Miss Borden’s Guilt
From the Chicago Daily Tribune, August 25, 1892:
What I am Reading
From the Chicago Daily Tribune, August 25, 1892:
August 22, 2006 at 4:28 pm
First, the newspaper clips are fascinating– to read of the case as if it were all unfolding for the first time–
Now, when I’ve encountered this incident in various books on the subject, it tends to be glossed over, or dismissed, as if the prison matron were eavesdropping and completely misunderstood and/or misreported what was actually said. Either that, or that Lizzie meant something else by the “You have given me away.”
Now, here, we learn the matron was in their presence, and that Lizzie’s and Emma’s emotions were running very high indeed, following Emma’s “debriefing” session with Mr. Jennings. Of course, Lizzie may have meant that said session made her SEEM guilty, given whatever Emma had reported, which probably consisted of information that Emma feared the prosecution might have or obtain. She didn’t want Jennings to be surprised by said information in court. One can almost picture Mr. Jennings holding Emma’s hand and coaxling, “Now, Miss Emma, in order to help Miss Lizzie, I must know in advance all the unpleasant matters concerning her relationships with the deceased, which may be presented in court in order to blight her good character.”
In other words, Emma must have aired the Bordens’ dirty laundry– that is, how deep feelings ran, the implications of the unsolved theft of Abby’s belongings, and whatever else would have broadsided the defense in court, had the info surprised the defense counsel.
NOW– if Emma had PROOF of LIZZIE’S GUILT, then HOW did she come by it, having supposedly been out of town at the time the murders were committed? Did Lizzie confess to her? Or, did Emma have prior knowledge thereof, which indicates a conspiracy? In the event of a conspiracy, was Lizzie meant to “take the rap”? She never pointed the finger at Uncle John (whom she supposedly disliked and wouldn’t speak to during his visit), Bridget, or Emma. Bridget would have made a tantalizing target, given her lower station. I still maintain that, with Bridget’s assistance and soapy water, Lizzie could have murdered Andrew and done a quick cleanup. Without Bridget’s assistance, that would have been difficult, although Lizzie still could have killed Abby and cleaned up before Andrew returned.
Anyway, back to the point at hand– I don’t believe this scene was “staged” for the matron, because there would have been no sense in doing so, as it certainly made Lizzie seem guilty.
Second, given that, there are two ways to interpret this event:
(1) Lizzie was upset because Emma had told Jennings things that made Lizzie SEEM guilty, or–
(2) Emma had knowledge of Lizzie’s guilt.