Mondo Lizzie Borden

A new book by A. Cheree Carlson was published by the University of Illinois Press, in December of last year, that includes a chapter on the Lizzie Borden case of 1892.

The Crimes of Womanhood: Defining Femininity in a Court of Law.

This book has seven chapters, and one entire one is devoted to Lizzie. Chapter six is titled: “Womanhood An Asset and Liability: Lizzie Andrew Borden”

Here is the review and product description from amazon.com

Review
“This enjoyable and readable book adds significantly to our understanding of the construction and embodiment of gender during the 1860s through the 1920s. A nuanced, complex mosaic of public conversations about gender.” Martha Watson, author of Lives of Their Own: Rhetorical Dimensions in Autobiographies of Women Activists “Written in a lively style and full of insightful analysis, The Crimes of Womanhood offers an important contribution to rhetorical scholarship. The book will make an excellent addition to courses exploring the intersections of rhetoric, gender, and/or the law in the U.S. I look forward to using it.” Sara Hayden, professor of communication studies, University of Montana “A provocative read. Carlson illustrates the ways that historical legal narratives–presented as factual, neutral, and objective–were, indeed, highly rhetorical and highly gendered. Her call for a rhetorical reframing of our narratives regarding women, both within the legal realm and outside it, is nothing less than call for expanding our cultural repertoire of the possibilities for successful femininity.” Cindy L. Griffin, co-editor of Feminist Rhetorical Theories: A Reader

Product Description
Cultural views of femininity exerted a powerful influence on the courtroom arguments used to defend or condemn notable women on trial in nineteenth-century and early-twentieth-century America. A. Cheree Carlson analyzes the colorful rhetorical strategies employed by lawyers and reporters in the trials of several women of varying historical stature, from the insanity trials of Mary Todd Lincoln and Lizzie Borden’s trial for the brutal slaying of her father and stepmother, to lesser-known trials involving insanity, infidelity, murder, abortion, and interracial marriage. Carlson reveals clearly just how narrow was the line that women had to walk, since the same womanly virtues that were expected of them–passivity, frailty, and purity–could be turned against them at any time. With gripping retellings and incisive analysis, this book will appeal to historians, rhetoricians, feminist researchers, and anyone who enjoys courtroom drama.

Today, from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m., WSAR radio in Fall River became one big Lizzie Borden lovefest. The Hurricane (Mike Herron) called me yesterday and asked me to participate in the program to touch upon the history of the case for thirty minutes. Then when Jack McCullough and Jill Dalton came in at 4, he asked me to stay.

It was a really wonderful interview and I think that Jill and Jack expressed their art quite well. Their love of this story and the show they have put their heart and soul into is evident. I never tire of hearing of their process, and Jill is especially lucid when talking about her vision and the story of the development of the show. All of this is as fascinating as the play itself!

“Mamma Ewe” Shelley Dziedzic and her Mutton Eaters was discussed at length in glowing terms, and the idea of her group dressing in period attire and helping at the event was very well received. The callers were very excited to hear that this was going to be part of the evening’s festivities.

There were phone calls from the city as well as distant states! One caller complained that the residents of the city of Fall River might find the ticket price of $40 out of their budget, as, she said, that is a lot of money for someone who lives in Fall RIver. . . .

Both myself and the Hurricane came down hard on this person as first of all, the $40 includes food and a trolley ride, plus the show, and secondly, Fall River is not on welfare! We can afford the ticket price here, thank you very much. It was quite an insult.

Other than that, it was a great time had by all. Now will the Hurricane get that Andrew Borden outfit he is asking for . . . . he plans to arrive at the show dressed as the old man, and promises to promote the show further.

Tickets are still available, but are going fast. Please visit LizzieBordenLive.com for tickets!

Saturday, June 20, 2009. Trolley service begins at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of The Eagle Performing Arts Center, 35 N. Main Street, Fall River, MA. Appetizers are served at 6:30 and the show begins at 8 p.m.

More pieces by Marc Dion have popped up online tonight, advertising Lizzie Borden Live, which plays this weekend, on Saturday, June 20, the anniversary of Lizzie Borden’s acquittal.

That makes three in one paper for Tuesday’s print copy! How exciting!

