1. "June 1rst...."
Posted by RedFern on Jun-11th-02 at 3:00 PM

I meant to post this before now, but oh well, better late then never. The day or should I say Night of Lizzies death. (and my birthday). But coincidentally Emma, the older sister died shortly after. Is that a coincidence? I have always wondered. She "fell down the steps". Do you ever wonder if that was intentional. After all she supposedly felt like she looked after her sister her whole life. Maybe she either did it on purpose, or just gave up on living. Any other opinions on this?
  RedFern
PS. Kat sorry I haven't been around much, but I'm back if not for now.

I was just thinking of you last night!
But you must have known that, right?

I was wondering about Emma's death..(She died June 10, YESTERDAY...nobody reminded us..where's Laurel1125 when we really need her????)

Since her housemate inherited the balance of the real estate they lived in, I 've been trying to make out a case for murder, as the companion may have been tired of caring for her, or arranging her care?
She sold out and moved away pretty quick!
Rebello, 341-9.

Do you think that Emma was "losing it" in her older years?  That maybe if she was pushed down the stairs she wouldn't have known any better.  I recall reading in one of my books that Emma had a secret stairwell built in her house and she had a light switch that she could throw and light up the whole house and an AX that she kept down at the bottom of the stairs.  I believe all this was built because she feared that they would come in the night for her, whoever they where?  It sounds to me like she may have been getting senile.  Or, maybe theywas the real murderers of Andrew and Abby and she was afraid that they would come for her too! 

(Message last edited Jun-14th-02  9:56 PM.)

Spiering's book has the best account of Emma's life afterwards.

I wonder if her companion (used as a dummy purchaser of the house) benefitted by claiming the house after Emma was no longer around. Not that she needed it, of course. Or mentioned in her will. Maybe that was just part of the arrangement?

Keeping an axe at the bottom of the stairway serves does not help in self-defense. Her fall may not be that unusual for her age, then. She may also have suffered from the bad news of her sister's death.
Fearing a stranger who would do her harm is NOT that unusual for the elderly, then or now. What is your own personal experience?

It is not a "secret stairwell" if it has obvious doors top and bottom. It could be closed to prevent heat loss in NH winters. Is it that unusual in the homes of that day? Walled up as a substitute for railings? What do those who live in frigid New England think?




(Message last edited Jun-14th-02  2:42 PM.)

I believe that A R Brown's book solved the case. Emma certainly knew that the "real murderer" could never threaten her again. But, she certainly knew that she could be pestered by newsman, and lose her chosen privacy and anonymity. What a sad end for a wealthy aging heiress.

Yes, Rays, I would have to agree with you on that!  What a sad way for Emma to go, she could have had so much more in her life.