Lizzie in Newport

by Sherry Chapman

First published in August/September, 2004, Volume 1, Issue 4, The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies.

The word “paparazzi” had probably not come into usage yet, but after the much-publicized trial of Lizzie Borden in 1893 she felt the need to escape them. The spotlight had been on her since the gruesome double axe murders of her father and stepmother in August of 1892 and scarcely let up until her trial ended in acquittal in June of the following year.

She was tired. She had probably assumed that once the trial was over she would be left alone in her hometown of Fall River, but there was no respite. And now people who had been her supporters during her ordeal had begun asking themselves, “If she didn’t do it, who did?”, creating doubts about the trial, the jury, her defense team and herself. She knew that, at least for a while, she had to get away. Then, once refreshed, she would be able to come home and face whatever awaited her.

The night of June 5, 1893 (the night of her acquittal) was cause for celebration. Charles Jarvis Holmes and his wife Marianna (or Mary Anna) had been acquainted with Lizzie since a child when she went to school with the two Holmes daughters, Mary L. and Anna Covell Holmes. The Holmes’ attended the Central Congregational Church, as did Lizzie. Although their church work was in different areas—Lizzie teaching the Chinese and Mary Anna a member of the Bible class of the Sunday school—the two women were both members of the Women’s Board of the Fall River Hospital (Hospital of the Good Samaritan) where they had served together two to three years [1].

Lizzie socialized with the Holmes daughters. Besides other outings, the Holmes girls were two of several friends that were using Dr. Handy’s cottage in Marion, where Lizzie was expected on August 8th to join them—until the murders put an end to her vacation plans.

Mrs. Holmes visited Lizzie often when she was incarcerated in the Fall River Police Station matron’s quarters during the preliminary hearing [2]. Though prisoners were not normally allowed visitors so often, the rules were bent for Lizzie. Charles Holmes sat in the courtroom daily, escorting her to and from court along with Reverend Buck [3]. They believed most firmly in her innocence, and they never wavered from their stance.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Holmes testified at Lizzie’s trial for the defense. Mrs. Holmes had gone to the Borden home when she heard of the murders and visited the house daily to lend her support and do whatever she could to assist. Mary Anna Holmes testified that Lizzie shed tears when she viewed her father’s body in his casket and kissed him [4]. She told the court that Lizzie wore black to the funeral. Both Charles and Mary Anna were questioned about the Hannah Reagan incident, where Lizzie supposedly had told Emma she had given her away, and an affidavit was drawn up for Mrs. Reagan to sign saying she never heard that being said at all. According to Charles Holmes, Mrs. Reagan looked at the paper and said it was true and that she would sign it, but Marshal Hilliard forbade it [5]. 

But all this was behind her now, and she had a lifetime of freedom ahead. What better way to start it off than a gathering at the Holmes’ Pine Street residence, where Lizzie’s most staunch supporters were invited to stop by and offer their congratulations. It was at this gathering that Lizzie gave one of her last interviews as well.

Perhaps the idea was brought up to Lizzie before the party, or maybe it was thought of that night. In any event, Lizzie was invited to vacation for a couple of weeks with one of the Holmes’ daughters at the home of William King Covell in Newport, a relative of the Holmes family.

Planning a recent trip to Fall River, I wanted to take a day and drive to Newport, Rhode Island to ogle the mansions of the Gilded Age. A friend had suggested I look up the house that Lizzie stayed in. I was pretty sure the house wouldn’t even be standing, and I was fairly certain that when I sent off a note of inquiry to the historical society in Newport I would not receive an answer before I left home.

I was wrong on both counts. Not only was the house still standing, but I was given the address of two houses owned by William King Covell: one inland, and the other an oceanfront home.

I made my own maps from the Internet. The houses were actually not far from one another. It would be easy to find Washington Street, I thought, as we entered Newport and drove toward the oceanfront properties to the west. I don’t know what happened, but suddenly it didn’t look like we were going the right way. I asked my husband what he had done. He said he only did what I told him to do. I am blessed with a really nice husband, who is a brilliant engineer. But when it comes to directions, I’ll just say he is worse than me, and I’m no Magellan.

Suddenly the sign “Washington Street” appeared in front of us. Despite all of my mapping and planning, we ended up running into it accidentally. That’s okay. Still counts. We watched the house numbers until we reached number 72. And there it was. A huge, beautiful light blue house right on the ocean, but hard to see because of hedges and fences and other things around it blocking a clear view. It is a Bed & Breakfast today called “Sanford-Covell Villa Marina on the Water.”

We parked our van and got out. Both of us take photos when I’m working. A maintenance man was painting the porch, and we greeted him. I asked if it was okay to take some photos of the outside of the house—that I was working on a book that would feature a small part on Newport. At the time I didn’t realize I had a whole article here. He was very friendly and let us come onto the property to take pictures. He apologized for the manager/owner not being home at the time. Otherwise, he said, we could have gone inside. Since I didn’t believe this to be the house Lizzie stayed at in 1893, I was more than happy with photos of the exterior. 

We went on to Farewell Street, which is inland, part of a section of old historic homes. The houses were interesting and built fairly close together. We were looking for Number 43. It was not hard to find. It was a large maroon colored house with cream trim. Only the small sign hanging from a chain on the front porch told us that it is called the “Covell Guest House.” 

