1. "Lizzie suspicious of Morse?"
Posted by harry on Jun-1st-02 at 10:30 AM

From the Evening Standard, Friday, Aug. 19, 1892

"Hastings, Iowa, Aug. 19 ----This place was for about 25 years, and, in a sense, is yet, the home of John V. Morse, upon whom some suspicion of complicity in the mysterious murder of the Bordens of Fall River has fallen. A Boston Post man has elicited the following information here:
       While Morse has succeeded in establishing a very fair alibi, it seems that Lizzie Borden, who is now under arrest for the murder, is anxious to know something of his past record. She has accordingly sent Detective Hanscom out here to investigate. The people of Hastings, and particularly John Davidson, Morse's brother-in-law, are awaiting the arrival of the detective with much interest. There really appears to be very little in Morse's record that will go to strengthen the theory that he was the slayer of Andew Borden and his wife."

Is this just another inaccurate newpaper story or did Lizzie really suspect Morse? And if so, of what? The article goes on to describe Morse's eccentric habits and life in Hastings. Nothing to do with the murders however.

One of the books (AR Brown's) suggests the detective was sent there to avoid finding out too much in Fall River. Part of the cover-up?

Didn't Uncle John have a perfect alibi from 9AM to 11AM?
Investigations (like the Watergate Burglary) may be looking for facts that can be used to influence a subject (its not blackmail).

Thanks Ray. I took a look at Brown and his theory on Hanscom's trip. This is from page 235, (paperback edition, chapter 13):

"This information (Alice Russell telling him about the dress burning) put Detective Hanscom in an awkward position. Because of local police resentment that he had been brought in to protect Borden interests, a statement attributed to him had been planted in the local press: "If the parties are guilty, the agency (Pinkerton's) will drop work at once and not become accessory to a crime. If they are not guilty, the agency will hang on and assist materially." This statement was intended to force the Bordens to pay for the services of a detective who could not legally keep evidence of guilt from the prosecution.

Hanscom could hardly withdraw from the case without impugning Lizzie's innocence, but he could not continue to work on the case without reporting his findings to Marshal Hilliard. Jennings' solution was as much ingenious as it was devious. Hanscom was dispatched to Hastings, Iowa, for the duration of the proceedings to "check up" on Uncle John Morse, a brilliant countermove that allowed Jennings and Hanscom to save face while allowing the detective to remain an asset to Miss Lizzie."

I can't find any book that mentions Hanscom going to Iowa other than Brown. I don't see how sending Hanscom away would stop the information Alice revealed from getting back to Hilliard. It obviously didn't. I wonder how the prosecution eventually found out about the incident. Did Alice or Jennings go to Knowlton?

This is one of the reasons why I found AR Brown to be superior to other writers.
As a "Director" he must have been at least 2nd or 3rd level mgmt, and knew a lot about things unknown to most people. Like where he says the fixing of the case can occur any place today if there's enought money (or power) at stake. What does your newspaper tell you about politics and fixing things?

Wow!  I used to have the title of "Director."  I'm glad to hear it conferred so much prestige.  I thought it conferred only aggravation and no additional pay.

Harry:
I LOVE this topic but so far have nothing to contribute.
Can you tell what other books you checked for Hanscomb's latter day employment by the girls?  I don't want to duplicate your effort...  Thanks...kk

I too, for once, do not have anything to offer, but, find the following thread fascinating!  Good work, Harry! 

Kat, I think I more or less looked at all the books and as I said I could only find the Iowa/Hanscomb story in Brown and the newspaper.

I wonder if Brown picked it up from the paper. In general, a most unreliable source of facts. After the initial reporting (which was bad enough) and things began to slow down, the papers were looking for things to print. If the story happened to be true, all the better.

Here's a link to Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com/~iamills/Twps/IndnCk/LizzieBorden.htm
The article was written by a relative of Uncle John.  Really nothing new except for a mention of a descrepency with his will and what was probated.
Joe

John Morse was well received by Lizzie, yet she hid in her room or about the place when he visited?

For those who have no Rebello:

Morse died March 1, Emma's birthday. (R. 71)
The place he died was his home, that he moved back into, while it was still rented/leased to the Van Ausdale's. (R. 71)
The $ left to the girls was not directly bequeathed, it was a "Residuary Account" in the amt. of $605.97, that was a court ruling. (R. 74)

--(R. 75): "Graham, Dottie, 'Bev Boileau of Henderson Discovers Connection:  John Vinnicum Morse of Hastings Had Ties With Infamous Lizzie,'  MALVERN LEADER, Iowa, March 3, 1983: 1  (The MALVERN LEADER later gave credit to Muriel Arnold of Victoria, Texas, the first to discover Lizzie's Iowa connection.  Mrs. Boileau conducted the research for the story.)"

Not Hanscomb in Hastings, but at least Hanscomb...
Radin. pg. 84:

"...(Marshal Hilliard) may have become uneasy over the sudden appearance of O.M. Hanscomb, superintendent of the Boston office of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, who had been hired by Lizzie and Emma on the advise of Jennings.  Hanscomb remained in Fall River only two days, after which it is generally believed that he had dropped out of the case.  However, in the memorandum book found years later by Jennings' daughter, the lawyer had listed Hanscomb's name with references to file numbers, indicating that he had received a good many reports from the detective agency."

--Wonder if it would be easier pulling the Pinkerton's teeth to get hold of these files, than it would the Robinson Law firm?

Harry:  Your question:  Did Alice or Jennings go to Knowlton?

2 Newspaper headlines from Rebello, pg. 115:

" 'How Miss Russell Went Secretly to D.A. Knowlton'
New Bedford Evening Standard *, Tuesday, June 6th, 1893: 5" --[hey, that's TODAY] --[*may be in the Did She Didn't She? book]

" 'Miss Russell's Silence / How She Came To Tell the D.A. What She Knew'
New Bedford Mercury, June 8, 1893: 8"

Thanks Kat.  I couldn't find it in the Evening Standard articles. I figured that's how it came about but just wanted to see the story.

(Message last edited Jun-6th-02  11:04 PM.)

What a bummer.
The Evening Standard pages leave off at #4 for that date!

to "edisto"
I was talking about a national corporation, not something like a hobby or theater group. No offense meant, of course. (My experience is different from yours.)

I trust AR Brown's book. He suggest Lizzie sent for Uncle John via Dr. Bowen so she could depend on his judgment. Also lawyer Jennings soon took over; he knew the advantage of casting suspicion on others.

Oh, so I guess being a "Director" in a government agency wouldn't count??? (I never thought of it as a hobby, somehow.  Maybe because they paid me quite a handsome salary.)

Well then, if you were a Director in a Government Agency and were paid a heap 'o money, then YOU would be entitled to Drive A Packard! Right?