Here is a link to all three articles:

Play Pulls Back the Curtain on Lizzie’s Post-Trial Life
Mutton Eaters Have a Taste for History
A Night of Dinner, Drinks, and Murder

The folks at Top Hat Productions have done it again.

From the folks that brought you In Lizzie’s Hand, have produced another high quality magic trick that will astound!

With the popularity of television shows like CSI, The Mentalist, Medium and Cold Case File, crime solving is the latest fad. Let’s go back to 1892 and try to solve the Lizzie Borden Case!

THE RUSE:
Studies have explained that humans make terrible witnesses as they interpret what they think they see. It is believed by some that inanimate objects are also witnesses to crimes and can retain vibrations from the event. The mentalist will demonstrate this fact.

THE ROUTINE:
Five “suspect” envelopes are displayed along with the suspects from the Borden murders. Each photograph has a description of each person. The photographs are randomly placed in each envelope and are mixed up to make the choice completely random. The spectator selects one of the envelopes and looks inside to see the suspect. The envelopes are remixed.

Mentalist now introduces a skeleton key on a chain. He explains that this is Andrew Borden’s key which was discovered in the fireplace after the murders took place. The key is a witness to the crime. The key is help by the chain and is held over each suspect envelope. Suddenly, over one of the envelopes, the key begins to rise as if repelled by what is inside the envelope. Of course it is the selected suspect!

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE:
The complete instructions include some other performance ideas. In fact, if you wish to lighten the routine and not use the Borden theme, we include “evidence” cards with photographs of weapons as seen in the Clue style board game so the key will discover the murder weapon. If you are a fan of Bizarre magic or wish to perform something a bit out of the ordinary, this is for you! There are some clever methods employed in this routine. No magnets or electronics used!

SOME HISTORY:
Back in 1979, Top Hat Productions came out with a trick called Ed Hill’s Skeleton Key. We have revisited this effect and improved the method, routine and set-up. This takes under a minute to set up and can be performed easily.

Performed by Bruce Kalver at the 2009 Blackpool Convention, everyone passing our booth wanted to see the key.

A very limited number of Borden Keys have been made. Order quickly!

Only $55.

A “photo” essay on the Lizzie Borden story appeared in the December, 1938, edition of Pic Magazine.

I blogged here about the Lizzie image in 2006, referring to the image of her as a “lipstick Lizzie.”

Here they are for your viewing pleasure! Click to enlarge.

Purchase your tickets here!

From the press release for Lizzie Borden Live—-

Lizzie Borden is coming back home to Fall River on the 116th anniversary of her acquittal in New Bedford Superior Court this June 20th. New York writer and actress, Jill Dalton, resurrects the spirit of Fall River’s most infamous character in a chilling, solo performance entitled, Lizzie Borden Live.

“I wanted to give Lizzie a voice to tell her own story following her day in court,” stated Ms. Dalton. “That’s something she was not able to do when she was doped up on morphine during her famous murder trial.”

Lizzie Andrew Borden was found innocent in a court of law, but judged guilty in the court of public opinion. She was condemned by society and shunned in her hometown. Ms. Dalton powerfully evokes Lizzie’s emotional turmoil and psychic trauma. She wrote the play from Lizzie’s point of view so that “the audience can hear her side of the story for the first time.”

The legend comes to life with humor, empathy and insight when Lizzie steps on stage at the Eagle Performing Arts Center on 35 North Main Street at 8 PM on Saturday, June 20th. This production, sponsored by the Luso American Gallery of Antiquities, is funded in part by grants from the John and Abigail Adams Program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Four Cities Collaborative of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

“In addition to this state support, the Mayor’s Office and the Arts Uniting Fall River collaborative have participated in the planning and promotion of this community event and fundraiser,” noted LAGOA curator, Stephen L. Cabral. “Our organization is committed to promoting the arts, preserving our cultural history and providing scholarship funds for promising students. Lizzie Borden Live will help support these goals.”

Jill Dalton is an award winning New York actress with a long list of television and theatre credits. She has appeared in Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, As the World Turns, All my Children, One Life to Live and Saturday Night Live. The East Lynne Theater Company in Cape May, New Jersey commissioned this play, which opened to standing ovations from the audience and critics alike. Ms. Dalton won the 2007 Jacoby Award for her portrayal in Lizzie Borden Live.

