1. "The Murder Morn"
Posted by augusta on Apr-7th-03 at 10:13 AM

Kat posted about Abby's dusting the morning of the murder, when Morse was still there (in the "Piano" thread, post #11).  I had read that Abby did not sit with Andrew when business was being discussed.  I took it that her dusting was just her daily chore.

What DID she do the rest of the day??? 

She went to the market.  And ate snacks.  She visited her half-sister.  And ate snacks.  She liked to go to Swansea, but didn't like to go alone.  When she and Andrew went, Andrew would have to go back and forth to Fall River on business a lot, so she would take another woman with her.  There was an Abby Borden on the board at the YMCA, but I don't know if we know if it was "our" Abby or not.  She did some cooking.  And sewing.  And ate snacks.  She probably visited with Phebe Bowen. 

That morning one of the things that was said between the menfolk was that Morse was joking with Andrew about buying a $200,000 yacht that was for sale.  Andrew laughed  and said what would he ever do with that.   

Augusta, I too have always wondered what Abby's daily day was like.  She disappeared off the face of the earth between 9:00 and 9:30 that morning and Bridget never questioned it!  Did Abby normally step out to get groceries and such during the morning?  Bridget said that when Abby left the house, she usually told her where she was going.  So, why wasn't Bridget concerned about Abby not being about?  I've wondered before if Abby normally went up for a midmorning nap herself from all the exertion of dusting.  It isn't until Lizzie tells Bridget that Abby had a note and went out that Bridget shows any interest. 

It's been my thought that if there was a note Abby made up the note because she wanted to go out for some reason she didn't want anyone in the house to know about.

I have thought that Abby was living in a house where there was much interest in her but also very little interest in her.  She was a foil to inheritance (much interst) and she was also no one the sisters wanted around (little interest.)  Abby might have acted in covert ways to succeed in doing things so as not to disrupt the family even more.

Bridget might have been aware of what Abby did that concerned the household, such as Abby might tell her when she was going to get meat, etc. or such as Abby thought it was something Bridget needed to know.  But Abby doesn't appear to me to be a shadow personality such as many books make out. It might surprise us to know what she did all day.

AR Brown and WL Masterton agree on the note that was to get Abby out of the house on an errand. Basically, that story must be true because it explains a lot (Brown), or is explainable (by Masterton). I think R Sullivan says the Thursday baby sitting was cancelled the evening before (memory?).

The idea is that this story is too specific to be made up by Lizzie, and Andy did not challenge it when he returned (or ask any questions). If Bridget and Lizzie are to believed.

Taking into consideration that life in that house ended
when it was dark & no lamps were usually lit -- the day
probably went pretty fast. Just her share of the daily
housework alone would have taken up a lot of her time.
After you add in her shopping & visits with friends & her
relatives she didn't have much time to just fill. She was
probably like everyone else with time on their hands -- she
read, brushed her wiglet, yeah, ate snacks. Did her own
handkerchief ironing. She was the wife of one of the richest
men in town -- perhaps she took a young lover?
The stable boy or handyman rather than the pool boy?
Maybe he killed her & then her old man?





(Message last edited Apr-10th-03  6:01 PM.)

Very interesting take on things, Kimberly! Her young lover was just so jealous of her husband that he killed them both. Maybe she broke it off and he was so angry he thought "If I can't have her, no one will!!!" LOL!!!

  Ohmigawd!  You two!  What a thought, Abby with some handsome young swain.  Andrew finds out that Abby is cheating on him and does her in, the boyfriend comes later for Abby and finds out what Andrew has done and he does in Andrew. 

ROFL.  Was actually all a messy Victorian soap story.  I'll just bet the young lover was none other than (gasp!) Billy Borden!!!  & I'll add Evan Hunter's theory to the mix...all this went on without notice, as Liz & Bridget were in fact, up in the attic loving each other from the second she finished the windows.  (Neither 1 would ever admit to that, hence all the conflicting stories).  Emma was really on a drunken spree with the ladies, plotting to overthrow the patriarchal society (without temperance).  JVM was in town meeting with his underworld buddies, selling stolen horses, running numbers, enlisting prostitutes.

Oh lord...someone stop me!!

I DO NOT APPRECIATE THIS LEVITY!!!

