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1. "Her Father's Daughter..."
Posted by Kat on Jan-12th-02 at 12:04 AM

(Message last edited Jan-12th-02  12:09 AM.)

(Message last edited Jan-12th-02  12:07 AM.)

The Witness Statements
Charles C. Cook to Medley, pg.30:
"I am business manager for Mr. Andrew J. Borden, for the Borden Block.  I did not see Mr. Borden Thursday.  i have had charge of the Block almost since it was built.  He used to come in once and a while, but not every day, nearly always alone.  The only other person who ever came with him was his wife, excepting once when Lizzie came with him to sign a deed conveying some property she owned to her father.  This property was owned jointly by the two sisters, and was situated on Ferry street.  LIZZIE HAS BEEN HERE THREE OR FOUR TIMES, ONCE CAME TO ASK ME ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY SHE WAS GOING TO CONVEY TO HER FATHER.  I told her, and she went away."

Why would Lizzie "go there 3 or 4 times"?  What business had she with Cook?  "Fishing" for information as to her father's financial state?
Also--She was GIVEN that share in the property by her father.  Does she not trust her own father to give her a fair price for Free Property, that she has to consult his man of business before conveyence?  Or could Emma have put her up to it?

She could have wanted to know what the property was really worth before she sold it so she'd get a fair shake.  But don't you think that maybe she wanted that information in advance to let Andrew think she was no dummy?  I can picture her telling Andrew what the property is worth before he says it.  That would earn her some admiration from him, perhaps, as well. 

Something I read about Cook had him saying she visited him several times but he would not tell why.  It was maddening!  He did one of those 'client privilege' things I'm so fond of. 

Look at her inquest testimony where she acts so non-chalant about Andrew's estate.  Why, she has no idea what Father is worth!  Sure, and there was no mutton to be had in the Borden house that week either.

That's an interesting view you give on why Lizzie would check with Cook before selling.  Stef said essentially the same thing a couple weeks ago when i brought it up. 
So Lizzie learned from her father to be "prepared" in a business deal, family not counting?
Would this impress Andrew or make him mad that she doubted him?
I'm still trying to figure out why she visited that office so often.  Maybe he "managed" the Ferry Street property for Emma and Lizzie, collecting rent, administering to legal matters like leases, etc.?

Obviously Lizzie was not an "air-head" and was trained by Andy to figure out the value of property. She knew who she would be dealing with!!!

When was Charles C. Cook born? I don't have Hoffman and can't find him in the Knowlton Papers Appendix A, and Rebello is impossible to use sometimes because of its index.

Perhaps he was Lizzie's age? Perhaps there was an attraction?

Go to Lizzy's Privy, check Cook for bio. page #, then go to Rebello.  The answer is 2 clicks and a book away.

Well, counting getting out of the thread, 4 clicks.

So he was older, but not that older. Hmm. Close friend. If so, it had to start somewhere. Perhaps Lizzie knew he could keep a secret. That he was discrete. That he could be trusted. Perhaps her visits to him were of a private nature, even asking for value of the house. He didn't tell Andrew she had been by so she trusted him to be able to keep his mouth shut later in life. Not that she told him anything, just that he would not gossip about her. A rare friend indeed.