Mondo Lizzie Borden

UPDATE: auction ended early on July 22. No other details than this from eBay: “The seller ended this listing early because the item is no longer available for sale.”

This just popped up on eBay, but don’t let the auction fool you. This is NOT Lizzie Borden of Fall River hatchet murder fame. It might be some lady named “Lizzy Borden” as the signature states, but it isn’t Lizzie Andrew Borden. 100 bucks plus 10 for shipping. Hmmm. Let me see . . . was I born yesterday? Nope. And neither were you.

An Actual Photo of the Ax Murderer Lizzy Borden?

The photo is in nice shape but for a small chip visible near her right eye

Print in bottom of photo reads “No Main St ALLEN Mansfield MA” and the photo is Signed “Lizzie Borden”, is it her signature?, probally not as it appears to be written in blue ballpoint ink which was not available when lizzy was alive.

This photo was found stuck in a book about lizzie borden at an estate sale about 10 miles from Fall River Massachusetts

This may or may not be a photo of her, it looks like a lot like her but Lizzy was a little plumper, the photo is being sold as is/as found

In “Either Way it Goes Down . . . America’s 54 Women on Death Row in the Context of Patriarchy,” DeAnna M. Horne examines “the experience of women in the criminal justice system” and concludes that “sex-role stereotyping prevails over context-specific reasoning” and that “the application of justice for women is skewed.”

She uses the first 15 pages to examine the Lizzie Borden case as a traditional way of “looking at women in the criminal justice system.”

Her conclusion?

In the view of chivalry theorists, “real” women are spared from harsh treatment by our criminal justice system due to their perceived feminine nature. Women are less responsible for their actions, in this view, and therefore, less culpable and less likely to pose a continuing danger to society. “Real” women are hysterical, childlike, weak, and delicate. They are white and they are rich. True ladies—idle, respectable, proper, and useless—can not murder. They are wholly dependant upon men and they are victims totally subsumed by male domination. They are naturally timid, fit only for the domestic sphere. They are fit only for the role of wife and mother. If a man won’t marry them, these women may still behave with propriety, but it must be in the service of a man. “Real” women don’t kill.

When women accused of violent crime are seen as “real” women, they are acquitted, like Lizzie, or given sentences that are relatively light. Even if the jury had believed that Lizzie killed her parents, the perceived weak and passive nature of women make them less culpable for any violent crimes they have committed. In the view of the chivalry theory, Lizzie Borden was acquitted because as a woman she was weak, submissive, dependent and passive.

For the complete text of this 47-page article, you can download the PDF here.

The Fall River Historical Society has placed on its web site the Summer 2002 issue of The Fall River Historical Society Report.

This one is a keeper, so download it now. It has the new image, just revealed in this issue, of Alice Russell as an old woman. You will love the candid of her in her chair. The accompanying article is great!

Get the complete PDF copy here.

How cool. And not to late to get seats! Who wants to go with me?

The Nashville Ballet announces its new season.

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville, TN – Nashville Ballet announces its 2006-2007 Season, featuring a world-premiere interpretation of the infamous legend of Lizzie Borden, a ballet with local singers/songwriters from Bluebird Cafe, the Nutcracker holiday tradition and the world’s most recognized classical ballet, Swan Lake. All of the Nashville Ballet series performances will feature live music.

Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling planned the season to showcase the diversity of ballet. “Each year we try to give audiences many different reasons to come see us,” he explained. “Whether you love interesting and creative new material, collaborations with renowned members of the Nashville music community or the beauty and tradition of classical ballet, this season has something for you.”

Fall Series: The Legend of Lizzie Borden October 6-8, 2006, Polk Theater at TPAC. The Legend of Lizzie Borden, Journey, Serenade and Lydian Fanfares, a tribute to Maestro Schermerhorn The highlight of the fall series is Vasterling’s own spin on the infamous legend of Lizzie Borden. In 1892, she was found innocent of the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother, a verdict that is still debated to this day. This original ballet is choreographed to Fall River Legend, composer Morton Gould’s dark musical interpretation of Lizzie Borden’s controversial story.

The Nashville Symphony performs for The Legend of Lizzie Borden and the three accompanying ballets: Journey, Serenade and Lydian Fanfares. Salvatore Aiello’s Journey showcases the athleticism of the company’s male dancers. George Balanchine’s beautiful Serenade, his first ballet performed in the United States, is set to the music of Tchaikovsky. The program will also include a special tribute to the late Maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn with a ballet set to his composition, Lydian Fanfares.

I love it when the Lizzie Borden case is used in school to help teach students about society, law, history or theatre. Here is another great example of teachers working hard to inspire their kids to learn about important concepts using cool subjects as context.

From Summer 2004, The Austin News:

Austin Preparatory School students reenacted the trial of Lizzie Borden on April 28, 2004 in celebration of Law Day. The infamous Lizzie Borden was accused, tried, and acquitted of killing her father and stepmother in Fall River during the summer of 1892.

This trial was the culmination of a semester’s worth of work by 65 juniors and seniors enrolled in Law and Sociology classes. The prosecution and the defense relied on factual data and accounts found in William Masterson’s book Lizzie Didn’t Do It!, along with several other sources approved by Austin teachers and program directors Brian Chenery and David Hoffses.

“The students worked very hard to prepare for the trial,” said Chenery. “They even competed for the roles of Lizzie Borden and the defense’s closing attorney.” Students interested in those parts went before their classmates during a free period to answer questions testing their knowledge of the subject. In the end, the young woman who was least riled by the audience won the role of Lizzie Borden, and a confident public speaker earned her part as the defense’s closing attorney.

Austin parent and lawyer, Michael McHugh, served as the judge, while other parents served on the jury. After several hours of court, and some time spent deliberating, the jury found Lizzie not guilty. In the end, Chenery was most pleased with the students’ performance. “They did a tremendous job,” he said. “I enjoy watching the students discover hidden talents in the process of preparing for trial. They learn things about the real world: meeting deadlines, preparing for presentations, and working with a team.”

Here is the complete PDF download of the story.