slashing psychopath for as long as Fall River will continue in its seemingly inescapable downward spiral.  Lizzie Borden has become a legend with a false image few care to change.  Fall River has become a city where few want to invest for economic development.   Lizzie died in 1927; the city began its own demise a few years earlier.  Their tattered thread that binds is that neither has ever regained a positive image.  Juxtaposing those two facts would make for a more interesting opera.  Or lecture.  Or play.  Or musical.  Or book.  Or Netflix series.

Just reading who gets solos in the upcoming new opera tells me how little research was done and how Lizzie and  the principal characters will be erroneously portrayed.  Hey, I’m not knocking artistic license, but there are lines that should be drawn – if not at least acknowledged  –  between fact and fiction, rumor and reality.

Alas, I suspect we are in for the usual regurgitation of misinformation.

 

Lizzie Borden Letters on eBay asking $8,250!

Well, this is a hoot. Two letters written by Lizzie Borden up for bid on eBay at $8,250. One would do better to purchase “Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River” by Michael Martins and Dennis Binette, curators of the Fall River Historical Society. Their massive work (over 1,000 pages) includes these letters. Not only that but the book has the full story about the “Kenney” house and Mr. & Mrs. Kenney “.  The house was just east house (which was just east of her home “Maplecroft”, the subject of one letter, AND a picture of the dog which is the subject of the second letter. And here’s the best part – Parallel Lives can be purchased for $79.00 directly from the Fall River Historical Society. Or, if you have an eBay account, you can up the bid to $8,500 dollars. LOL

 

 

Book Review: Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River

(Recycled post. It’s been a year. Time to remind you how to spend your Christmas $$).

You can order Parallel Lives  (and my own Historic Timeline book) at this sight   Click HERE

Items in the book and on display at the FRHS:
Click HERE

(Unfortunately, the scrapbook, so carefully put together by Lizzie after her 1890 Grand Tour is not on display and remains in a private collection.  *That’s* what I would like to see more of!)

Exquisitely produced, brilliantly structured, thrilling and groundbreaking in its content, Parallel Lives – A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River is a seven pound, 1,179 page, ten-years- in-the-making epic that had it been written as a historical novel it would be right up there with Roots, The Secret Magdelene, and Gone With The Wind.   It is a book of transformation and revelation; transforming in the way it compels readers to alter their mental landscape when thinking of Lizzie Borden.  It is filled with stunning revelations that meticulously dissect rumors and legend long thought to be truth.  Lizzie Borden has been encapsulated in pop culture based on an inaccurate quatrain characterizing her as a one dimensional psychopath wielding a bloody axe, Parallel Lives has irrevocably transformed and revealed Lizzie Borden to be a three dimensional flesh and blood human being with heart, spirit and soul.  Indisputably, this the new “go to” book which researches and scholars studying the history of Fall River during its rise and decline, as well as the woman Lizzie Borden who lived through that age: 1860-1927, will discover it impossible to find anything more definitive or comprehensive, more exciting or enlightening.

The book is a treasure trove of new information about Lizzie taken from the journals, letters, cards, photographs, artifacts and remembrances of those that knew her personally, much of which was coveted by their owners who were resolved in their belief that Lizzie could not have committed those crimes.  Their beliefs were passed down to third and fourth generation descendents who continued to keep their possessions or memories conveyed private and sequestered until trusted relationships were established between them and the authors.

Masterfully woven within the new information are expanded stories of known individuals and events (some prominent, some little or previously unknown) that had an impact on Fall River’s history and society.  The authors have beautifully crafted the world in which Lizzie Borden lived.  And while the crimes of August 4, 1892 are presented, allusions to or fresh insights on whether or not Lizzie was guilty are not presented.  In fact, the murders and who did them become almost irrelevant in the broader tapestry presented throughout the chapters with its more than 500 photographs and other images.   Who committed the crimes or the case itself, becomes an irrelevancy overshadowed by the depth and breadth of all that which deals with the people and stories within.

