Lizzie Borden to go to Europe
From the New York Times, June 22, 1893. Two days following her acquittal.
What I am Reading
From the New York Times, June 22, 1893. Two days following her acquittal.
July 21, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Ah hah! So, Bridget remains in the co. of the Misses Borden, after all is said and done. I’ve been reasonably doubtful about her prior knowledge of– and aiding and abetting in– the murders. However, this news item almost clenches the assumption that she knew what was going to happen and assisted AT LEAST by keeping mum (for a payoff, of course, as well as a trip back to Ireland to see the home folks).
Lizzie and Emma surely masterminded the murders.
To me, the mystery of these crimes is not the involvement of Lizzie and Emma– their feelings (and motives) have been well documented– but just who, precisely, committed the slayings? Did Lizzie “do” both, or at least Abby, or neither? Did Emma slip back home to commit the deed? Did Lizzie admit her half-brother, or someone else, into the house in order to wield the ax?
If Bridget had been involved, she could have looked askance at Lizzie changing her clothing, or donning a smock or some such in order to conceal the blood. Then, too, Bridget’s conveniently sudsy water for the well-established window washing would have come in most handy. With Bridget’s help, Lizzie could have changed and washed up in-between the murders, then donned the bloody (later to be burned) dress once more, to kill Andrew.
Without Bridget’s cooperation, it would have been difficult for Lizzie to commit the murders herself, or even to conceal a hatchet man in the house for the necessary amount of time.
Also– although it would have been fairly easy for anyone to slip up on the napping, reclining Mr. Borden– it would have been more difficult to surprise Abby in the guest bedroom, given her position on the far side of the bed and her at least peripheral view of the doorway. I believe she must have “taken for granted” whoever entered the room, must have been familiar with this person. Otherwise, her posture would have been a defensive, confrontational one. That is, she would have been turned in the other direction from that in which her body fell.
It’s entirely possible that Lizzie, with relish, killed her stepmother, then allowed someone else (the disgruntled half-brother, perhaps?) in to kill her father. With Bridget’s assistance, Lizzie would have had plenty of time to “freshen up” before admitting Andrew’s assailant.
In summation, Bridget’s ongoing service to the Borden sisters strengthens the case for her implication in the conspiracy behind the double homicide, which surely included Lizzie and Emma. With Bridget’s assistance, a stronger case can be made for Lizzie as the actual slayer. Furthermore, the position of Abby’s body would indicate that her assailant was well known to her. As aforestated, too, Bridget’s work with buckets of soapy water on the morning of the murders could be far more than coincidental. Abby didn’t live to say whether or not window washing was the morning’s stated chore.
July 22, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Upon further reflection, re my preceding comment, I would state that it was highly important that Abby die where she did. Otherwise, Andrew could have come upon her corpse upon his return, had her body been anywhere downstairs, or in their bedroom, where he might have easily ventured, especially if he were ill.
Abby’s presence in Bridget’s quarters would have cast suspicion upon Bridget. Ditto Abby’s presence in Lizzie’s bedroom. Wasn’t Abby prohibited from entering either Lizzie’s or Emma’s bedroom?
So, she HAD to die in the guest room.
Enter Uncle John, oh-so-conveniently.
Furthermore, she had to have been aware of anyone ascending the main stairs, much less appearing in the open doorway. There was a mirror reflecting much of the room, too. She had to have known her assailant, otherwise her posture would have been entirely different. Her body would not have fallen as it did.
There were no fight marks on her arms or hands. The first blow was administered from behind.
Reason dictates that someone she knew walked into the room, THEN surprise-attacked her from behind.
Lizzie? Bridget? Uncle John? (It seems as if Abby would have been startled to see Emma, but that doesn’t eliminate her.)
Again, someone else entirely could have killed Andrew. He was much more, literally, a sitting duck.
Also, it would have been very difficult to sneak someone unknown to Abby, or someone whose presence would have greatly startled her, into the house, up the main stairs, and into the guest bedroom, all without triggering Abby’s attention. Then, Abby would have had to have been “lured” there.
Why didn’t Bridget make the bed before she set out on the windows? I’ve heard someone from the Fall River Historical Society state that Abby was measuring the bed for a new bedspread. If so, why, and at that particular time? Had someone complained, or made a comment about the bedspread? Uncle John?
Again, Abby had to have been aware that someone was ascending the stairs, or that Lizzie and/or Bridget was/were upstairs at the same time. Her death posture indicates that she most probably was familiar with her killer, given her view of the room. Her killer must have been able to come quite close to her in order to attack her so efficiently, without apparent signs of a struggle.
Second, had she NOT fallen in the guest room– on that side of the bed, too– Andrew would have had to have been murdered much more quickly, for fear he might discover her body.