1. "A Peek at the Hilliard Papers"
Posted by augusta on Mar-29th-03 at 8:37 PM

Here's some stuff Marshal Hilliard got in the mail.  They are probably part of the upcoming "Hilliard Papers".
This comes from Rebello's "Past & Present", pages 261 & 262:

"The Mail"

"Insulting Letters Received by Marshal Hilliard from Cranks and Jays," - Fall River Daily Globe, June 22, 1893:7.
"Chief Hilliard is daily in receipt of some of the most obscene and villainous letters from cranks ... the tenor of the missives is changed now, and the writers go for the marshal hammer and tongs, sparing no words, however dirty, to get at what they are trying to say."

"Lizzie Borden's Big Mail / Marshal Hilliard Receives a Leather Medal from New York," New Bedford Evening Standard, June 21, 1893:4.
"Lizzie Borden's daily mail is something extraordinary and is a revelation to the local post office authorities.  At least 200 letters were taken to the house this morning by the long man who resides in the house and he makes frequent visits to the post office during the day.  A great many of the letters come from members of the Christian Endeavor and W.T.C.U. societies throughout the country, nearly all the large cities being represented ..."

"Marshal Hilliard and Mayor Coughlin are receiving some astonishing letters, most of them being of the dirtiest and most villifying character. One letter received from Lowell (Massachusetts) would cost the writer a sound thrashing if the marshal could lay hands on him.  Among the curiosities he has received is a large leather medal from New York state."

"The Borden Case / The Letters Received," New Bedford Evening Journal, June 24, 1893:7.
"The marshal, this morning, told of a letter he had received, and while he spoke his face changed color three times in intense anger.  the cur (mongrel god) who wrote it not only insulted the man, but blurted out, I'd like to see the ____?_____ (word omitted in the newspaper) a minute, the reporter couldn't help wishing to be in at the death."

"Some (unidentified) people sent a Manchester Union Newspaper to him, on which were written the words, "A conscience that must abide with you to the grave."

"The editorials in this usually fair and able journal, have been prostituted to false statements, among the rest being the expression that beheading the marshal might be a pleasant summer pasttime for many people.  The marshal has received many splendid testimonials to his fairness, particularly, one of them being a marked copy of the Hartford Times, in which the writer defends the government's course."

"Judge Blaisdell is in receipt of a communication from a crank, which is postmarked Amesbury, Massachusetts.  The writer censures the judge for his connection with the Borden case and advises him to go back to shoemaking."

"the young men who are writing letters to Miss (Lizzie) Borden and proposing marriage appear to be mighty hard up for a way to achieve fame," Fall River Evening news, June 29, 1893:4.

"Cullings and Exchanges," Fall River Daily Herald, July 1, 1893: 4
"Poor Lizzie Borden!  She has been deluged with all sorts of letters from cranks as well-meaning persons.  Suggestions have been made that she go on the stage or take the lecture platform, and it is said that she has received several offers of marriage.  The very latest, however, is the news that an enthusiastic Maine woman that has named her baby for her.  Again we say:  Poor Lizzie Borden."  Boston Record.

(Poor baby in Maine!     )

While I doubt that marriage proposal's to Lizzie will be included in the Marshal's book, that was interesting reading.
That was also a gargantuan task to transcribe all that!  Thank You!  So many people have not access to this book.
nj, did yu order yours yet?

Even though, what would you say, 1/2? is based on newspaper items, we can learn to be discriminating as to what we read & believe.
I say thank goodness for Rebello!

Did you ever read of the crank letters sent to the Brooklyn teacher (forget his name) who worked on the Lindbergh case and was there when the ransome was turned over?
There are any number of people who want to inflate their self-importance by sending anonymous poison pen letters.
Better not get caught!!!

Do you mean, Dr. Condon, Rays?  He was a character!  Reminds me of Morse in some ways.  If you see him on an old newsreel, his looks match with his personality very well.

That's a problem with a high-profile case.  You get a lot of mail.  Usually you hear of wedding proposals, whether the person is a man or a woman.  And probably plenty of nasty ones we don't hear about, too.

(Message last edited Mar-30th-03  6:04 PM.)