But I wouldn't mind a topic on: the most bizarre explanation for the murders (knowingly false). The first prize would be a listing on E-Bay or one of those FREE scholastic essay sites.

I wasn't really trying to be funny, I was just picturing
Abby going about her day & then I was thinking as the wife
of a rich man what would her social life be like & then
it just came to me that perhaps she had another man in her
life -- I'm sure stranger things have happened. We really
know so little about these people -- they could have been
a little bit wild. If people are private they can do just
about anything. Even Victorians.

-We know Abby probably meets up with Mrs. Dr. Bowen , maybe at the shops in the forenoon. (Hip-bath collection, & Prelim)
-We know Mrs. Southard Miller was a good friend of Abby's so they must have spent some time together. (Sourcebook et.al.)
-We know Mrs. Whitehead said that Abby came over there a lot. (Inquest)
-We know she shopped almost every day for the food.  I suppose to keep it fresher, especially in the summer. (Inquest)
-We know too that Abby visited at the house of Rescomb Case quite a lot,  (Knowlton Papers, 105)
-We know in the summers she is used to going to the farm.

(Message last edited Apr-11th-03  8:21 PM.)

You could be right about Abby.  After all, the men in those days appreciated a woman with a little meat on her bones, and Abby had more than a little. -- And of course the Victorians weren't so much into the youth culture as we are today.  A woman of -- shall we say -- mature years might have appealed to a penniless young stud, especially if she could slip him a little money out of her generous allowance.  Somehow, though, I do have a little trouble conjuring up a picture of Abby in flagrante delicto.

Kat, who is Rescomb Case?  From your list, it sounds as if Abby wasn't as housebound and pathetic as most of the authors make her out to be.  She had a life, we just don't have all the minute details of it. 

Knowlton Papers Glossary

"CASE, RESCOMB 1817 - 1901: born in Westport, Massachusetts, son of Pardon and Ellipha (Macomber) Case. A carpenter by trade, he apprenticed to James Ford and Southard H. Miller in Fall River, Massachusetts. He later worked in that trade for a variety of manufacturers there, among them the American Printing Company from which he retired. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Alma Manchester and his second Mrs. Louisa Adams. He was an active Congregationalist. His obituary named him a "venerable citizen of Second Street" due to his length of residence there. He provided a statement to district police regarding any knowledge of insanity in the Borden and Morse families."
........................
Witness Statements, pg. 18:

"Sunday 21. Summoning witnesses, Bestcome [sic] A. Case and wife of 199 Second street. Their statement. Understood from general talk the girls and Mrs. Borden did not get along very pleasantly. Never heard Mrs. Borden say anything about the family relations. Her allowance was about $200. a year; but much of it was spent on articles for the house. The lace curtains in the parlor she purchased. The girls got the same amount as she, but it was for their own use. A short time ago Mrs. Borden, for the first time, told me of the robbery, which took place about a year ago. She simply mentioned it, and said she would tell me all about it some time.
Mrs. Case directed me to Mrs. Daniel O'Leary of Fifth street, who at times worked for the Borden's. She could give no information "
..........
Also, be advised this next Witness Statement is from the notes of Edwin McHenry, pg 45:

"Fall River, 28, 1892. The following is the result of my interview last Saturday night with Mrs. Whitehead. I could not reach her mother Mrs. Oliver Gray, (the stepmother of the late Mrs. Abbie Borden) until today. I found her at the home of Mr. Benj. Covell, at the top of Second street. I questioned her at length as to whether there was anything new that had come to her mind since she was last seen. She stated that Officer Harrington had been to see her, but since that time she had heard a great deal. She also stated that Mr. and Mrs. Case had gone to Tiverton R. I. or Little Compton, to remain away until after this Borden case had been disposed of; and that Mrs. Case was the woman above all others that was needed to let light in on Lizzie's actions. Mrs. Gray had heard of the scandal story as coming from Mrs. Case direct. She also stated that for years, whenever she, or any of Mrs. Borden's relatives, visited the house on Second street, they were totally ignored by the girls, Lizzie and Emma."......
...............