This dramatic crime thriller is set 13 years after the double murder at Maplecroft, the Highlands mansion Lizzie bought with money inherited from her father. According to the Red Rock News of Sedona, Arizona:

“Dalton gives a compelling performance capturing the humanity, humor, irony and sadness of a woman who had time to reflect on horrific events. She enacts a Lizzie that has never been portrayed anywhere in stage, screen or literature. ”

Fall River native son, Jack McCullough, is the director of the show, which has toured New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Arizona. Mr. McCullough, a graduate of the Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Providence, RI, has also made his mark on stage and screen, but prefers to work behind the scenes of Lizizie Borden Live. Jack has envisioned this homecoming since the play first opened. He insists that this production will make the audience think twice.

“We are very excited about performing on stage in the heart of Lizzie’s old neighborhood. Jill and Lizzie have a compelling story to tell. People come to see Lizzie expecting to find a monster and instead they discover themselves.”

Check your calendar and order your $40 tickets from LAGOA, Inc. by calling 508-673-6624. Seating is limited to 160 so make your reservations now. The doors of the Eagle Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30 PM. Harpist, Judy Mitchell will set the musical tone for the night, and members of the MuttonEaters, dressed in period garb, will greet and engage the guests at the light buffet and cash bar prior to the show.

Lizzie Borden Live challenges the audience to rethink the legend that is Lizzie Borden. Think you know her? Think again!

Stephen L. Cabral, Ph.D.
Curator/President
Luso American Gallery of Antiquities, Inc. (LAGOA)
484 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720
Tel. 508-673-6624

Cowabunga!

The new book about Lizzie Borden and her Fall River being written by the curatorial staff at the Fall River Historical Society is going to change everything!

Everything we thought we knew about Miss Lizzie A. Borden, everything we have heard so far, read so far, seen so far, decided so far, is going to have to be revised. Parallel Lives is not only a highly entertaining exploration of Fall River’s turbulent history, but is a watershed treatise on one of America’s most enigmatic women.

For the very first time, we see the flesh and blood Lizzie Borden. She is now three-dimensional to us, with depth, and breadth, and length, and height. And the most remarkable thing about it all is that nobody who has written about her in the past has even come close to the real Lizzie. All those books, all those words, all those guesses and deductions and suppositions, all of them are going to be obsolete.

I can’t even recall a book that has done this type of work before—a book that takes a true historical person, an icon to masses, feared by some, and loathed by many more, and spins the story of their life so that the main character emerges as someone unexpected, someone who we have never met before, someone who has literally been made new.

You can throw away all of your other Lizzie Borden books when this one is published. You won’t need them anymore. In fact, you will mostly laugh at them and look back in wonder at how their authors have fallen short.

The late Paul Harvey did an episode once on Lizzie Borden. Here she is for your enjoyment!

The folks at the Fall River Historical Society have added another “tantalizing tidbit” from their forthcoming book on Lizzie Borden—Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.

This time it is a Lizzie Borden letter!

I wonder what goes in the blanks. Let’s guess!

Ric Rebelo is working on a master’s project titled Lizbeth: A Victorian Nightmare. It is all about the Lizzie Borden case and asks the question Who Killed the Bordens?

Five minutes of the project has been put together and posted on YouTube. It stars your truly (in my worst hairdo ever!), Len Rebello, author of Lizzie Borden Past & Present, and Jules Ryckebusch, former editor of The Lizzie Borden Quarterly.

The Spring 2009 issue of The Hatchet: Lizzie Borden’s Journal of Murder, Mystery & Victorian History is now available for sale in both subscription (online pdf) and print.

If you want to subscribe, for only $15 per year, to the Online edition, please visit The Hatchet.

If you would like to purchase the print copy, for only $14.99, please visit the sales site for The Hatchet.

A new telling of the Lizzie Borden story appeared today on the Rotten Works blog. The writer, RottenOne, gets the story somewhat right. The basic gist is there, and fairly well told, as far as the truth of the matter is concerned. However, like almost all writers on the case these days, and speakers for that matter, the author makes some egregious errors of fact and substitutes fantastical exaggerations instead of sticking to the real story.

Let’s start with paragraph 2: “Their house was small with no indoor plumbing and no hot running water.” Not true, McGee! Andrew had the water department connect to the house almost as soon as the service was available in his part of town.