We learn so much of Mary Ella Sheen (Mrs. George S. Brigham) and her sister, Anne Eliza Sheen (Mrs. William Lindsey, Jr.), two sisters whose lives took very different trajectories.  Mary was Lizzie’s friend since girlhood and the future mother-in-law of Florence Cook Brigham, but Anne had been her friend as well for most of their lives.  Anne was a “Grand Dame” and lived the kind of life that Lizzie most probably would have wanted for herself.   We learn that not only was Helen Hartley Howe such a close and devoted second cousin to Lizzie, we discover that Helen’s mother had a friendship that also was life lasting with Lizzie.  The reveal of the true identity of ‘Todd Lunday” would have been anticlimactic had it not been for the intriguing story associated with it, or the story of Officer Phillip Harrington and police reporter Edwin Porter who penned the Fall River Tragedy and why Porter may have left Fall River so soon after its publication. Nor have we read anywhere the connection of reporter McHenry and City Marshall Hilliard.  I suspect there are many “reveals” that were derived from the so called “Hilliard Papers” which have been in the Society’s hands for 22 years.

Michael Martins and Dennis Binette, co-authors, outside the Fall River Historical Society holding Parallel Lives-photo by Jack Foley, Fall River Herald News

For decades, the curators of the FRHS have been meticulous in documenting the “drop in” visits or phone calls from people – many descendents of the principals – as to what they had to say and when.  These “notes to file”, so to speak, have been preserved in their respective file folders and filed with the relative topics.  These contain more of the “reveals”, some as surprising as finding out JR getting shot was only a dream, or Scarlett realizing she loved Rhett all along, or Edward glistening out of the cloud bank.  As stated, the revelations are thrilling and transforming.

The chapters are so beautifully written and the photographs so beautifully reproduced within the book that we can almost feel the silk and lace as they as we read their wonderfully detailed descriptions.  We can rub our finger across the image of a pocket watch and feel the grooved indentations, or one of Lizzie’s traveling suitcases and feel the contrast of the brass to the leather.  We can smell and see the wedding flowers and the sparkle of jewelry at the Assemblies and grand parties.  The meticulous effort in the use of adjectives is remarkable. It is fairly obvious the authors wanted to be as accurate and precise as possible when applying descriptors to people, places and things.

I strongly suspect much of what was revealed may have been with soft spoken caveats or perhaps some asserted caveats along the lines of:  “Well, you may use these journals (or photos, or letters, or cards, or remembrances) but I trust you will present Auntie Borden (or Lizzie) in a good light because she never could have done those murders.”  And “I would consider it a great injustice to finally make this information known if it were used to give a poor impression of this wonderful woman or lend any credibility to the horrible reputation she endured during and after her life.”  Mr. Martins and Mr. Binette have stated it was only when they explained the kind of book they were writing, and after trust was established, that the possessions and remembrances were revealed.

We learn certain elitist members of the seven “first” families did a fine job in two-facing Lizzie after the Trial; they “cut” her quite severely and most obviously spoke of her “guilt”– handing down their opinions to their children who maintained those opinions and passed them down to their children.  On the other hand, those that kept friendships and believed Lizzie was not and could not be guilty passed that info down to their children – or the children knew her first hand and formulated the same opinion; the difference being they did not speak openly about it.  They protected her privacy.  But between those that cut her and the relentless and continuous newspaper coverage, the damage had been done.

The authors were literary craftsmen in the way they told these stories, presenting the information from the journals or letters, and in detailing information about the people involved without trumpeting a new path but sufficient to give you pause.  The book is peppered with phrases such as: “Is it possible that…”, or “Although we can never know for certain, could it be that…”, or “Would it seem likely that…” and we pause on the page and hearing ourselves utter “hmmmm” and suddenly realize we are thinking things differently.

The End Notes are extraordinary and I found them thrilling to read.  When reading, one says: “Where did they get that from?” and we go to the End Notes which are flush with information.  Our eyes don’t just stay on the sight bite but naturally scroll downward until we know where most all the information for that chapter came from.  The End Notes tell us more about relationships and just who had what information and for how long.  The End Notes help us identify what came from FRHS “notes to file” as opposed to who held on to what for decades and allows us to identify from where the bulk of new information came.

Parallel Lives actually constitutes many books.  It is so rich and full it would constitute several Master’s Thesis, multiple biographies, and even separate books on the nefarious acts and scandals in the persons of Mr. Scully and Mr. Barnard, let alone a book on comparative lifestyles of The Hill people and The Mill people.

