The Lizzie Borden Society archive

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1. "Was Lizzie Alone?"
Posted by adminlizzieborden on Jan-8th-02 at 9:34 PM

By augusta on Sunday, 12/02/2001 - 02:04 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Came across something in my readings last night, finishing up the Knowlton Papers. Someone wrote in and said that Lizzie was alone when she changed into the pink wrapper. It said she sent Alice Russell on a 'useless errand' (they later said it was to the undertaker's) and when Lizzie finished changing she came out of Emma's room. That last part I had read before, but hadn't read she was alone when changing. Is that correct? It also said that after the cops unlocked the room linking Lizzie's room to her parents' and unscrewed the hook, Lizzie afterwards re-locked the door and screwed the hook back in herself, sounded like not long after it was unlocked. I don't think I've read before when or if she relocked that door.

 
By dnslilly on Sunday, 12/02/2001 - 03:18 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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excuse my levity here, but I can't resist. No, Kilroy was there.

more serious next time,

Dave

 
By stefani on Monday, 12/03/2001 - 12:14 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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According to the Witness Statements, Harrington noted this about Lizzie's appearance (p. 6):

"I arrived at the house about 12.15 or 12.20 M. The conversation with Lizzie was about five minutes later.
She was dressed in a striped house wrapper, full waist, and caught on the side by a bright red ribbon, which was tied in a bow in front. The stripes were on the pink shade, and between them was a dark figure."

So within the hour after the call for help, Lizzie had changed her clothes. There is nothing else in the witness statements regarding the wrapper. I will check the inquest next.

 
By stefani on Monday, 12/03/2001 - 12:17 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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In the Inquest, Alice Russell testified to this (p. 149):

Q. Did she go straight to her room, so far as you remember?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did she take off any of her clothes?
A. I dont know what I was doing, but I came into the room, and found her fastening a pink wrapper on.
Q. Did she change her shoes or stockings?
A. No Sir, she could not have done that, I was not out of the room long enough.
Q. Did you remain there with her?
A. Where, and how long?
Q. How long did you remain there with her in her room, after she got to her room?
A. I dont know. I think she sent me down-- I dont remember, I cant tell it--- I know she made this remark when she said it, I dont know, something about an undertaker. She says "if they have to have an undertaker, as I suppose they will, have Winwood."
Q. Did you stay until supper time, or anything like it?
A. What do you mean, in the room? I was in and out of the room all the afternoon.
Q. She remained in the room?
A. Yes, so far as I know.

 
By kat on Monday, 12/10/2001 - 09:03 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Poor Alice Russell reminds me of Pearson's characterization of Mrs. Wisken, pg.121, in the chapter on Miss Holland, Murders That Baffled The Experts(1967):

Mrs. Wisken was the temporary landlady while Moat Farm was being readied for occupancy.
"You probably would have knocked Mrs. Wisken over with a feather had you told her that her acquaintance with the Dougals was to lead her into some very gruesome experiences: cause her to spend days in attendance upon courts; blazon her name in all the newspapers in the land; get her examined and cross-examined by (bewigged) barristers; and plunge the Wiskens into a celebrity which would endure from generation unto generation."

-Poor Alice and her mama