This from the Lizzie Borden Quarterly (”Research Discovers an Unknown Side to Andrew J. Borden,” July 1997), “At Andrew Borden’s Second Street home, the connection for city water (applied for under Account No. 223) was made on June 19, 1874 by Cook and Grew, plumbers. The house was outfitted with not one, but two, faucets. Water rates as published by the Fall River Water Board were $5.00 annually for one faucet and $2.50 annually for each additional faucet, thereby resulting in a $7.50 water charge for the Borden residence.”

Paragraph 3: “To try and restore peace Andrew Borden has guests come to the house and has Lizzie spend time with their more affluent relatives. This seems to only make matters worse. But it was during one of these family visits that the crime occurs. After one of the cousins has spent the night and left the house, Abby is upstairs tidying the room. It was while she was cleaning the room that she takes 19 blows to the head. Within a few minutes Andrew Borden comes home because he isn’t feeling well. After lying down for a few minutes he gets 11 blows to the head. Eleven savage blows that completely destroy his face. Both parents are dead within a matter of minutes.”

This is the first time I have heard that Andrew invited people to his house, affluent relatives, to make Lizzie feel better. Source please. And it was not a cousin who arrived the evening before the murders, but Lizzie’s uncle, John Vinnicum Morse, the brother of her deceased mother. While Abby did indeed get whacked 19 times, Andrew’s blow count was ten. The blows did not completely destroy Andrew’s face as the attack was focused on his left side.

Paragraphs 7 & 8: “And then things begin to spiral out of control. Lizzie is taken into custody and questioned. She gives conflicting testimony and defiantly refers to Abby as her step mother, not her mother. Lizzie is arrested and charged with three counts of murder, one for each parent and one for the pair.

During the trial many additional details come to light. Lizzie is said to have tried to buy poison a few days before. She is said to have burned a stained dress. It’s later found Lizzie is questioned without her attorney present and she’s been given sedatives by the doctor who came over to investigate the crime.”

Lizzie was not taken into custody at this time. In fact, she appeared at the Inquest on her own volition, which was held from August 9-11. A warrant had been issued on August 8, but was not served. She appeared without counsel at the Inquest, and was under the influence of morphine, which was being administered by Dr. Bowen. She was not charged with the crimes until after the Grand Jury indicted her on December 2, 1892. Lizzie was thought to have attempted to buy prussic acid the day before the murders, not a few days before.

Paragraph 11: “Undaunted, Lizzie does indeed buy her big house on the hill; a 14 bedroom complete with housekeeper and servants.”

Maplecroft has 14 rooms. Not 14 bedrooms. This is not a mansion, but rather a large house.

Paragraph 12: “Emma, who realizes there will be no peace living with Lizzie decides to take her leave and move out. She moves away and it’s the last time the sisters speak. Lizzie remains alone until her death, never quite achieving the status she craves.”

We have no evidence that Lizzie and Emma never spoke again. They owned property together and had later business dealings after the time Emma moved out. Lizzie never married, but I wouldn’t say she remained alone until her death. She surrounded herself with friends. She had servants living in her home. And I am not sure just what status Lizzie craved . . . and how anyone can know this enigmatic woman’s mind so well as to state this.

Like I said, this is one of the more accurate descriptions of the case! Mostly the story is well told and thoughtful. It is a good attempt at the case, but one that, in the end, furthers the myths of this case in ways that do not contribute to the scholarship.

The most recent issue of The Hatchet: Lizzie Borden’s Journal of Murder, Mystery & Victorian History has a wonderful interview with wunderkind director Cameron Munson.

Cameron is the director of the new short film about the Borden case, called Bordenia, which just wrapped up shooting in Lancaster, PA.

And you are the very first to get a sneak preview of the new film!

This film is based on the Borden case and is placed in the modern day. The production value is remarkable and I am very much looking forward to its release.

Here is a link to the YouTube page if the film below does not play for some reason.

Thanks Cameron!

A blogger named Creepy Hallows claims to have channelled Lizzie Borden, after much effort. This is not a spoof site or does the writer present themselves as anything other than serious.

This is an interesting read and worth looking at. While I do not subscribe to the idea that they did, in fact, contact Lizzie, I did think that the insight the author gained by his or her concentrated efforts is extremely interesting. I especially liked the idea that Lizzie had “acted out” in inappropriate ways well before 1892. The details the author presents of that acting out are most interesting.

