Newzletter - July/August, 2003

Well, it is August. The eighth month of the year. And we all know what that means. Another anniversary of the Borden murders. This one the 111th. It also means that summer is coming to a close and autumn is not far behind. It means that school is just around the corner, and you only have a few weeks left to read that pile of light fiction you had collected to happily pass the summer months. August is the only month of the year that doesn't have a holiday in it, which I guess makes it a long-feeling month.

I was born and raised in Florida. A "native" they call me. And I also hear that I am an uncommon individual because of this happenstance. Most others who call this state their home are transplants from other climes. For those of you who live in elevations and latitudes that get snow, Florida, for the most part, is a place without seasons. The landscape does not turn lovely shades of red and orange and brown in the fall. It stays mostly green. It doesn't get very cold here, and when it does, it doesn't stay that way for long. Without definite seasons, I have found I have no real feeling of growing older, no real sense of the passing of time. Each day is very much like the one before. Oh, the humidity rises and falls and something called a dew point fluctuates in some routine fashion. It rains more in the summer and we get hurricanes sometimes. But other than that, it is a predictable place to live, climatologically and botanically speaking.

Without seasons, without the cellular connection to the life and death of trees and leaves and the migration of birds, one can come to believe in timelessness. So, in my Fantasyland of Walt Disney World-ness (it is just down the road from here and the main reason why we don't pay state income taxes you know), I enjoy wondering what it must be like to have lived in Fall River in 1892. And I wonder if my southern born imagination can ever know the truth of that New England murder mystery. Do you suppose you have to be a Yankee to really figure it out?

Happy anniversary fellow Bordenites. Or as we on the Lizzie Borden Society Forum decided to phrase it (so as not to make it sound like a celebration): Best Regards On Borden Day.

"Whoosh!" a rustle of pigeon wings?
Could feathers make the noise I hear
That breaks the leaden, August calm?
No, this is something else, I fear.
" Whoosh" and then "thunk," and now again!
Again! Again! Again! Again!
Unceasing, urgent comes the sound.
The quick, hard drops of summer rain?
There's quiet then, and life resumes.
Hoofbeats, a carriage rattling by,
The hum of commerce in the town,
The peal of bells, the hawker's cry.
And in that house - that certain house
A cry goes up that echoes down
The years - a century and ten -
And still I'm haunted by that sound.

Copyright 2002 by Annette Weeks Baker. All rights reserved

These are the events related to the Lizzie Borden case that occurred in the month of August:

I have had 35 responses so far to my request for birth dates of Newzletter subscribers. Based on those who replied, here are my updated findings:

Perhaps of more interest than astrological signs is that one month had the most birthdays with TEN. The month is August. I wonder if the murder has specifically attracted these individuals because of their connection to this month?

I welcome additional data. Please email me with the date of your birth (not year).

Word-for-Word Performing Arts Company celebrates its 10th Anniversary with The Fall River Axe Murders by ANGELA CARTER. Directed by Amy Freed in collaboration with Jeffrey Bihr. The Magic Theater, Fort Mason Center, Building D, San Francisco, August 7 - September 7, 2003.

Angela Carter explores an event that has haunted the American imagination for over 100 years--the infamous Lizzie Borden case. With language that cuts like a knife, Carter slices open the scene of the crime and imagines what happens just before "Lizzie Borden with an axe/Gave her mother 40 whacks"

The Shaw Festival announces a 20% discount to subscribers of the Lizzie Borden Newzletter to "Blood Relations" by Sharon Pollock, written 1980, June to November 30.

“a psychological rollercoaster ride”—the Toronto Star

Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock - at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, running now until November 30th.

Receive a 20% discount on tickets to see Blood Relations*

Lizzie fans like you, won’t want to miss this fascinating interweaving of fact and legend in Sharon Pollock’s Blood Relations. Although Lizzie was never convicted and walked away from the murder trial with her freedom, her notoriety never faded. Pollock picks up her story ten years later, when Lizzie’s relationship with a Boston Actress draws them both into re-enacting the events that led up to the murders.

