1. "the words of others"
Posted by Stefani on Feb-19th-03 at 3:41 PM

I was bidding on an item on ebay today (a baseball cap). Here is the link:


I read the text of the sale ad and the seller was saying they constructed a 3-d version of the Borden house. I thought, oh goody, a new 3-d version. I wrote the seller and asked for more details and they wrote back that they don't remember where they got it.

I thought that odd, and then I went to the web site of the virtual lizzie borden house and realized the seller had lifted the text of her details of the crime and pasted it into their auction ad lock stock and barrel. Without proofreading it.

My mystery is cleared up but I was disappointed in the seller. It was a cool hat though.

The seller's ad:
"Hello and welcome to my auction. You are bidding on a baseball cap. This never worn, black cap has the words "Lizzie Borden Academy" and splattered blood (not real blood, but red ink) printed on it.
The story of Lizzie Borden reads as follows: A woman and a man were murdered in the same place in a very violent manner. There were tense and unpleasant family relationships. There was extensive press coverage from the very beginning. Both defendants had exceptional financial resources. Both had the slickest lawyers that money could buy. Defense lawyers mocked the police investigation and implied corruption was involved. Judicial rulings were much criticized after the trial. OJ's lawyers "played the race card." Lizzie's lawyers played the "nice-respectable-girl" card. A highly disputed aquittal ensued. Tons of books about the case followed the verdict.
All we need here is a slow-speed chase upstreet in Fall River. Unfortunately, Lizzie's wealthy father Andrew, noted for his thrift (or greed, depending on your point of view), had sold the family's horse and carriage for the sake of economy.
In the intervening years, Lizzie's case has not only inspired books and theories galore, but a ballet, an opera, a made-for-TV movie, and even an aid to diagnosis in medicine, (the Lizzie Borden sign). Debate about Lizzie's guilt has lasted over a hundred years. Only time will tell whether the same will hold true for OJ Simpson.
It was after seeing the Glimmerglass Opera's performance of "Lizzie Borden" last summer that I got the idea of doing a 3D reconstruction of the Borden house. For the house itself was central to the case against Lizzie. Its lack of hallways, small size, and the Bordens' strong adherence to security measures, make for a classic mystery.
The Borden house still stands in Fall River, and today it is a combination bed and breakfast and museum, where you can spend the night or take a tour and work on your own theories"

Here is the text of the virtual Lizzie borden house:
http://www.halfmoon.org/borden/

"A woman and a man were murdered in the same place in a very violent manner

There were tense and unpleasant family relationships

There was extensive press coverage from the very beginning

Both defendants had exceptional financial resources

Both had the slickest lawyers that money could buy

Defense lawyers mocked the police investigation and implied corruption was involved

Judicial rulings were much criticized after the trial

OJ's lawyers "played the race card"

Lizzie's lawyers played the "nice-respectable-girl" card

A highly disputed aquittal ensued

Tons of books about the case followed the verdict



All we need here is a slow-speed chase upstreet in Fall River. Unfortunately, Lizzie's wealthy father Andrew, noted for his thrift (or greed, depending on your point of view), had sold the family's horse and carriage for the sake of economy.



In the intervening years, Lizzie's case has not only inspired books and theories galore, but a ballet, an opera, a made-for-TV movie, and even an aid to diagnosis in medicine, (the Lizzie Borden sign). Debate about Lizzie's guilt has lasted over a hundred years. Only time will tell whether the same will hold true for OJ Simpson.

It was after seeing the Glimmerglass Opera's performance of "Lizzie Borden" last summer that I got the idea of doing a 3D reconstruction of the Borden house. For the house itself was central to the case against Lizzie. Its lack of hallways, small size, and the Bordens' strong adherence to security measures, make for a classic mystery.

The Borden house still stands in Fall River, and today it is a combination bed and breakfast and museum, where you can spend the night or take a tour and work on your own theories. "

tsk tsk

There is one big difference between a "not guilty" Lizzie and an "innocent" OJ: one was at the crime scene when the murders occurred, while the other was in a limo or at the airport.
You can check this out for yourselves.

The ME who did the autopsies said in July 1994 "the forensic evidence says the murders occurred after 11PM". The red liquid blood found at 12:15AM by the police says the murders occurred after 11:30PM.
You can check this out for yourselves.

Those who know the details of the Borden Murders will recognize the timings derived from the condition of the blood, even by a layman.
I hope you will learn from this message.

I read that listing too, and I like the hat.  I wonder why this seller chose to "borrow" words from another site when they didn't seem to have anything to do with the item being offered.  The only thing I can say is that I do a fair amount of bidding on eBay (under mroe than one name).  It's the scariest venue I've ever bought in, because so many items are misrepresented.  I'm fortunate in that I've always gotten merchandise similar to what was being offered -- never lost my money entirely -- but my husband has bid on several items, paid for them, and never gotten anything.  Luckily they weren't the most expensive things.  If that ever happens to me even once, I'm going to reassess my eBay dealings.

Cool cap, Stef. How about "The Lizzie Borden Academy Of Deportment And Etiquette" (for young ladies, of course) I'm thinking of getting a T Shirt made up (same place I had the mugs made-MGH Photography Dept)with that. What say-you might be the recipient of one if they come out well.

Well sure! I love new Lizzie items! Better copyright that artwork or who knows where it will end up!

Did you ever run into F. Lee while out and about?

I pass his house several times a week jogging. When he's home, the two little West Highland terriers are out in the yard at the time I go running, and I always make sure I pass close enough to their yard to make them bark at me. F.Lee is almost always in the fron room at his (thin screen) pc. He looks remarkably like the dogs...
(The Lizzie Borden School of Deportment-or The Lizzie Borden Academy Of Decorum?)

Neato!

How bout "Lizzie Borden School of Financial Planning"

or

"The Lizzie Borden Academy of Good Graces"

I don't know. Augusta! Help!

I don't want to lower this discussion, but how about Maplecroft as a "Hotel for Young Ladies"? With a piano in the parlor?

Some time ago I read about an historic big house originally built by a wealthy manufacturer. Decades afterward they said it was a "School for Young Ladies", among other things (rooming house). Later I found out what that really meant.

This was fun!  I thought up some kinda good ones and some not-so-good ones.  I'll post the crummier ones here.  And I'll post the better ones in the Privy.  Someone LURKS HERE AND STEALS THINGS FROM OTHERS.  No way will I play into her hands.  I dunno ... do snakes HAVE hands??? 

I could picture some of these on a mug or t-shirt:

Lizzie Borden House of Whacks (instead of "wax")

An ad for the Lizzie Borden Hatchet Factory

An ad for Lizzie Borden blood stain remover

Lizzie Borden pigeon food

Better ones are in the Privy.  Y'all c'mon!

Are you delicately referring to a B O R D E L L O , Ray?

YEE-Haw--good ones Augusta!

Course not! She would be more apt to see to the comforts of her guests herself...even if that included just peeking at them as they take baths.

House Of Whacks! I love it!!!

Actually, bordello is non-english (brothel).
I once read that Bordeaux (in France) comes from the word "little bordello", and it goes back to classical roman times. They didn't spend all their time watching the games.

They could if they had *spy-holes* in the doors!