1. "Mayor Coughlin"
Posted by Edisto on Jun-14th-02 at 2:52 PM

I probably got this impression from the "Legend" movie, but I always think of Mayor John W. Coughlin as a man of mature years.  Of course, we all know of his role in the Borden case, because it was he who brought Lizzie the upsetting news that she was a suspect.  Actually, hizzoner was a year younger than Lizzie!  -And a most impressive fellow he was, too.  After completing his public school education, he read law for a year with a local attorney.  Then he traveled for a time, representing a steam and gas pipe company.  After that, he held a position in the drugstore of Dr. John B. Chagnon, the Bordens' neighbor, and worked as a conductor on the railroad.  Finally he settled on medicine as a career.  He studied with a Fall River doctor and entered the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons when he was 22.  He graduated at the top of his class and took up the practice of medicine in Fall River at the age of 24.  Talk about an early bloomer!  (This is from a bio in "Victorian Vistas," edited by  Philip Silvia.)

That's wonderful stuff you have there, Edisto!

His brother Jim was Bridget's attorney, was he not?

Another thing I was wondering about...(oh-oh)...

When Coughlin comes right out and says "You are suspected, Lizzie", Emma pipes up with "We've kept it from her as long as we could..."
I don't understand this..
What does Emma know that Lizzie doesn't?

Emma know that if Lizzie didn't tell all she knew, she would be charged with the crime. SOP then, or now. IMO.

Nice post, Edisto.  I always wondered why the good Mayor got so involved in the case. Fall River in 1892 was quite a large city and it would seem he would have things to do other than butting into police investigations. He's also cited as being at many of the meetings between Knowlton, Dolan  and Hilliard.

Sounds like a very small town atmosphere for a rather large city.

(Message last edited Jun-15th-02  12:31 PM.)

I have always wondered about that too, Kat!  Did someone speak to Emma earlier and say that what was going on was Lizzie was a prime suspect?  And why would Emma and Uncle John keep it from her?  You'd think that they would have gone to Lizzie and said spill your guts, they think you did it! 

(Yeah, I know, I'm answering my own posts again.)  Interestingly, I was reading something about Mayor Coughlin in an old LBQ last night, and it had a different date of birth for him.  It said he was born in 1860 - same year as Lizzie - rather than 1861.  Whichever it was, he'd certainly done a heap o' livin' for such a young man.  Or maybe he ws just a job-hopper.

I can find the name of only one attorney who represented Bridget.  That's James T. Cummings, who represented her at the preliminary hearing.  Hoffman says he might have been a relative of Dr. Kelly, the Bordens' neighbor.  Probably not a brother though, since they have different surnames.  I guess he could have been a half-brother or stepbrother.

Thanks.
I've been labouring under a misapprehension.

Another accomplished young man was Henry G. Trickey, of the infamous McHenry/Trickey article.

He became a reporter for the Boston Globe at the age of 16 in 1884. Between his hiring and the Borden murders he grew to be considered one of its best reporters and even was sent to Mississippi to interview ex-Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

He was only 24 at the time of the Borden murders.

Hoffman has Trickey's birth year as 1862, making him 30.

Where did you find that info, Harry?

He's still on my list of "Those Who Died Young After the Tragedy--Or Those Who Died Soon After The Murders".

(Message last edited Jul-7th-02  2:47 AM.)

My source was Rebello, page 165. Says he was born July 7, 1868. (Which just happens to be today!)

Rebello's information may have come from a Boston Globe article of Oct 12, 1892 wherein it discusses Trickey and his career. This was immediately after the Trickey/McHenry article was exposed. The bio on Trickey in Rebello is very similar to the wording in the Globe article. 

(Message last edited Jul-7th-02  7:09 AM.)

RIP (Rest in pieces), Mr. Trickey.  A very timely post, Harry!
Trickey is one of the saddest stories in this saga, because he seemed to be a young man on his way up until he got snared in the Borden mess.  Young, handsome, talented, famous - and, alas, dead!

I guess I'll look around for more info to verify age, if I can.
Those Obits in the newspapers always seemed to get something wrong.
I do remember Morse's was wrong in the Fall River paper in his own NATIVE CITY!

Trickey was a cutey....

Dying at 24 and dying at 30 seems to make a difference to me...I don't know why.


This photo is from "Cast of Characters" at the web-site.  Stef's "narrative" explains the bio info is from Knowlton Papers.  It lists Trickey's birth year as 1868.  (well, Mr. Hoffman?...)
Thanks Harry!

(Message last edited Jul-7th-02  9:57 PM.)

Oh, it is such a shame, he did seem to have it all, didn't he?  Not to mention good looking!  Though, I do believe I could do without that mustache! 

I've got some "Cummings".
Bridget's lawyer was James T. Cummings, as Edisto pointed out.
I had thought her lawyer was the Mayor's brother.
Turns out we're both right.
James T. does not seem related to Dr. Kelly tho, as Hoffman supposed. According to Rebello,  pg. 65, James T. was the brother of ex-Mayor John W. Cummings who served one term, 1886 -1887.
Elsewhere there is information that a J.W. Cummings was representive council in a suit for maintenance in Dec. 31, 1885 . (Two John W.'s, or a working Mayor?)
John W. Cummings, ESQ., made a loan of artwork to the opening of the new Fall River Library in 1899.
By Sept., 1900 he was referred to as HON. John W....that's a judge?

Meanwhile, James T. had a case, Nov., 1893, where his opponent was SWIFT !

There is also a Dr. Michael A. Cummings who was Health Commissioner of Fall River in 1895...but do not know of a relationship to our other Cummings.

PS:  Patrick Doherty is mentioned in the Fall River Weekly News of Jan. 7, 1886, item FROM date: Dec. 30, 1885, as being that day nominated and passed as a new Patrolman of Fall River Police force.

(Message last edited Jul-16th-02  6:49 AM.)