Call 1-800-511-7429 to order tickets, or to receive Shaw Festival information.

*Tickets are for selected performances. Call the Box Office for details.
Quote discount code LF when ordering.

The Shaw Festival is one of the largest repertory companies in North America, and the only theatre that specializes in plays written by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries — "plays about the beginning of the modern world." Productions run April to November in three different theatres, in a beautiful village 20 minutes down-river from Niagara Falls, and two hours from Toronto.

Visit their web site for ticket information.

Special Thanks to Kay Meilleur, Senior Manager Marketing Services, The Shaw Festival
for sending us these great photos of the show!

Thanks to Michael Martins, here is an updated list of the FRHS' calendar of events celebrating Fall River's Bicentennial:

Both the Fall River Historical Society and the Fall River Police Department have been busy redesigning their web sites. The FRHS expects their new and improved site to be up and running in the coming weeks. Their address will remain the same.

The Fall River Police Department's new site looks very nice but is still under construction. You can see this work in progress here.

The Fall River Public Library's renovation is expected to be completed this year. For some really fantastic images of the work in progress go to their site and see the amazing views.

I have recently added several new pages to the Lizzie Borden Virtual Museum and Library. They include:

Considered the preeminent journal for Borden scholars, buffs, and armchair detectives, the Lizzie Borden Quarterly has been in publication since January 1993. Publisher: Gabriela Adler, Editor: Maynard F. Bertolet, published by Bristol Community College in Fall River.

Here is the table of contents from the latest (July 2003) issue:

"Shattering the Myth" by Annette Holba
"Lizzie Laughables: Things That Make Me Go Hmm" by Sherry Chapman
"Abby's Mysterious Note" by William L. Masterton
"More About Annette Holba" by Maynard Bertolet
"50 for 50"
"Trial by Theory" part two of a play by Paul Fletcher
"Bibliographic Borden" by Lisa Zawadzki
"Lizbits" by Neilson Caplain
"Lizzie On Line" by Stefani Koorey
"Princess Maplecroft" by Mary T. Cusack
"Letters to the Editor" by Sherry Chapman and Harry Widdows

To Subscribe to the Lizzie Borden Quarterly, send your name
and address and your check or money order for
U.S.A.: 1 Year $18.00, 2 Years $30.00,
Non U.S.A.: 1 Year $24.00, 2 Years $40.00

Mail To:
Lizzie Borden Quarterly
Dr. Gabriela Schalow Adler - Publisher
Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA. 02720-7391

9. LIZZIE GIFTZ

Here is a list of the newest additions to the Lizzie Borden Gift Shop. Please visit the store at this address for contact information regarding purchasing these items.

Lizzie Borden Door Hanger. Laminated Lizzie Borden door hanger, perfect for any room in your house. Double-sided with a different message on each side. Side A reads: "Lizzie Borden's Room Enter at your own risk!"; Side B reads: "Lizzie Borden: Please knock and axe me if you can enter!" Original artwork decorates this distinctive and unique item. Laminated so it will last! The words "copy" appear in the advertisement only and are not on the finished product. FREE SHIPPING to the Continental US. All others pay actual shipping fees. $3.95 each or 2 for $7.00

Lizzie Borden Mouse Pads. Now for the first time you can own a Lizzie Borden Mouse Pad! The perfect holiday gift for anyone interested in the Borden murders of 1892, the history of Fall River, or Victorian America. These high quality mouse pads are 3/16th of an inch thick and measure 9.25 X 7.75 inches.This stunning mouse pad depicts Lizzie in front of the 92 Second Street house in Fall River, Mass. in which both her father and stepmother were murdered (see image). While Lizzie was tried and acquitted of the crimes, not everyone believes her to be innocent. Did she or didn't she? Shipping is $1.50 to continental US. $16.95 each or 2 for $32.00

