Mondo Lizzie Borden

Did you know that after the murders the police thought that Lizzie was demented?

You can read all about it on The Daily Perpective.com today. They have an amazing offering for Lizzie Borden historians and armchair detectives. Check it out! 10 free newspaper downloads from various stages of Lizzie’s life. Thanks to Laura James for shooting this link my way.

It has been confirmed. Sort of. Maybe. Well, you decide.

“Intrepid Reporter” informs us that we finally have photographic evidence that Lizzie Borden has made it into the Wax Museum of Serial Killers. Not that there was an election or anything. And since she was not a serial killer, it sort of makes us wonder if the blogger who posted the info had the name of the museum correct.

However, in an article online, RoadsideAmerica.com, names the location as the Criminals Hall of Fame Wax Museum.

And where is this high class exhibition? Why Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, of course!

Posted today on AmericanHeritage.com Did Lizzie Borden Take an Ax . . . ? Published today for the anniversary of Lizzie’s acquittal. They have a couple of facts wrong: Abby was 64 (not 65), Abby was struck 19 times (not 20), and Porter’s book was published in 1893. Overall, a pretty good job! For those of you keeping track: the birth and death dates for these folks are:

Andrew: September 13, 1822 — August 4, 1892
Abby: January 21, 1828 — August 4, 1892
Lizzie: July 19, 1860 — June 1, 1927
Emma: March 1, 1851 — June 10, 1927

And the number of hacks?

Andrew: 10
Abby: 19

Let’s keep it straight people!

Some eBay sales for your consideration:

1. 1954, 1938 Hurricane Picture Books Fall River, MA. There are two 1938 hurricane books and one of Hurricane Carol 1954. All are in very good condition except for some wear along the binding. Nice find at a starting bid of only $9.99. But note that shipping info contradicts itself. In auction ad says ships by media mail, but shipping info added by seller says Priority only. Also, seller does not take paypal, so you have to pay extra for a money order. I would contact seller if interested and ask for the details.
2. Villisca - Living with a Mystery DVD, True Crime/Murder. I bought mine two weeks ago and just viewed it. I recommend this DVD. The filmmakers did a wonderful job telling this very interesting story. Includes some video extras, one portion of which is a section on Lizzie Borden, with interviews with Michael Martins and Ken Souza. One small disappointment, there no crime scene images included in the film. After studying the Borden case for years, I know how much case info can be gleaned from actual images of victims. There is none of that here. BuyItNow for only $23. On the Villisca: Living with the Mystery website it is $26.99.
3. Loveliness Eliz S. Phelps- Owned by Lizzie Borden, 1900. This seller claims this book was owned by Lizzie Borden and given to her and Emma by the author. As with any Borden owned items for sale, I suggest writing the seller for the provenance.

This book on Anti-vivisection of animals for scientific purposes was owned by Lizzy Borden who was a New England spinster who was tried for the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in the late 19th century. Although she was acquitted, she has remained a notorious figure, and dispute over whether she was guilty continues to this day. It is “Loveliness” by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (Ward), 1900, Houghton Mifflin & Company, Boston. The book is inscribed: “To Miss Borden (probably her sister Emma) and Miss L. A. Borden, from the author.” There is an air of irony involved in that one of the most notorious murderers in US history was passionate about the suffering of animals. . . . This book was about one of Lizzie’s passions the anti-vivisection of animals for scientific purposes. It’s a story about a beloved Yorkshire terrier who is stolen and sent to a medical lab. Of course he is rescued in the nick of time in this 1899 plea of antivivisectionists.

4. 1893 Glass Hatchet Chicago World’s Fair. This one has a double Lizzie connection. First, it is a glass hatchet. Nuf said there. Second, this is a commemorative from the Columbia Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, an event that Lizzie Borden herself attended after her acquittal. Nice price at $19.99 for an item that is 113 years old.
5. Don’t fall for this balony. Living Dead Dolls-Minis-series 2 -Lizzie Borden for only $2.99! Wow you might say. Don’t touch this one. Note the shipping price: $12.00!. Ripoff.

It must be true. I read it here. Props to “intrepid reporter.”

