Lizzie Borden for Free
Here is a potpourri of free Lizzie Borden items for your collection. I am always amazed by what I find when surfing the net, and my mission is to share it with you so you can enjoy it too!
1. Verdict in Dispute by Edgar Lustgarten (1949). The entire 264 page volume has been scanned for your reading pleasure. Includes chapters on Florence Maybrick, Steinie Morrison, Norman Thorne, Edith Thompson, William Herbert Wallace, and Lizzie Borden. Available as PDF, TXT, or FULL TEXT document.
2. A huge collection of audio files from radio shows, including:
CBS, Second Look at Murder, from 6.10.81
Crime Classics, The Bloody Bloody Banks of Fall River, from 9.30.53
Suspense, Fall River Tragedy, from 1.14.52
Suspense, Goodbye, Miss Lizzie Borden, from 10.4.55
Unsolved Mysteries: Lizzie Borden
3. Study Guide for Sharon Pollock’s play about Lizzie Borden, Blood Relations, published by the Joliet Drama Guild.
4. Free issue of The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies, now beginning its 5th year of publication.
5. Police Witness Statements, given to police officers in the hours and days following the murder of Andrew J. Borden and his wife Abby. Witnesses include Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan, Emma Borden, John Morse, Dr. Seabury Bowen, Mrs. Churchill, Alice Russell, and various other passersby and townsfolk. 46 pages of text, 3 page table of contents, and extensive 6 page index.
6. The testimony of Lizzie Andrew Borden presented at the Inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Borden, held August 9-11, 1892.
7. The testimony of Volume II of the Inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Borden, held August 9-11, 1892. The Witnesses include: Eli Bence, Emma Borden, Lizzie A. Borden, Dr. Seabury W. Bowen, Adelaide B. Churchill, Hannah H. Gifford, Hiram C. Harrington, Frederick B. Hart, Frank H. Kilroy, John V. Morse, Alice M. Russell, Charles S. Sawyer, Augusta D. Tripp and Sarah B. Whitehead. Lizzie Borden’s testimony is contained in Volume I and is reprinted from the New Bedford Evening Standard as both hers and Bridget Sullivan’s testimony is lost to us.
8. The Complete Trial Transcript of Lizzie A. Borden. Before the Superior Court for the County of Bristol. Presiding, C. J. Mason, J.J. Blodgett, and J. J. Dewey. Official stenographic report by Frank H. Burt (New Bedford, MA., 1893, 2 volumes). Created by Harry Widdows.
9. Lizzie Borden’s Last Will and Probate Records.
January 20, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Has anyone noticed the discrepancy between Uncle John’s and Bridget’s testimony re the window-washing instructions? At both inquest and trial, U.J. says Abby gave these during breakfast; however, Bridget is most explicit that the order was given after both Mr. Borden and Mr. Morse had departed, after Lizzie had had her fill of cookies, and after she, Bridget, had blown chunks in the backyard.
I’m inclined to believe Bridget, who was summoned by a bell during breakfast. I’m sure her mealtime instructions were minimal, such as “More this,” “Clear this,” etc. I think it highly unlikely that Abby would be interrupting the breakfast-table assemblage with chat of Bridget’s household chores.
However, I do think it entirely possible that Uncle John brought up the subject of window-washing: “Mrs. Borden, I can scarce see out the parlor windows,” in order to get Bridget out of Lizzie’s way.
It’s difficult not to believe Uncle John and Lizzie had, shall we say, “synchronized their timepieces,” that fateful a.m. First, he ‘s off to visit relatives whom he hasn’t bothered to call on in seven years. Second, he times his return at the dinner hour, and doesn’t everyone down a couple of pears minutes before lunchtime? Furthermore, there’s at least a small crowd outside, but he’s off for his pears anyway.
Oh, certainly he had a darned good idea of what had happened, and he was overcompensating with his lollygagging: To wit– “Oh, something’s happened? How could that be? I haven’t the foggiest. Tra-la-la-la, I’ll have a pear or two.”
His actions stink to high heck of prior knowledge, of aiding and abetting.
He no doubt had been anticipating a slice of the Borden pie since he figured out how much the old man had stockpiled. He most probably met with Emma in Fairhaven, and he doubtless was cluing Lizzie in, on the sly. Emma referred to him as a beloved uncle– why would he have turned off Lizzie?
Again, we return to the subject of overcompensation:
“Who? Lizzie? Her? No, no, no: I haven’t spoken to her in more than six months, even though I’ve visited at her home several times. Not me.”
Wonder how someone who’s leasing his farm and “helping” his friend pack meat winds up with all those holdings in Fall River mills?