Complete Primary Source Documents PLUS important books on the case on CD-ROM: Police Witness Statements (46 pages + full index); Inquest (2 vols.); Preliminary Hearing (5 vols., 460+ pages); Trial Transcript (2 vols., 1,900 + pages). PLUS The Fall River Tragedy (1893) by Edwin H. Porter and The Trial of Lizzie Borden (1937) by Edmund Pearson --- both books are in PDF format and contain all photographs from the original editions. All documents and books are in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer or operating system (Mac, PC, Linux). Now you can own all of the important primary sources on one disk! If purchased separately in hard paper format, your total would be at least $250. This copy of the Preliminary Hearing is in CORRECT ORDER. The original is not. Includes an original introductory essay that provides much needed information on the preliminary hearing process and Lizzie's process specifically. The disk includes all four documents, two important books on the case (Porter and Pearson), plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in JPG and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $49.95.

The Borden Murders and Their Aftermath, as reported in the New Bedford Evening Standard. One of the foremost and complete newspapers that covered the Borden tragedy of Fall River, Massachusetts, was the New Bedford Evening Standard. Almost all books on the Borden case draw heavily from its pages. Rich in detail, these news reports capture the flavor and atmosphere from the day of the crime to Lizzie’s ultimate acquittal. Now for the first time you can have a digitized transcription of the pages of this vital resource. Arranged by date, these articles if printed out would be over 460 pages in length. This collection does not include the trial coverage itself and is intended as a complement to the primary source documents found at this web site. These articles cover the daily side happenings during the period of the trial and the events leading up to it and its decision. Reading these pages is like being transported back in time to 1892-93 Fall River and New Bedford, Mass. Every attempt was made to make an exact duplicate of each daily article. This is a must for any Lizzie Borden buff who wants to read first hand about the excitement and drama surrounding the daily happenings of this extraordinary case. This important document is brought to you in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer or operating system (Mac, PC, Linux). The disk includes the extensive transcripts of the New Bedford Evening Standard plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in JPG and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $19.95.

Lizzie Borden -- The Murders and Their Aftermath, as reported by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. A little known upstate New York newspaper, the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, NY, devoted extensive coverage to the Borden murders in Fall River, Massachusetts and their aftermath in the years 1892 and 1893. In a series of 28 articles they present the daily happenings and events that were so captivating to the reading audience. The articles were transcribed and digitized using the exact spelling and factual errors to reflect the sense of the reporting of this real life drama and are made available for the very first time in this format. This well written and interesting series of articles is a welcome addition to any collector of material on one of the most horrific unsolved murder cases of all time. This collection is in PDF format for viewing on any computer system. The collection can be read with a free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download at Adobe.com. This unique and original collection has never before been offered for sale. Transcribed by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. $9.95

Lizzie Borden Screensaver! This specially created screensaver is for the Lizzie Borden buff, true crime reader, armchair detective, or historian. The screensaver contains over forty photographs covering the span of the 1892 Borden tragedy. Photos of Lizzie, the Bordens, the Morses, 92 Second Street, the victims, Fall River, Maplecroft, and the Oak Grove Cemetery graves are included. This unique and brand new item has never before been offered for sale. Created by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. This CD makes a great gift and installs in seconds on any PC running Windows. $11.95 includes FREE SHIPPING!

Lizzie Borden Bumper Sticker! Now for the first time you can own a "Lizzie Borden -- Did She or Didn't She?" bumper sticker. These high quality bumper stickers are made from the finest synthetic (polypropylene or polyester) materials.The color pigments are heat-fused onto the material.This makes the image resistant to weather,carwashes, etc. The stickers are flexible and easy to apply. Our bumper stickers are the standard 3" by 10" in size. The sticker is black and white (see image). Please note that the word "COPY" does not appear on the finished bumper sticker, it is used for advertisement purposes only. $4.95 each or 2 for $9.00, shipping is only 45 cents!