Parallel Lives is a monumental achievement and a body of work to make the entire Fall River Historical Society proud.  It is representative of that level of excellence consistent in all endeavors of Messrs. Martins and Binette.  It is truly a remarkable and unique work –  the likes of which we shall not see again.

Michael and Dennis took a pen

And wrote an epic with a satisfying end

For when The Book was finally done

Rumors died and reality won.

 

“Funding Unsuccessful” for Lizzie Borden Editor

UPDATE 8/7/2012:  From today’s Fall River Herald –Here’s some wonderful Kickstarter results from a guy who seems to care more about Fall River than his own self interests.  Judging by the amount of money he raised in the first few hours there are plenty of others who like his idea and the donation rewards given to the contributors.  Kudos to Furtado!

Check out his video HERE for his slide show with great pics of Fall River and his telling of why he’s doing this.

UPDATE 8/4/2012:

While at the Fall River Historical Society today, August 4th, a FRPD Officer gave me a copy of a “Harrassment Notice” filed by Stefani Koorey saying I should stay 50 feet away from her. Apparently she was waiting for me to show up, then called the FRPD to say I was there. Does she really think I make these trips to harrass her? She’s not on my Agenda of people to see and places to go. But with her, it’s “all about Stefani”. Actually, I think it was retaliation for the below blog post:

Stefani Koorey was trying to raise over $13,000 to publish the next several issues of The Literary Hatchet via Kickstarter.  (In four years, she’s produced five issues). For a $5,000 donation you would be able to have your name on the masthead for five future issues, receive printed copies free, AND………wait for it…….”dinner with the editor”.  That’s right.  (By contrast, I donated $1,000 towards the printing cost for the Fall River Historical Society’s magnificent book, Parallel Lives and received a special Benefactors Edition, a primary collectible valued well over $1,000).  Anyway, back to Stef”s Fundraiser “FAIL”:

10 Backers.  3 Comments.  Read about it HERE.

I even donated twice – once in the name of my cousin (Sylvia Burton).

The Literary Hatchet, is a slick publication with excellent content, well edited and cheaply priced.  Thing is, nobody (well, practically nobody) reads them.  Same with her Forum.  It may be poor marketing or perhaps something a little darker and “popularity based”.

I personally think people were turned off by the manner in which she set up the donated contribution to the “rewards” distribution.  As I’ve stated before:

Some people are in serious need of radical Ego reduction surgery.

I was very surprised she received only 10 donors – well, 8 actually if you deduct the two I made.  She only raised $180, thus the project failed.  I had thought she would raise at least $252 – the same number of people who voted for her in the last Fall River mayoral race.

To her credit, however, she did edit and write the photo captions for Fall River Revisited, which is a neat little collectible on Fall River history.

 

Lizzie Borden Parallel Lives Receives Prestigious Book Award

Congratulations to Michael Martins and Dennis Binette for the Kirkus Star Award.  Only a few are given out on the hundreds and hundreds of books the Kirkus book critics review.

The book has been awarded a Kirkus Star, which is only given, as it turns out, to a “handful” of the total amount of books they review. The star is their acknowledgment of “remarkable merit” and is “one of the most revered designations in the industry.” David McCullough’s Truman, and John Adams are recipients of this prestigious award. (info via email from Dennis Binette).

Read the Review HERE.

 

To All The Lame-brain, Lazy-ass, Semi-literate People Who Think Lizzie Borden “Killed her parents with an axe”……

….because you’ve watched all those paranormal ghost chasing shows, or you saw the TV film with Elizabeth Montgomery or you’ve googled “Lizzie Borden” and seen her image as a teenager or twenty-something dripping in blood and wielding an axe.  Maybe it was a documentary, or you just heard it so much (she did it) that you’ve come to believe it.   — Well, I have this to say to you:

Click image for larger view.

READ A FUCKING BOOK!!!!

And preferably, THIS ONE.