I spent the day analyzing Lizbeth’s handwriting from the last page of the letter she wrote that is on sale (see post below) on eBay. As an amateur graphologist, I have an opinion regarding the Lizbeth of this note. We don’t know in what year it was penned, but it was some May 1st, in some year after she changed her name (so from 1905-1927). The image of this last page of the note has obviously been enlarged; the original being only 4¼”x4¾”. That is very small paper, much more a note than a letter (the width is that of a cabinet photo but almost two inches shorter). Cut out the size using a sheet of paper and you will appreciate the diminutive and personal nature of the paper’s size.

Even though the page is in actuality quite small, the writing covers the page, filling the space from left to right. The margins, word spacing, dimension of the individual letters, slant, continuity of the linking of the letters, the forms of connection of the letters, the speed with which the note was written as determined by horizontal tension, the letters in relation to the baseline, the formation of both capitals and lower case letters, the signature and its relationship to the rest of the letter, plus whatever small signs are revealed, all work to give us a picture of Lizbeth when she wrote this note. Some of it will of course apply to her life as a whole, but some it will be entirely tied to her state of mind during the period in which the note was written. With those disclaimers, here goes:

The Forensic Examiner publishes fascinating forensic case studies as well as scientific articles about true-life forensic science. The Forensic Examiner is currently sponsoring a mystery writing contest; write a fascinating true-life or fictional forensic case study and you could win! For contest details and guidelines on writing case studies for The Forensic Examiner visit mysterywriterscontest.com.

While you are at this site you can also download two free issues of The Forensic Examiner and read all about the work of members of the American College of Forensic Examiners. Kewl!

Actor Craig Boldman’s blog contains a nice collection of behind the scenes photos of a play he had a small part in in Fairfield, Ohio. The play is Lisbeth of Maplecroft [sic], and was written and directed by Pat Davis. The photos are worth looking at. I especially like their Judge Dewey and Nance O’Neil.

Performance dates were April 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2006, at the Fairfield Community Arts Center in Fairfield, Ohio.

‘Lisbeth of Maplecroft’ picks up on Lizzie Borden and her sister Emma, twelve years after Lizzie whacked her Mom and Dad.

An “intrepid reporter” sent me this hot-of-the-press newsflash info: A brand new film, titled The Curse of Lizzie Borden is due for release August 29, 2006. The 82 minute horror film is being released as a “Director’s Cut.” The Internet Movie Database has no listing of this film, so it looks like one of those movies that went straight to DVD and missed a theatre release. The distribution company is selling the DVD $14.99, but Amazon.com has it available for preorder at $10.99. Ooof! Amazon says the runtime is 121 minutes and is spelling it Lizzy Borden. Tsk tsk.

The set up has to do with a Lizzie Borden museum in Caifornia — I wonder if the Fall River Historical Society knows they have competition?

Says the website for the distributor, Razor Digital Entertainment:

Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. And when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one. Nestled within a quiet California town, a museum dedicated to the legend of Lizzie Borden has been opened. Cassy, a beautiful college student is drawn to the museum, taking a summer job as a tour guide. Cassy is quickly propelled into the mystery of the Folklore surrounding the legend of Lizzie Borden. It begins to consume her every waking moment. She begins dressing, acting and talking as if she were Lizzie Borden. And there are the dreams. Dreams of blood and death! One by one her friends are found murdered and her boyfriend, Andrew begins to fear the worst. Cassy may be next! Is some madman killing off all off their friends, or has the ghost of Lizzie Borden come back for a bloody rampage? Will Cassy and Andrew be able to stop the killer, or will they fall victim to the same fate that Lizzie’s parents did so many years ago? Until the final bloody axe falls, no one is safe from the CURSE OF LIZZIE BORDEN.

Twice now I have made edits to the Wikipedia listing to Lizzie Borden, and twice someone has come in and changed what was written to add their more dramatic, and misleading, take on the case. Since anyone can update this entry, you must be wary of anything Wikipedia has to offer. I don’t allow my students to use this source in research papers. I like the idea of Wikipedia, but my gosh, the horrors of letting just anybody edit history!
1. Why have Dr. Bowen in quotes? Is that not his real name? Or is the writer questioning his medical license?
2. “A turning point in the trial was the dramatic unveiling of the victims’ rotting skull”? Oh my, I must have missed that fact in my 25 years of stuying this case.
3. “The anonymous rhyme was made up by a writer as an alluring little tune to sell newspapers even though in reality her stepmother suffered 18 blows, her father 10.” Uh, how about 19 and 10?
4. “She called to the family’s maid Bridget Sullivan (who had been resting in her third floor room) to ‘come downstairs…father is dead…somebody got in and murdered him.’” Pshaw! According to Bridget’s Preliminary Hearing testimony, she said, “I asked her what was the matter. She said “come down quick”, that her father was dead.” And at the Trial, Bridget said this: “Miss Lizzie hollered, ‘Maggie, come down!’ I said, ‘What is the matter?’ She says, ‘Come down quick; father’s dead, somebody come in and killed him.’”

