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1. "Suspicious Seabury"
Posted by augusta on Feb-9th-02 at 2:09 PM

What was Dr. Bowen's motive behind this?

This comes from the Witness Statements, page 19.  I think it's Harrington speaking for himself.

"Dr. Bowen stopped me on the street, and was very anxious to know what Mr. Knowlton meant when he referred to having found another agent of death.  He was very nervous when talking of this.  I told him I did not recollect of any such statement in his plea."

I think the other 'agent of death' meant the poison.  Was Dr. Bowen simply concerned about Lizzie?  Or did he have something to do with the poison?  Gave her a little medical background on the subject perhaps?  I don't think it was improbable that she spoke to her close friend, the doctor, generally about poisons to get some information about it. 

I also recently noticed this in the Witness Statements.  However, the date noted by Harrington was Sept.25th, 1892, After the Preliminary Hearing had concluded.  This is the time period where the prosecution displaces the *claw-headed hatchet*, with the *handless-hatchet*, which implement they ultimately take to Trial, as THE weapon.  That was my interpretation....

Hey Kit-Kat, thats probably the right interprettation.

Sherry and I also believe that there is very strong physical and circumstantial evidence to back up the arsenic theory possibility. There is good evidence to suggest why arsenic would not have come up in Wood's examination.

Could Bowen have been nervous because Abby had been so adament about her belief that she had been poisoned, but Bowen brushed aside her concern when she came to him on the day before the murders? Could Bowen have been shaking in his boots becuase HE BELIEVED that Knowlton meant poison when he said "agent of death", and yet he, Bowen, had not believed Abby's suspicion? But by the end of the Prelim., it was believed that poison had played no part.

Regardless of the interpretation, WHY was Bowen worried over the possibility that the police had found "another agent of death"--whatever it was...?
Was it the natural concern of a friend for the family whose member was under suspicion?
Had he wondered if he had been *duped* by Lizzie and whatever story she told him?
Had he been importuned to carry out of the house, hidden, the very *agent of death*, and therefore was confused?
Were there 2 weapons?

BUT:  before we get *carried away*, remember this is Mr. *Suspicious OF Everyone* Harrington's notes we're dealing with...

After simple concern for the family, as you say, the most innocuous supposition is that Bowen was floored by the possibility that the Bordens HAD been poisoned, as poor old Abby was at pains to have the physician believe.  The other interesting and well-put scenarios all put Bowen in a bad light indeed, especially if he'd been persuaded to get rid of one "agent of death" already!

A bit off topic but there seems to have been a Bowen or two in the Borden clan.  This from page 1, Rebello:

"The descendants of the original Richard Borden comprised a large number of Fall River's wealthy and influential people. John Borden was the fourth son of the first Richard Borden. Andrew J. Borden was the eighth generation of the first Richard Borden. He was the son of Abraham Bowen Borden, a cousin of eminent manufacturers, Richard and Jefferson Borden.
Abraham Bowen Borden was one of nine children of Richard Borden (1752-1824) and Patty Bowen, the grandparents of Andrew J. Borden."