Maybe the book is beyond your financial reach, but you could at least read the Review.  At least indulge yourself to become significantly more enlightened in just the time it takes you to read the Review.   Oh sure, you can skip it.  You might say it “Would take too much of my time and I need to text my BFF on something really important.”  Or maybe you’re satisfied with legends over fact and don’t want to crack your kharma.  Come on, get your head out of your asses for a change and……

READ A FUCKING BOOK.  BUT PLEASE, IF YOU LEARN ANYTHING, LEARN THIS:

1)   THE MURDER WEAPON WAS A HATCHET, NOT AN AXE.

2)    LIZZIE WAS 32 AT THE TIME OF THE MURDERS.

3)    SHE WAS ACQUITTED.  (That means found “Not Guilty).

To all my readers who know the facts of the case, who DO read books, and don’t buy into all that misinformation out there – this post,most respectfully, was not intended for you.

But to all the others, once again:

            READ A FUCKING BOOK!!!

 

Hypocrisy of the Central Congregational Church

We all know Lizzie Borden was very active in the Central Congregational Church of Fall River.  When she was suspected, accused, charged, incarcerated, and stood Trial for the murders of her father and stepmother, the Church stood by her.  But it wasn’t long before they “cut” her as explained in Parallel Lives.  Only a few of its members remained her friends, most all abandoned her after her acquittal.

In 1905 “History Annals and Sketches of the Central Congregational Church, Fall River, Mass”  written and compiled by Mrs. William Carr, Mrs. Eli Thurston, and Mrs. Charles J. Holmes was published. Mrs. Holmes had been especially supportive of Lizzie during the scandal and Trial. She was, in fact, like a surrogate mother bellowing her belief in Lizzie’s innocence. The Church stood behind her until it was all over. These women were all so prominent in Lizzie’s parallel church life and their society in general which makes my “harumphing” at the book’s signature quote even more contrary.

Recall that the book was published in 1905. uh huh, uh huh. And yet we find on the page opposite of “The Fort Mill (Hill?) Press” this:

“There is so much Good in the
Worst of us,
And so much Bad in the
Best of us,
That it hardly behooves
Any of us
To ‘criticise’ the
Rest of us.”

The fact these ladies would choose that refrain as an almost banner statement of the Church’s Christianity and goodwill is beyond irony. When one considers how Lizzie was “cut” it instead renders itself a shout-out of  the ugliest kind of hypocrisy.

I cannot help but wonder if Lizzie purchased the book and read it.  Coming upon that page – and after the initial stinging pain passed, I wonder if she “harumphed” herself….and then maybe continued to stroke her dog as it rested comfortably – and lovingly – on her lap.  Her loyal, non-judgmental dog.    😉

BTW, the book is worth having if you’re interested in Fall River’s history – but you won’t find a word of or about Lizzie Borden or “that awful time”.  Uh uh.  As has been said, “it” just wasn’t talked about – in public anyway.  And certainly not in any books dealing with the benevolent churches.

 

The Lizzie Borden-Howdy Doody Connection

I spotted the above framed photo in a second hand store in Seattle two weeks ago.  I thought the little boy was so damn cute.  When I went to pay for it I was told it was Billy Oltman who won a Howdy Doody look-alike contest in the l950’s.  A subsequent internet search resulted in little more information about darling little Billy.  I guess it was his 15 minutes.

contests_howdy.htm

The connection to Lizzie:  None, other than the fact I took the photo of the photo of him on the same shelf as my Parallel Lives books.  But I bet this blog post title got you real curious, huh?  LOL.

 

The Benefactors’ Edition of Parallel Lives-A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River

It’s a beautiful thing.  Check it out:

The holding sleeve has a leather/felt-like interior.

The sleeve has the staged photo of Lizzie in her senior years on the back porch of Maplecroft.

The woman that is pictured in the edition already opened (the one I read in Hawaii) is Anne Lindsey, sister of Mary Brigham.  What a Dame!

The marbleized end pages are taken from a book in Lizzie’s library

Note the edged gold “gilt” on the pages.

The “Presentation” page.  Click for larger image.

Yep.  She’s a beaut all right.  🙂

 

Special Exhibit at Fall River Historical Society

 

The curators of the Fall River Historical Society posted on Facebook today an update of their now completed labors in holiday decorating, the upcoming book signing of Parallel Lives, and a special exhibit pertaining to Lizzie Borden showing ….well, you read it.

