The Lizzie Borden Society archive

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1. "Witness Staement"
Posted by Kat on Feb-25th-02 at 7:56 PM

In the Privy, we're talking about familial relationships within the Bordens and including the Harringtons as a possible source of tension that summer.  Supposedly Lurana, Andrew's sister was ill, the day of the murders at least.
Well, there's a citation in the Witness Statements (pg.17) that has always baffled me.  Just got through a UMASS Amhearst perusal of the family tree to refresh my memory, but Andrew had no brother, and a sister had already died, so that left the two of them as descendents of ole' Abraham.
So to whom does this refer:
(Prob. written by Harrington)

"Mrs. Phebe Warner of Second Street, with whom Mrs. Currier, Mr. Borden's sister, lived and said, knew nothing substantial.  During her sickness which was quite long, the Bank street Church took care of her.  Mr. Borden gave her $10. each Christmas.  She heard things were not pleasant there, but knew nothing about them."

-He wrote this sometime between Wed. 17, and Friday, 19, 1892

Back then, they called brothers-in-law "brother", and sister-in-law, "sister"...but this person would be neither.  There was apparently an old uncle of Andrew's that had lived on Second street, and maybe his younger 3rd (or 4th?) wife remarried and became Mrs. Currier...but she wouldn't be a 'sister', she'd be an aunt....