The Preliminary Hearing. 481 pages, 5 volumes. August 25 - September 1, 1892. Available for the first time in .pdf format on a CD-ROM. Searchable and complete. With introductory essay by Harry Widdows and Stefani Koorey. This copy does not require a word processing program to view as this disk's contents are in PDF format. In addition, this copy of the Preliminary Hearing is in CORRECT ORDER. The original is not. And finally, this copy of the Preliminary Hearing includes an original introductory essay that provides much needed information on the preliminary hearing process and Lizzie's process specifically. The disk includes the Preliminary Hearing plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in JPG and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $29.95

The Murder of Bertha Manchester, 1893, articles of the crime from the Evening Standard, New Bedford, Mass., May 31 to June 13, 1893, on CD-ROM. Says Lizzie Borden scholar, K. Koorey, "The pitiful saga of the Bertha Manchester murder was an important addendum to the legend of the Borden Case. The murder was committed in similar style, with similar weapon, in daylight, upon an innocent woman. It’s splash upon the headlines May 31, 1893, just days before the beginning of the trial of Lizzie Borden for the hatchet murder of her father and step –mother, may have influenced a jury pool that was about to be chosen to serve in the 'Trial of the Century.'" Volume contains thirteen articles and several newspaper images. Also includes an original Introduction and Epilogue by K. Koorey. This collection is in PDF format for viewing on any computer system. The collection can be read with a free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download at Adobe.com. This unique and original collection has never before been offered for sale. Transcribed by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. $7.95.

Edmund Pearson The Trial of Lizzie Borden and Edwin Porter The Fall River Tragedy, on CD-ROM. Pearson, Edmund. The Trial of Lizzie Borden. New York: Doubleday, 1937. Important work that includes great quantities of trial testimony, not generally found elsewhere, but criticized for his one-sided approach which favored Lizzie as the killer. Porter, Edwin H. The Fall River Tragedy. Fall River, MA: George R. H. Buffinton, Press of J. D. Munroe, 1893. Porter's book is the first major work in the field of Borden studies. Includes many rare photographs. Both books are complete and are in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer (Mac, PC, Linux). The disk includes both books (and all photos from the original editions) plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in JPG and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery, and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $19.95

Lost Lesbian Lives contains three one-woman plays written by actress and playwright Marjorie Conn. It includes The Honeymoon Years of Eleanor Roosevelt & Lorena Hickok, Miss Lizzie A. Borden Invites You to Tea, Thar She Blows! Disguised as a Boy She Went A'whaling. These works and others represent Marj's unwavering commitment to recording and restoring the lives of lesbians, lives which have been all too often erased from history. The plays in this book focus on three very different women: Lorena Hickok, an early female reporter and the lover of Eleanor Roosevelt. Lizzie Borden, the subject of the 19th Century Trial of the Century, who was also the lover of a famous actress. Isabella Chase, a fictional character patterned after the real women who disguised themselves as men and served on whaling and other ships in the mid-19th Century. Each of them encompasses a part of the North American lesbian experience, and thus is a part of our history. All 3 plays are one-woman plays and have enjoyed productions in Provincetown, MA and New York City. Excellent monologue material for women (and men in drag) of all ages.

Excellent reading material. All 3 characters have in common their love for animals. 10% of the proceeds for this book is being donated to Greyhound Rescue Organizations. Lost Lesbian Lives is a captivating read by itself, and the perfect companion for those fortunate enough to see Marj perform one or all of these great plays. Happy Reading! $17, includes shipping. $17.00

So this woman walks into a pharmacy and asks the pharmacist for some arsenic. He asks "What for?" She says "I want to kill my husband." He says "Sorry, I can't do that." She then reaches inter her handbag a pulls out a photo of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife and hands it to him. He says, "You didn't tell me you had a prescription..."