News from the FRHS Facebook page:

“Fall River Historical Society

Looks great but requires a terrific amount of labor, and what a messy process – glitter everywhere, pine needles, and masses of flocking, which is terrible stuff. Glad that phase is over. We were down to the wire when we started and went into it with no set ideas or themes – really “winged it” this year, but successfully, I think. The music room is done in a Byzantine theme with angels in jewel-tone velvet, ornaments of various appropriate sorts, all accented in burnished coppery-gold, and with masses of transparent ribbon reminiscent of stained glass. The 14-foot parlor tree is studded with glittery starbursts, is hung with over 1,000 figural glass ornaments, topped with a ribbon bow, and draped with lengthy twisted streamers; the portraits and mantel are done en suite. In the dining room is a tabletop tree done in a Commedia del Arte theme with handpainted Venetian masks, feathers, glittery sticks, cards, etc… rather a tour de force that is easier seen than described. Once again, the room is done to match, with the chandelier, sideboard, and portrait bust of the Princess Ida all festooned for the holidays. The hallways are hung with frosted long-needle pine swags and roping studded with red berries; the library is in pine with twigs, holly, and white berries; the bedroom is done with mixed pine and red berries, and …there is more, but you get the picture. The museum shop is fully stocked for the season … lots of glass Christmas ornaments, gift items, jewelry, fashion accessories, and an impressive assortment of scarves of all sorts in a rainbow of colors and fabrics … lustrous silks and satin, warm wool, cotton … you name it, the FRHS museum shop probably has it. From England there are Christmas puddings and brandy butter, and from Italy delicious Panaforte di Sienna (my favorite) baked in the same bakery using the same recipe for over 400 years. The ever-popular McWhirr’s candy department is up and running and is very well stocked with dark chocolate nonpareils, as always a best-seller, and plenty of other delectable items … if you like peanut butter and have not tried the large peanut butter cups, you have no idea what you are missing … the chocolate is of a very fine quality and the filling is smooth and creamy without the slightest bit of grit, very unlike the well-known commercial brands … really great stuff!

And if you haven’t heard, there is a new book coming out this year … Parallel Lives … for sale exclusively at the FRHS museum shop. Everything is on target for delivery and as was posted earlier a booksigning will be held here at the FRHS on Sunday, November 20, from 12 – 3 o’clock pm, and we sincerely hope that some of you can make it. There has been considerable interest in the book, especially so in the Limited Edition, which is nearly sold out – as of this posting only eleven remain.

Busy week this week as we wrap up holiday preparations – the museum opens for the season on Saturday so there is much to do and rather a bit of catching-up to attend to. The holiday reception for Historical Society members is Saturday evening, and the booksigning is Sunday so there are many tasks to attend to that are as yet undone.

Here is a bit of news for anyone interested in the life and times of Lizzie A. Borden. This morning we begin mounting a special exhibit that will be on view in the library during the holiday season, featuring an important selection of items personally connected to LAB, that were acquired by the museum from various donors during the research phase of Parallel Lives. Some very interesting items including photographs, books, a selection of extremely important letters, notes, and cards, and a few items she presented as gifts to close friends … interesting and with impeccable provenance. The exhibit will open this coming Saturday, and will be on view through the end of the year. Hope you have a chance to view it.

That’s all for now.”

I would LOVE to see her metiiculously assembled scrapbook from her 1890 Grand Tour.  Oh yeah.

 

Lizzie Borden in the Wall Street Journal

Jennifer Levitz wrote this piece on the “two camps” as to Lizzie’s guilt or innocence.

She interviewed me during the intermission and after the play Lizzie Borden Took an Axe, written by Garrett Heater on Saturday evening, August 6th, 2011, at the BMC Durfee H.S. in Fall River.  I had thought her piece was going to be about the play.  I’m not the only one disappointed she didn’t see fit to give it the credit due.

