Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I have been trying to find some information on the men who sat on the jury for the Lizzie's trial. These are the men that ultimately decided Lizzie's fate, and I am frustrated there seems to be so little information about them. Well, that I have been able to find so far anyway. There may be and I just haven't run into yet. I think it's odd there isn't more information. Today we interview jurists who sat on controversial or headline grabbing cases. We want to know what their opinions are, and how they arrived at the final verdict. After all they are the key players in the whole show. Isn't every word spoken in court and every exhibit directed towards the jury? Yet there seems to be precious little mention of them. Does anybody know where I may be able to find more about them? Or have some information they would like to share with me?

Where have you looked?
You may have already tried where I would first suggest, which is Part 1 of the Trial transcription, during the selection process.

Kat @ Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:25 pm wrote:Where have you looked?
You may have already tried where I would first suggest, which is Part 1 of the Trial transcription, during the selection process.

Yes, I've read that part of the trial that deals with the selection process. I'm just not having much luck with finding information anywhere else.
Very few of the newspapers I have read make any mention of them, and the same goes for the authors.

Thought you were a guy Allen. Here you won a bunch of fishing equipment at the "Uncle John Killed Abby" site. Will reconstruct that to something more suitable for the lovely Allen.

The most information I have seen on the jury is contained in the Knowlton papers (HK206, pages 218 to 221). It gives a brief bio on each and their suspected beliefs, the information being assembled prior to the trial.

The list is too long to type here, but here is an example of one (Frank Cole) of the jurors:

"Frank G. Cole, Attleboro.
American. Jeweler. Workman. Republican. No interest in religion. Never served on jury. Wife and no children. Age unknown. Not known whether he has taken sides in the case or talked about it.
Remarks by Reed. All these jewelers are acquainted and all intelligent men and read the papers.
Westcott - Says used to be his neighbor and is a good man Used to live in Taunton & was a machinist
By Seaver - good straight man. Grand Army"

Rebello (page 201) has a brief summary of each one as well.

It has always struck me as odd that no jury alternates were chosen.

Thanks so much for the information Harry. That's more information I've seen in one place about the jury, or jurist should I say, than I've found so far in my search. I will try and check the newspapers also, thank you. It is peculiar that there were never any alternate jurors chosen, you're right about that.

Forgot to mention that in the Knowlton papers, Glossary A, has a brief paragraph on each of the jurors. My prior post was from Knowlton's notes.

Using that same juror, here's the info in the Glossary:

"COLE, FRANCIS GRANGER 1844 - 1915: born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, son of George and Nancy (Rounds) Cole. A Civil War veteran he worked as a machinist before entering the jewelry trade in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He married Miss Josephine B. Peck of Rehoboth, was prominent in Attleboro public affairs and was an active worker on behalf of the Baptist church. He remained a resident of Attleboro until the time of his death. He was one of the twelve-man jury that acquitted Miss Lizzie A. Borden on June 20, 1893. Questioned in later life by his great-niece, Mrs. Alice E. (Dexter) Dyer, he said only that he "could not believe that a woman could have done it" and refused to discuss his participation in the case."

Not all of the others are as lengthy or contain that much detail.

One last thing, he said hopefully.

Did a little more digging and found this in Kent's "Forty Whacks", page 95:

"Someone on Knowlton's staff had prepared for him six-line descriptions of each of the men who would hear the case. Their comments and his handwritten opinions are revealing:
Of Frank G. Cole, it was noted that he was a Republican and unmarried. "All these jewelers are intelligent men and read papers ... a good straight man." Knowlton added, "Grand Army." John C. Finn was described as an Irishman but very intelligent. Augustus Swift was a Protestant and a deep believer in circumstantial evidence. Knowlton noted, "Good man. With us."
Charles I. Richards, the foreman, would be "a string-straight man no matter what anyone said. " George Potter was an American and a Universalist, but he was a Mason. He had limited education but was credited with common sense. Knowlton was cautioned that Lemuel K. Wilber didn't believe in capital punishment but his wife thought Lizzie was guilty.
Judge Mason advised them their pay would be $3 per day, plus board and lodging, for the duration of the trial."

That $3 a day would be roughly equal to $60 a day in todays money.

Hey it sounds like a really neat project to write up a "twelve angrry men" type screenplay hypothesizing what it would have been like to sit on the jury for the Lizzie case, with what issues and attitudes were current at the time. Anyone else thought of it already? Anyone working on it already?

Apparently they voted, waited because their time voting was so short, and then told the court the decision and then went for a drink!

Harry @ Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:25 am wrote: Augustus Swift was a Protestant and a deep believer in circumstantial evidence. Knowlton noted, "Good man. With us."

Apparently not such a deep believer .Thank you again so much for the info Harry! You came up with all that pretty quickly a well. I'll have my nose buried in newspapers and books looking for more information now that my curiosity is really piqued. It's interesting that Knowlton was sizing up the jury in this way. The character, beliefs, and background of the men on the jury probably had a great influence on how he presented his case. That's an intriguing idea you had wintressanna. I'd be interested to know not only what went on in the room while they were casting their votes, but also what went on in their room while they were sequestered during the trial. There are theories that the jury was paid off for an aquittal. Wouldn't there be some evidence of this in their lives after the trial? Some indications? Frankly, I don't believe that theory but it would be something to look in to.

From Rebello, Lizzie Borden Past & Present, 1999 (almost sold out!)
page 200-201

"THE JURORS

Numbers before each juror indicate the numerical order in which each juror was selected on Monday, June 5, 1893. The jurors were sequestered and guarded in eight rooms at the Parker House. Sheriff John W. Nickerson was charged with overseeing the jurors.