A woman was in the yard with her dog, and I introduced us. I told her I was writing a book, as I had told the maintenance man at the oceanfront house, and asked permission to take some outside photos. She was very nice and said that we could. 

We were starting to take our photos when she asked if we’d like to see the inside. I didn’t need to be asked twice. When she opened the front door, we were greeted immediately by a carpeted, narrow stairway. We were going back in time—back to Lizzie’s time. I could feel it.

There was no mention of Lizzie Borden, and I thought that a little strange. I would think that was the drawing point for guests. But there was nothing outside and no conversation from our guide about her. So I started.

“You know,” I said, “Lizzie Borden stayed here.” 

She looked at me and said, “No. She didn’t.” 

“She didn’t?” 

“No.” 

“I think she did. After her trial, in 1893. She came here for a couple of weeks to rest.” 

“Oh,” the woman said. “She stayed over in that house on the ocean.” We were walking through the house, and its beauty was not lost on me, even in my confused state. The bedrooms were gorgeous! Which one did Lizzie stay in? Will we ever know? 

“The Covells didn’t move into the ocean house until 1895.” 

“What year was the trial?”

 “1893.”

“This house was built in 1810.” 

“Yes, and it’s beautiful!” 

“Thank you.” 

She led the way to a sitting room that looked as if guests from the Victorian era had just gotten up and left the room. “Well, I’m pretty sure she did stay here,” I ventured. 

I was trying to imagine what Lizzie would have been doing in this room. Reading? Talking animatedly with one of the Holmes’ daughters? Playing a game, perhaps. Suddenly I was jolted back to this century when our guide said, “Well? What if she did? I mean, what good does it do to know?” 

This was a first. I had never met anyone that was not interested in Lizzie Borden, and here (I think) this lady owned the very house Lizzie probably not only stayed in, but had that famous photo of her taken—the one of her standing in back of the chair with a small book in her hand, her strange eyes pulling you in to her own story.

“Well, the publicity alone couldn’t hurt,” I almost stammered. She waved her hand aside as if to say, “who cares.” We finished our lovely tour, and I thanked her very much. It was a true treat. My husband and I finished taking our exterior shots, and we bid the woman goodbye with more thank yous. She was a very nice lady, and it was kind of her to take us through the house and let us take our photos. 

The seed had been planted. Was she right? Was this not the house where Lizzie stayed? Maybe the Covells moved into their oceanfront home before 1895. No. She was wrong. She had to be wrong because—because what? Maybe the research I did before coming to Newport was wrong. It’s happened before. 

Busy the rest of the day with a fabulous drive by the Newport mansions and doing research for my book, we reached our hotel in Somerset late. But it was now or never. I had to find out which house was The One. I was given a brochure of the oceanfront bed and breakfast and, though it was nearing 10 PM, I took a chance and dialed the phone number printed on the cover.

A woman answered, and I asked if she was the owner. She said she was, and I told her I had been there earlier in the day taking outside photos, and her maintenance man had given me a brochure. She exuded warmth and fine breeding, and it came as little surprise to me to learn she was a descendant of the Covell and Ramsey families of old Fall River, Anne Ramsey Cuvelier. 

When I told her of my confusion about the Farewell Street house, she verified that her family did not purchase the oceanfront house until 1895, and Lizzie Borden did take her much-needed vacation at the Farewell Street house. 

She was very happy to talk Lizzie with me. I apologized for calling so late in the evening, and she said she usually doesn’t answer such calls but she did this time, and we were both glad. She asked me to hang on a minute, and when she came back on the line she had her mother, who is 95 years old, also on the line and we had a 3-way conversation. Her mother was as sharp as anyone younger. Incredibly, she talked of her father’s father, James Ramsey, walking past 92 Second Street on the morning of the murders. “It was very hot,” she said he had said. 

The family went to the same church as Lizzie in Newport. Anne’s mother thought it was a Methodist church but wasn’t certain. In Fall River, the Holmes family and the Bordens attended the Central Congregational Church.

Lizzie had given them a “bread and butter gift” of six pie forks. Unfortunately, four had ‘disappeared’ during the course of the B & B’s existence. They did have two left. The oceanfront house also has all of the original furniture from the house on Farewell Street. 

Anne invited me to come see her the next day, but I had an appointment with a museum curator and my time in Fall River was coming to an end. I don’t think I have ever hated turning down an invitation as much as that one. 

Anne and her mother spoke of their belief in Lizzie’s innocence. It was a strong belief, passed down through generations. Their family knew Lizzie, and they believed they knew she didn’t do it. Before we said goodbye, Anne caught my attention—I can still hear her saying it. She said, “Poor Lizzie!” You could hear that her heart was in it. 

I had always thought Lizzie Borden guilty. But at that moment I realized What if she didn’t do it? Then, ‘poor Lizzie’ was the best one could do. 

You can learn more about both of these Newport houses, and see photos of the interiors on the www. For the Sanford-Covell Bed & Breakfast go to: www.sanford-covell.com.

For the Covell Guest House go to: http://web-knowledge.com/covell/index.html

Notes:

1. Trial testimony, pages 1497-1512.

2. Trial testimony, pages 1497-1512.

3. Trial testimony, page 1520.

4. Trial testimony, page 1505, 1511.

5. Trial testimony, page 1517.