Ms. Levitz was apparently doing a more composite article regarding Lizzie.  What I find the MOST interesting is the very last part:  Her quote from author Len Rebello who wrote the current “go to” book, Lizzie Borden Past & Present.. (Note: this book is now discounted to $150 so if you are looking for a copy, contact me).  Mr. Rebello seems to imply that the Fall River Historical Society is writing  book that puts forth sufficient new information to deliberately change opinion as to her guilt of the crimes of August 4, 1892.  The further implication is that it’s a put up job by those power brokers in Fall River who would like to have the town’s notoriety of its most infamous citizen changed, softened or erased.  Mr. Rebello states that as a Fall River native he has lived with the Lizzie Borden association to his home town all his life and the residents just come to accept it.  Actually some do and some still hate the fact she IS associated with their home town  But I strongly disagree to his implication of the FRHS’s  motive in writing the kind of book they have.

There has long been the different Did She or Didn’t She camps.  There has long been the various theories ranging from Lizzie did it, Lizzie and Bridget (the maid), Lizzie didn’t do it but knew who did, the unseen intruder, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Well, the book, Parallel Lives, A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River” isn’t about the crimes.  It isn’t about revealing new information as to her guilt or innocense.  It IS about precisely what the title states.  But with new photos, letters written about and by Lizzie, private journals and remembrances, a different Lizzie emerges from the woman Borden case enthusiasts and experts have studied for over a century.  We WILL look at her differently.  We WILL think of her differently.

But how will this actually impact the general public’s perception of Lizzie?  How will this book alter Lizzie’s iconic image of a one-dimensional maniacal, axe swinging psychopath?   It won’t.  It won’t because at 696 pages and 7 pounds and the fact this true crime is known the world over, its still a niche market.   It’s not Harry Potter.  To us Borden case scholars it will be the NEW “go to” book.  It will be a treasured book in our collection of collectibles.  But alas and alack, all that Lizzie Borden Googling will still show the images so embedded in the minds of those that seek her out.

In any event, the above article is worth reading.   The “usual suspects” are quoted aside from myself:

Stefani “look at me, look at me” Koorey;

Shelley Dziedzic – who just self published a nifty booklet on Oak Grove (more to follow);

The gratuitous B&B employee, this time Ben Rose, an accomplished actor as well.

Len Rebello, author of above said excellent book.

 

Newspaper Reports “Parallel Lives” Finally Published!

The story continues:

Payson resident, Faye Musselman, visiting Fall River, was observed dressed in a plaid skirt, trimmed white blouse and oxford shoes.  She kept twisting her pig tails as she approached each girl offering a Justin Bieber CD in exchange for their book.  It was only when a suspicious parent pointed out Ms. Musselman to Michael and Dennis that Faye admitted she wanted to fill the book shelf in the titanium structure she had built inside her home for reading of this massive work.  Sadly, she was asked to vacate the premises but grinned as she headed for the door, leaning slightly sideways from the weight of the 7 books she had traded.

The “American Girl” tea was a rousing success and all the little girls agreed the next doll to be made definitely had to be Lizzie Borden – truly an American Girl.

Parallel Lives will be in book stores on Monday and available as the Fall River Historical Society gift shop.  When going to purchase the book, bring water and snacks as the lines will be very long.

 

 

Lizzie Borden’s Dying Act of Kindness

(Originally published in June 1st, 2010)

Lizzie Borden died 84 years ago today.  She died at 8:30 pm on June 1, 1927  (a Wednesday) in her home in Fall River, MA.  She had been lingering all day, surrounded by her chauffeur and two servants:  Ernest Terry, Ellen Miller, and Florence Pemberton.  There were others who came to the house as well.

The Reverend Cleveland from the nearby Church of Ascension – a few doors down from Central Congregational  Church on Rock Street – would execute the wishes Lizzie had written out on March 31, 1919.   Vida Turner would come in and be instructed to sing “My Ain’ Country”, tell no one she had been there and then leave immediately.

The reporting a few days later of Lizzie’s Will was regional front page news and appeared in many newspapers across the country recounting the horrific hatchet murders of August 4, 1892, and Lizzie’s subsequent arrest, trial and acquittal.

Her Will was probated for 6 years with four separate Probate Court Accountings submitted by the executor of her estate, Charles Clarke Cook (as shown below from Men in Progress-1896):

Probate of Lizzie’s Will.

