Forum Title: LIZZIE BORDEN SOCIETY
Topic Area: Fall River and Its Environs
Topic Name: Another murder in Fall River

1. "Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-12th-02 at 9:37 PM

While looking thru Victoriana.com I found a link to
Brown University & found this story about the murder of
'Sarah Cornell, an unmarried 30 year old factory worker in Fall River, Massachusetts, was found hanging near a haystack on a local farm.' Her body was found by a man named John Durfee, I wonder if
he was related to Abby?
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library/exhibits/RLCexhibit/avery/averyms.html


2. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by rays on Sep-16th-02 at 7:23 PM
In response to Message #1.

Another fallen woman betrayed by her seducer? Aren't things better these days? Morality or liberalism or what?


3. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Kat on Sep-17th-02 at 1:17 AM
In response to Message #2.

Last time I looked it took 2 to tango....
Unless it's rape.
Are things better these days?
I wouldn't think so.


4. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by rays on Sep-17th-02 at 6:21 PM
In response to Message #3.

Why yes!!! When was the last time a young girl died as the result of an abortion? (Maybe they keep them hidden?) There was famous case in Brookly NY: abortion fails, girl dies, Dr. cuts up bodies and throws the parts into the sewer. They were found and identified (1964?).

There are other considerations why "these are the good old days".


5. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Kat on Sep-17th-02 at 6:42 PM
In response to Message #4.

I'm sorry I cannot comment as this turn of the topic is too HUGE to discuss here.


6. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-17th-02 at 7:19 PM
In response to Message #5.

Let's change the topic from abortion to Lizzie Borden.
The man who found that woman was named John Durfee.
Were all those named Durfee in Fall River related to Abby?
It seems like for a small-ish/quaint(?) New England town in the 1890`s
Fall River had a fair number of murders. I guess that is wrong, isn't it? They are just memorable because we know of Miss Lizzie.


7. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Edisto on Sep-17th-02 at 8:47 PM
In response to Message #6.

Exactly how was Abby related to the Durfees?  I remember being curious about this before and trying to find the connection, which I was unable to do.  I know her middle name was "Durfee," and she was often referred to as "Abby Durfee Borden," but actually her maiden name was Gray, wasn't it?  Was her mother a Durfee?


8. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-17th-02 at 8:55 PM
In response to Message #7.

It should be in her obituary, is it on here somewhere?
I have a limited Lizzie library.


9. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by harry on Sep-17th-02 at 9:31 PM
In response to Message #8.

Rebello (page 23) has a small note at the end of the bio on Abby that reads:

"Also: No records could be located to determine if Abby was related to the Durfee family."

Certainly Durfee is an unusual name for a middle name and especially for a female.  There must be some sort of a link to either a relative or close friend of the family.


10. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-17th-02 at 9:40 PM
In response to Message #9.

I always heard her mentioned as being a poor relative of a
well-off family, that the Bordens & the Durfees were big names
in Fall River & she had her family name to offer if not their money.


11. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Kat on Sep-18th-02 at 1:15 AM
In response to Message #10.

"Having heard" is the proper term, in this case, because I think that is in all the Video's!


12. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Susan on Sep-18th-02 at 1:59 AM
In response to Message #11.

This is an interesting topic!  I don't think I've ever stopped to question why Abby's middle name or maiden name is listed as Durfee? 


13. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-18th-02 at 2:12 AM
In response to Message #12.

Maybe she just added it to fancy herself up, you know,
like calling yourself Lizbeth. As long as I can remember
I have always been under the impression that Abby & Andrew were along the same lines as far as their family names go, both started off poor but Andrew made his fortune & Abby married it.


14. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by Susan on Sep-18th-02 at 11:18 AM
In response to Message #13.

And look at where it got her!  Thats why I say if you're going to marry do it for the love, not the money, but, it sure doesn't hurt.    So, has anyone come up with where exactly that the Durfee came from?  Abby and Emma both are such enigmas, so little known of either, its disturbing! 


15. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by diana on Sep-18th-02 at 2:38 PM
In response to Message #14.

This is what Frank Spiering says about Abby and the Durfee name.
"Abby had descended from one of the original families of Fall River. Durfee was a name that bore social prominence, yet Abby was from a lesser class. Her father was a tin-peddler who sold sundries, china, linen and household goods from a pushcart in the Fall River streets."
(Spiering p. 10)


16. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-18th-02 at 2:49 PM
In response to Message #14.

Did anyone really marry for love back then? I sure hope so,
and I like to think that at least Andrew loved Abby even if
Lizzie & Emma treated her like a servant, or a stepmother.
Hopefully there was some love in that house for her, maybe
that is what those kids were jealous of.


17. "Re: Another murder in Fall River"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-18th-02 at 2:53 PM
In response to Message #15.

Thanks Diana! I knew I had read of her being
from one of 'The Families'.



 

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