3. George Potter (1839-1909), age 54, from Westport, Massachusetts; farmer, Republican, Universalist with an interest in religion, a Mason, never served as a juror, married, no children.

8. William Francis Dean (1839-1904), age 54, from Taunton, Massachusetts, farmer, Republican, Unitarian, had served as a juror prior to the Borden case, married, children.

12. John Wilbur (1833-1915), age 60, from Somerset, Massachusetts, farmer, housewright and road surveyor, Methodist with no interest in church, never served as a juror, married, not opposed to capital punishment.

13. Frederick Copeland Wilbur (1857-1928), age 36, from Raynham, Massachusetts, carpenter and cabinet maker, Republican, Congregationalist, married, children.

19. Lemuel Keith Wilbur (1832-1912), age 56, from Easton, Massachusetts, farmer, Democrat, no interest in religion, served as a juror prior to the Borden case, married, three children.

24. William Westcott (1845-1921), age 48, from Seekonk, Massachusetts, farmer, Independent, Congregationalist, no interest in religion, married twice.

33. Louis Bradford Hodges (1834-1905), age 59, from Taunton, Massachusetts, iron moulder, Republican, Baptist, never served as a juror, married, no children.

35. Augustus Swift (1851-1906), age 42, from New Bedford, Massachusetts, proprietor of Acushnet Iron Co. and businessman, Republican, Protestant, no church, married, two children.**

41. Frank Granger Cole (1844-1915), age 49, from Attleboro, Massachusetts, jeweler / workman, Republican, no interest in religion but active in the Baptist church, never served as a juror, married, children.

43. John C. Finn, age 35 (Fall River Daily Herald, June 6, 1893, p.7.), the youngest juror, from Taunton, Massachusetts, painter, city councilor, clerk at Post Office, Democrat, Catholic, married, children.

74. Charles I. Richards (1829-1910) age 64, the oldest of the jurors, from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, real estate and town assessor, Republican, Episcopalian and quite interested in church affairs, served as a juror prior to the Borden case, married, with children. Mr. Richards was selected as foreman of the jury.

111. Allen H. Wordell (1848-1920), age 45, from North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, farming tools and produce, retailer of agricultural implements and seeds (Wilson & Wordell)."


** For more on Swift, see Terence's article "All Things Swift" at the LABVM/L, Research:
http://lizzieandrewborden.com/NewResearch/Swift.htm

Is there anything on this website about the jury? I mean we have just about everything else on this site.

but it would be interesting to find out what every juror was thinking and how they came to their decesion.

All this information is from the jury selection process containted in the trial transcript, the copy of which can be found on the LAB.

Gilbert K. Brownell, New Bedford

Q.Are you related to the prisoner at the bar?
A. May it please the court, I was advised by counsel to put in my excuse,
having served three years ago.

Q.Have you a certification of that fact?
A. No certification; but City Clerk Leonard informed me that City Clerk Borden would have the record.

Mason, C.J. Mr. Clerk have you the records here?

The Clerk. The record is not here.

Mr. Knowlton. If it is proper to say so, I have a personal recollection of the fact. It was a criminal term, this same term.

Mason C.J. The fact is admitted, and the juror is clearly exempt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LLoyd S. Lincoln, Norton
Excused on account of opinions which would prevent giving a candid judgement upon a full hearing of the evidence.
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Emma's inquest testimony page 107:

Q. How long had you been away when this tragedy happened?
A. Two weeks.

Q. Visiting in Fairhaven?
A. Yes sir.

Q. Where were you visiting there?
A. 19 Green Street.

Q.Who?
A. Miss Helen Brownell and her mother.

It's curious that a prospective juror for the case was named Brownell.
I wonder if this man was any relation to the Brownells in Fairhaven?
And was the man named Lloyd Lincoln called for jury duty any relation to Miss Victoria?

Boston Daily Globe June 5 1893.

At first it seemed that she was to challenge all Irishmen and
Catholics, on account of Bridget Sullivan's connection with the
case, and certainly the first few of that description that came
along were challenged by the defence. But on the other hand one
who was said to be Irish and a Catholic WAS chosen. Then, again,
it seemed at first as thought only men at or beyond the middle age
were satisfactory, but this same Irishman was also exceptional in
being young. Only three or four foreign names were called. The
rest were all Wilburs, Palmers and Folgers, that sort of Americans
carrying such given names as Reuben and Eben and Gideon and Ezra
and Elihu. The reason the jury filled up so quickly was that
everybody seemed to want to get on it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------


The jury when it was chosen was formed of the following men: George
Potter of Westport, William F. Dean of Taunton, John Wilbur of
Somerset, Fred C. Wilbur of Raynham, Lemuel K. Wilbur of Easton,
William Wescott of Seeconk, A. B. Hodge of Taunton, Augustus Swift
of New Bedford, Frank G. Cole of Attleboro, John C. Finn of
Taunton, and Allen H. Wordell of Dartmouth. They are very solid
lot of citizens.

Richards, the foreman, is a rich land owner; Swift is the manager
of iron works, and the rest are farmers and master mechanics and
such like. To get a dozen of them 101 were called. Fifty-two were
excused for scruples or prejudices, sixteen were challenged by
Miss Border, and fourteen by the Commonwealth.

After the jury was formed it went off into a little room by itself,
and the members sent telegrams to their families saying that they
were shut up and might not get home for a month. In the mean time
the Judges were inquiring into their characters and determining
hich one should be foreman. The wealthy Richards was chosen, and
the court adjourned.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/project ... ews14.html