Proceeding	Inclusive Dates	Held
1st Accounting	June 24, 1927 – May 1, 1929	October 2, 1931(Fall River)
2nd Accounting	May 2, 1929 – Jan. 1, 1932	February 17, 1933(Taunton)
3rd (Substituted)Accounting	Jan.1, 1932 – Nov. 28, 1932	February 17, 1933(Taunton)
4th FinalAccounting	Nov. 28, 1932 – March 3, 1933	March 24, 1933(Attleboro)

The primary reason for the long probate was Mr. Cook’s failure to include the house/property at 328 French Street known as the “Henry House” which was situated directly east of “Maplecroft”.

Mr. Cook claimed the house was his as a gift from Lizzie.   However, Grace Hartley Howe and Helen Leighton, the two major legatees in Lizzie’s Will, were having none of it.  They claimed fraud and the matter went to court – Probate Court – in several sessions.   The testimony in those proceedings are rich in insight into Lizzie’s character as gleamed from those who testified, including Winifred F. French, who was to receive $5,000 as a bequest from Lizzie.  What the witnesses on behalf of Grace & Helen had to say was insightful, but the most provacative was this:

So here we have Lizzie dying and she knows she is about to die but what is on her mind?  She is remembering her promise to Ernest Terry to pay for his house repairs and tells him to write a blank check, which she signs and which he takes to the bank.  She may or may not have remembered she left him and his wife money in her will, but she wanted this to be extra.   A blank check – reluctantly approved by Cook, but cashed at the bank.    And Cook, dear man, tried to convince Mr. Terry that that check of $2,500 was to be considered part of the $3,000 cash bequest from Lizzie.  What a guy.

Ultimately the court ruled in favor of Helen & Grace and the proceeds from the sale of the property was considered a part of Lizzie’s estate.  Although he was judged not guilty of fraud or had bad faith in carrying out the terms of the Will, Judge Mayhew R. Hitch of the Probate Court made Cook accountable for that $10,000 (which was the amount he had sold it for but not yet pocketed) plus interest.   Cook made this right in the Final Accounting.  I find it amusing that he also included the cost of services from the attorney who represented him, Arthur E. Seagrave.  The court approved it.  His submittal of the heating bill for the Maplecroft garage where he parked his car, however, was not approved.  (Good try but too bad, Charlie).

So as she lay dying on this day 83 years ago, Lizzie Andrew Borden made no deathbed confession (and had she, I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog) but she was focused on a potential financial hardship to her faithful driver and friend, Ernest Terry.   Her last documented act was to issue a blank check.

Yes, there were many acts of kindness that Lizzie Borden did throughout her life, particularly the second half of her life when she had the money to use as she wanted.  We will most likely read more about them in Parallel Lives and perhaps finally see a photograph of Ernest Terry (I’ve never seen one and the book is to have well over 500 photographs – yep, you read that right).

I would like say, on this day:  “Rest in peace, Lizzie Borden.”

But we all know that ain’t gonna happen.

Here is a link to a follow-up post showing the full article above as well as one of Cook being found Not Guilty of Fraud.

 

“Parallel Lives” To Show Us a Different Lizzie Borden

Well, it’s almost here.  Maybe as close as the middle of next month.  We all know “of” Lizzie Borden as the central figure in America’s most baffling unsolved classic crime.  We know “of” her as a spinster school teacher who was charged (but acquitted) of the grisly hatchet murders of her father and stepmother on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Ma.  We know “of” her in our mind, influenced by the thousands of images of her wielding a bloody axe (wrong), dripping in blood, who wanted daddy’s money and feared her stepmother would get it.  We know “of” her as a reclusive, shunned matron of “Maplecroft”,  the house she lived in the entire second half of her life.

When the 1992 Lizzie Borden Centennial was held in Fall River, hundreds came from all over to offer up and share in various theories.  Most prevalent was the incest theory.  Polls taken then showed the majority of Conference attendees still favored the “Lizzie did it” point of view.  But that has all been based on what we thought we knew “of” Lizzie.  After four days of presentations and various events and new books, we all went away no nearer to the truth –  let alone a viable solution to the enigma – nor enhancing our knowledge of who, really, was Lizzie Borden.

Lizzie’s Time

Lizzie was born the year the Pony Express was started, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton addressed the state’s legislature on the subject of women’s suffrage, and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was published.  There were only 33 states in the Union, and public conveyance was mostly by steamship and horse-drawn wagon.  She died the year two-way television was first demonstrated, “The Jazz Singer” premiered, and when the whole world was celebrating Lindberg’s solo flight across the Atlantic to Paris.  This was an era of great progress in America’s history as well as the rise and fall of industrial New England.