I go back and forth about Lizzie’s guilt in this case. My leanings these days are that she is innocent. So this psychic reading, to me, does not plug into my reality of the story. However, I present it to you for your judgment and reading pleasure.

Please read the entire posting here.

Here is a portion:

The tides of bitter resentment turned to all-out hatred around her early 20s which slowly evolved from doing petty annoyances to upset her step-mother to indifference in her late 20s when she became more thoughtful of driving a wedge between her step-mother and father. By that point she thought it better noone be happy if she wasn’t going to be. Of course by this time Andrew had shown years of favor to Abby and her family over Lizzie and Emma (her sister) and Lizzie being the intelligent woman she was, was offended.

It led to her doing things that would cause family arguments because no one could decidedly say who did them… like moving objects around the house, hiding things Andrew or Abby needed, cracking dishes over heat, placing soiled linens with the fresh ones, and so on. This caused a rift between the parents and the girls rather than causing the rift between Andrew and Abby which is what Lizzie wanted.

By the time Lizzie’s 30th birthday rolled around she was so distraught, exhausted and mentally stonewalled to a point of being devoid of emotion, she came to a conclusion that seemed logical in her, a warped perception of what reality should be, to be rid of her step-mother and father. She knew that the longer Andrew lived and the older Lizzie and Emma became the chances her father would leave his fortune to Abby’s family increased. Since God had not made her a male heir she felt she was sanctioned, by the fact of her abuse, in killing Andrew and Abby. She would inherit the estate of her father as she felt was right, she had earned every penny and she would do right by the fortune.

Her decision was made months before the actual murders and she had tried, unsuccessfully, to kill her step-mother before. Abby had leaned from the second story bedroom window while attempting to clean the glass and seeing her Lizzie had thought about pushing her out, but was nervous. The second time Abby was in the kitchen and Lizzie was going to stab her with the cutting knife, but they were interrupted. The third time she poisoned Andrew and Abby with polishing liquid, but since she was afraid they would taste the chemical in the food she only put a little which turned out to make them sick, not dead. By this time her fears and anxiety of committing the murders was dissolved and she was more focused.

When the morning of August 4th dawned she was steady. Abby tended the guest room and Lizzie knew that if she behaved just as any other day that there would be no reason for Abby to suspect anything. She walked evenly, with a regular stride coming behind Abby for the first and subsequent blows. She admitted that once she started and the blade sliced the skull it unleashed all the bottled rage she had supressed and when she meant to only strike once it was followed by 19 more blows. She removed her shoes, lifted her skirt and bunched it around her thighs and went immediately to the basement where she washed her shoes and removed the apron over her skirt. She rinsed the hatchet and set it on the second to top stair. There were little blood droplets that went through the apron to the skirt and she tried to smudge them out with water. She wrapped the apron tightly and tucked it next to the wash basin in the basement. She recomposed herself and waited for her father.

By the time Andrew came home she had recomposed herself and Andrew lay down to rest after a day in the heat. Lizzie had greeted him and offered him something to drink but rather than leave the room to get him a refreshment she returned with the hatchet. She said it was easier the second time knowing what it was going to be like and took it to her father’s face. I really felt like her attack against Andrew was far more personal that the one with Abby. She wanted to see her father’s face when she hit him and that in me caused a great tension around my sternum as I was hearing this from her.

Creepy Hallows.

According to Medium Georgia O’Connor, Lizzie Borden did not take an axe and give her mother 40 whacks. Nor her father 41. It was a known person to victim Andrew Borden, a man named Earl Matthews.

She also says that Andrew was first hit in a doorway, then hit again (she says stabbed) on the couch, and died on the floor. The blood was cleaned up. Also, that Andrew died first, as his wife was not home when it occurred.

On Nov. 15th 2008 renowned Medium Georgia OConnor , The Spirit Messenger, was presenting Graveside Chats as part of her Meet The Medium series for The Heritage Hunters of Saratoga County NY at the Ballston Spa Library. One of the audience members was a relative of Lizzie Borden. Lizzie came through and told Georgia the details of the famous murder, that she was innocent and also the name of her parents killer. Georgias website is MeetTheMedium.com

Link.