Makes you wonder what else is wrong on that site, doesn’t it?

A few interesting eBay sales caught my eye:

1. Church pew from Unitarian Church in Fall River, MA , congregation originated circa 1832 in previous building pastored by the late Samuel Longfellow, brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The church burnt down in 1983 and moved to it’s new location on Rock street. 12′ long sturdy pew in good condition, measures approx 3′ in height & 2′ 1/2′ deep. Bible pocket on back of pew in tact. Original finish, solid wood. Pickup only, $99 reserve.

2. Great Trials in History (1990) by Betty Lou Kratoville. Covers the Borden case. Starting bid only a buck so how can you lose? Cheap shipping too.

3. Rare 1879 Murders Horrible Crimes Disasters Scrapbook Says the ad: This is a copy of an old, handmade 1879 scrapbook, loaded with hundreds and hundreds of clippings about the darkside of life. There are all sorts of violent crimes, murders, lawlessness, outlaws and evil doers, determined suicides awful accidents and tragedies, death announcements, lynching’s, disastrous fires and just about anything bad that could happen. Some of the material is of the curious nature, and sometimes it’s unbelievable stuff. Seller is Charlie Crowel who is an expert on murders with an axe or hatchet. Really. Here’s a Lizzie tidbit for you: Charlie once told me that in all his years of studying this type of crime, he never encountered a case where there was a time delay in killing. Because killing someone with an axe or hatchet is considered a crime of passion, where the killer gets very close to the victim, the rage necessary to carry it out usually doesn’t get started again an hour and a half later. Sort of supports a two-killer theory, doesn’t it? Or a theory that the killing wasn’t one of passion, but that the murderer was used to working with this type of implement? Hmm. You learn something new every day!

4. 1992 Lizzie Borden Conference Proceedings 1st Ed NEW As of 4PM, the bid was $65. If you can get this hard to find title for less than $75 you are lucky. Original selling price was $25 I think. There are also six copies for sale over at Abebooks.com. They start at $95 and go up to $165.

5. Oops! The Lizzie Borden Evidence Bag from a previous post didn’t sell so the seller is trying again at a cheaper price. Yours for a starting bid of $9.99. Expenisve postage. Not very pretty.

6. Trial of Lizzie Borden by Pearson, Leather Bound. This one is very pretty — just look at all those pictures in the ad! Good starting bid. Nice addition to a Borden Collection. And seller offers lots of shipping choices. But don’t pay more than $20. There are a slew of them over at Abebooks.com that are in the $20-30 price range, and one seller there even offers free shipping! Ooh la la!

7. Lizzie Borden UK European Premiere 1985. For the serious collector of Theatre playbills and/or Lizzie Borden related items. This is the playbill from the UK premiere of Sharon Pollock’s great play Blood Relations, which opened on May 9, 1985. Starting bid is high and you have to pay shipping from UK, which is very pricey. At least go to the auction listing and snag that image!

8. They have been talking about this one over at the Lizzie Borden Society Forum, but I still wanted to mention it here because it is such a rare find and probably worth the auction estimate. Lizzie Borden Handwritten Letter, Signed. What I like is that it is from Lizzie after she changed her name. Too bad we don’t have the first page.

867. LIZBETH A. BORDEN (1860-1927). New England spinster tried for the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, MA, in 1893. Though acquitted, she was condemned by the press and was ostracized by the public in varying degree until her death. She has been the subject of books, films, operas and much public speculation ever since. Concluding page of ALS, 4¼”x4¾”, May 1, [n.y.] In full, “annual meeting, but shall hope to see you before long. Sincerely, Lizbeth A. Borden / Fall River, May first.” Single horizontal center fold; else a Fine example. Accompanied by LOA signed by the curator of The Fall River Historical Society. COA Mark Allen Baker. Est: $2500-3500

Presented by Signature House

9. TV GUIDE~2/8-14 1975~ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY~Lizzie Borden. Has a one page ad for Legend film. Looks like it is in good condition. You don’t often see these as a full TV Guide. Most often some numbskull has removed the ad to sell separately. Worth the opening bid I’d say. Plus it is a Bosten edition of TV Guide. That’s gotta add to the value a bit.