Now, spanning that same period – 1860 to 1927, comes the Fall River Historical Society’s “Parallel Lives-A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.”  It is a book that  has been many years in the making, (I think I was pre-menopausal when they began), and it is a monumental and meticulous effort on the parts of Michael Martins and Dennis Binette, curators of the Society.  At  1000+ pages and 500+ photographs, this book promises to give us a new mindset of Lizzie and possibly change our opinions as to whether she “did it” or “didn’t do it”.

Sources hidden for generations until now

Aside from the voluminous amount of information housed in the archives of the Fall River Historical Society on Fall River’s history, that structure houses the world’s largest collection of documents and artifacts about the Borden case.  While most of what they have has either been revealed or made accessible to the public, the Society still had a significant amount of materials about Lizzie and her town’s history not published before, and this all appears in the book. However, little did Michael or Dennis know of what was to come.

Upon hearing of Martins/Binette Parallel Lives work-in-progress, dozens of people all over the country – and even outside of the U.S. – came forward voluntarily to present long held family secrets and treasures. Information and insight flowed forth from attics and old boxes, albums, etc. that were held within the families and passed down to sons and daughters, nieces and nephews.  All was kept from public view or scrutiny until now.  No sooner would Michael and Dennis be unexpectedly showered with one source of information who knew Lizzie, but then another and another would surface.  The journals, photos, cards, letters kept pouring in.  Like amoeba, it seemed to self reproduce until they had so much information about Lizzie Borden and her times it required a tome of more than 1000 pages.

We “hear” Lizzie speak through letters never revealed previously.  We “hear” others speak about their relationships with Lizzie, long standing relationships – people who knew her well.  We learn of specific things she did and places she went.  We learn about what she thought and how she responded within her world of Fall River’s “closed” society.  We gain a richer understanding of what it meant to be a Borden and the wide spread influences and power that name evoked. We learn of specific acts of kindnesses previously only alluded to. We learn much of this from the relatives and descendents of those that knew Lizzie Borden personally.  Not just “of” her.

This massive work isn’t about the crime per se, nor does it propose new theories.  It presents us with her world, her town, her peers, customs, morals, traditions, scandals, successes, and so much more that contributed to who and what she was as a child, girl, young woman, middle aged woman and elderly woman.  Through those letters, journals, photographs, remembrances, we finally we get to know Lizzie Borden.

Parallel Lives will thrill and astound all Borden case enthusiasts and experts.  To the latter it will be a primary treasured collectible, a golden resource in the cornicopia of what we know so far about Lizzie and, particularly, Fall River’s history of those six decades.  For the world-wide minions who know of the case – from as little as that inaccurate quatrain to a basic knowledge of the family and her post-Trial life – this book may not be so coveted or sought after.  At least not initially.  But because the book promises to shatter myths and resolve some mysteries about this case and the enduring, inscrutable Miss Lizzie it will garner massive attention through the media.  We will hear about it on television news, electronic news sites, in the printed newspapers, journals and magazines,  and the millions who hunker down with various social networking on the internet.  It will become a topic of conversation.  First regionally, then nationally then world-wide.  I’ve no doubt Michael and Dennis will be invited or interviewed remotely for a variety of talk shows and t.v. news special features as the public awareness of this watershed publication grows. In short, as news of its content spreads via multi media exposure, having a copy of the book will become de rigueur.  Its sales will soar. Lizzie Borden always gets attention and this book – this book registers on the same excitement level as  DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, “Who Shot J.R.?”, and Lindberg’s landing in Paris.

The Fall River Historical Society has a Facebook page that has been providing updates about the book’s production and publication.  I encourage you to read the comments of Michael Martins and Dennis Binette to learn precisely, specifically the amazing research effort and amount of sweat equity they both put into this book and why it is such a remarkable, beautifully crafted and valuable piece of work.

The exact publication date has not yet been announced.  The price of the book has not yet been set.  But we will have answers to this very soon,.  You can pre-order at the FRHS site HERE.