Knowlton Papers, 105, Part of Sanity Survey, Written up as #HK102, dated November 24th, 1892, to Knowlton, by Moulton Batchelder, Dist. Police:

"RESCOM CASE  199 Second St. Fall River.  I have lived in Fall River 57 years and I know all the Bordens and the Morses well.  A sister of Mrs. Morse (Lizzies mother, married his cousin, a man named Morse, they now live here in Fall River.  I use to know Anthony, father of Lizzies mother.  He has a brother now living in Warren Mass.  the woman that was murdered use to visit my house often, but she use to keep her affairs to herself pretty well, but I assure you I have my opinion of Lizzie Borden and I hope they will get more evidence.  My wife dont know any more than I do aboute the Bordons or Morses.  We never heard that any one of them is or ever was Insane but I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE WORSE THEN INSANE"
[last part was underlined in original transcription..KK].

I think if Andrew could have found someone who would
have wanted his surly self I think Abby could have found
someone too. Queen Victoria was sposed to have been a bit
of a sex pot -- you sure couldn't tell by looking at her.
You would think some of the women in that house would have
attracted male attention -- if Emma wasn't interested
and Lizzie liked girls that only leaves Abby & Bridget --
oh-ho-ho! -- maybe Abby & Bridget?! Not Lizzie & Bridget???
Boy -- this is getting kinky!!

Thank you for listing all that, Kat.  So, we have it right there, Abby used to visit with Mrs. Case, probably had coffee and girl talk.  I'm actually glad to read that, her life doesn't sound so wretched and miserable if she got out of the house and had girlfriends to talk to.  I wonder if Abby wasn't so close-mouthed about the goings on in the Borden house if we would have a clearer idea of who to point the finger of guilt at.  Someone might have that little piece of the puzzle that we need. 

Ah yes.  The close-mouthed Abby!
What kind of a person is that?  That doesn't tell her family affairs?  Does that go with her astrological sign or she's just raised that way, or maybe Andrew  requires it?  Or maybe there were too many secrets?

I will have to do a search in my book The Power Of Birthdays, Stars, and Numbers.  Is Abby's exact birthday listed on Stefani's site? 

From Rebello, "Abby Durfee Gray, born January 21, 1828..."

Wow, I just realized Rebello doesn't do her "Profile" until Page 22!

Thanks, Tina-Kate.  Well, heres what it says in my book for January 21st, Abby's birthday:

      Born on the cusp of Aquarius and Capricorn, you have the advantage of being both friendly and charismatic, yet shrewd and practical.  Frank and honest, with strong convictions and sharp intellect, you like to be direct and speak your mind.  Original in your approach, you enjoy learning and can be prudent and discerning.  Although you possess an easygoing style, you may also have to overcome a tendency to be irritable, as it might estrange you from others.  (Like Lizzie and Emma!)

     With the added influence of your Sun in the decanates of Aquarius and Virgo, you can be an inspired thinker with an ability to make accurate observations, particularly about people.  Capable of good concentration, you usually take your work seriously.  You can be a skillful problem solver.  With a touch of the perfectionsit, however, you may have to avoid becoming overly critical.  Broad-minded and humanitarian, you are a free thinker who is willing to fight injustice and for the rights of others.  Often original and ahead of your time with your ideas yiou can be highly inventive, but may have to guard against becoming too abrupt or frank, causing upset to others.  (Like Lizzie and Emma!)

   Although part of you just wants peace and quiet, a desire fo the good life usually motivates you to achieve.  If inspired by an ideal or a cause, you will work twice as hard.  Being confident and caring, you may find that others often turn to you for support or advice.

So, it sounds like the close-mouthed part of Abby was possibly due to Andrew and the times they lived in, don't air your dirty laundry in public! 

Thanks for posting all that, Susan!
It is similar to others I have read which is sort of comforting.

I guess Abby was raised that way.
Lizzie seemed to be able to make known her irritations in that household amongst her friends, and nearer to the crimes, that spring, to a distant relative.

Different generations?  Because both females were under Andrew's thumb.
One diss'es -  the other doesn't.

You're welcome.  I was thinking the same thing, Abby and Lizzie are from different generations.  Lizzie was coming of age during the suffragette years, she may have felt she could speak her mind more freely.  But, I'm sure if any talk got back to Andrew, he would not be pleased.  Look at how long it was before Lizzie mentioned the robbery or Abby too for that matter.  I wonder what Abby would have told about that had she the time?