Buon Bidding!

On Laura James’ blog called CLEWS: The Historic True Crime Blog (linked to on the sidebar on the right) is a post about a private book sale. Appropriately, 92 items are for sale, all from the library of Ken Souza, former editor of the LBQ.

Hey fans, there is a first edition of Porter in this lot for $750. Not that bad a price for the condition of VG. Rebello is going for $125. The Proceedings, $165. Knowlton Papers, $350!

Definitely check this one out!

Here is a quote from her site:

Dunn and Powell Books is pleased to offer a short catalogue devoted to one of the most famous of all unsolved crimes: The Lizzie Borden Case. Most of the 92 items in the list are from the library of Ken Souza, former editor of THE LIZZIE BORDEN QUARTERLY. Highlights include a first edition of the rare THE FALL RIVER TRAGEDY by Edwin Porter (Lizzie Borden is reputed to have attempted to purchase and destroy all copies of this book) and a libretto of the opera “Lizzie Borden” signed by the composer Jack Beeson. Follow these links to view online or download our illustrated catalogue:

www.dpbooks.com/bordencat.pdf (pdf, best for printing - you need the free Adobe Acrobat software - see link at our website)

www.dpbooks.com/borden.htm (html, best for reading online)

Thank you and good hunting, Steve Powell and William Dunn

Kewl! I see a couple I want! Too bad my birthday has passed and Christmas is 6 months away. I guess I will have to do what I always do, treat myself.

I have to admit it. I collect Lizzie kitsch.

I own a Lizzie Borden bobblehead (and sell them too!), a large and a small Lizzie Borden Living Dead Doll (these are great and I highly recommend them, but buy them in boxes, sealed, for the collectable value), some home-made and artist created items such as bookmarks, notecards, a Lizzie decorated purse, pinbacks, buttons, paintings, t-shirts, original cartoon stills, some hatchet earrings, a hatchet keychain, a hatchet moneyclip, and even this really cool boxed tableau vivant with Lizzie Borden as Little Red Riding Hood!

I love a good odd buy.

A few months ago I bought a large Lizzie doll, one that was hand designed, made up and decorated as a killing Lizzie. She is dressed in silken black fabric with a veil and a hat decorated with black feathers.

Her hands and face are blood-spattered and she carries a hatchet in the front of her garment, tucked away. I thought she was very cool and a good price. But now I sort of wish I hadn’t. Truth be told, she scares me.

BACKSTORY: In the January 1998 edition of The Lizzie Borden Quarterly there was a story titled “Lizzie Yes, Lizzie No,” which debated the question as to whether the woman in the group shot was Lizzie Borden. The image was thought to have been taken by the Gay Studios of Fall River (date unknown), and was then on sale by the photo’s owners through the auction house Swann Galleries. The owner had the image posted on the web stating “Gay’s Studio was the most important photographic studio in Fall River in the late 19th century. The quality of the image does not come through when reproduced here. When viewed in person, it becomes immediately apparent that the photo is indeed Lizzie Borden.”

This just in from an “intrepid reporter”:(from page 13 of The Valchemist, Journal of the Connecticut Valley Section, American Chemical Society.

Obituary
William L. “Bill” Masterton passed away on June 19, 2005. He is survived by his wife Loris with whom he shared 52 years of marriage; two sons, Fred and Reynold “Peter”; and four grandchildren – Meghan, Jennifer, Jessica, and Kevin. Bill lived in both Mansfield, CT and his family homestead in Center Conway, NH.

He served in the US Army in 1946 and 1947 and was stationed in Korea. He earned his PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1953, and was professor of chemistry at the University of Connecticut from 1955 until retirement in 1987. During his tenure at the University, he received an award as Best Teacher in 1966, and his freshman chemistry classes were always “standing room only.” He served as president of the UConn Chapter, American Association of University Professors. He is perhaps best known for writing several editions of the freshman chemistry textbook Chemical Principles with co-authors Emil Slowinski (early editions) and Cecile Hurley (later editions).

He recently turned his lifelong interest in the famous Lizzie Borden case into a historical novel, Lizzie Didn’t Do It, defending his theory that Lizzie was innocent, and giving his version of the events of August 4th 1892. Bill was also an avid trout fisherman and strong supporter of causes such as Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and colleagues.