The Borden Trajedy by Rick Geary

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:39 pm

I just finished The Geary book " The Borden Tragedy "
I found it very delightful. The cartoon illistrations give it some spunk.
A few Questions though.

Geary states that a trunk was purchased at an Estate Sale in Boston in 1990, in the trunk were the Memoirs of a lady friend of Lizzie & the Bordens, and the Author of the Memoirs was an unidentified Lady from Fall River. She Knew the Bordens & attended the Trial e.t.c.
( Introduction page )
Is there any more information on the identity of this Person ?
In the Memoirs She ( The unidentified Author ) placed a few clues
( According to Geary ) to Her identity.

And She made reference to the Unatural positions of Abby & Andrews Bodies ( Next to last page of geary's book )

On other thing, Was Lizzie allowed to spend one more night in the Borden House after her arrest, before actually being put in Jail ? ( this according to Geary ) ??

Liz Crouthers · Post by **Liz Crouthers** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:11 am

Well good ?'s Matt

I honestly don't know.

I don't think she spent one more night in the Borden home, of the murders.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:18 am

We have a discussion somehere on Geary- you might be able to find it.

(There is also an interview with him done by our member Susan!)
http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Write ... kGeary.htm

In the discussion we talk about the literary technique of an author adding just such a touch as a found trunk with old papers in it- it is a common or popular way to introduce a story.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:04 am

In other woids, it's the bunk! Geary's just having a bit of fun with us. I just gave a copy of this wonderful graphic novel to a professional writer buddy of mine as a primer to the case, and I've had the pleasure of speaking with Geary, too.

The only, ONLY little problem I have with the book is that in his drawing of the Abby death-scene photo, Geary seems to have inadvertently left out one level of drawers in the bureau.

RayS · Post by **RayS** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:17 pm

Rick Geary's book covers this case in comic-book fashion. Its ok as a start. But David Kent's book is still the one best book for an introduction to this case.
Arnold Brown's book assumes general knowledge of this case. It should be held back as dessert.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:38 pm

Or, as many of us do, hold up the Arnold Brown book, and point at it and laugh.

Back to Rick Geary. As you'll learn from the interview and/or other links, he's done other wonderful graphic novels on classic murders, from Jack the Ripper to Abe Lincoln.

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:43 pm

I really liked Gearys Graphics in the Borden Book.
It helped put me in the house & the surrondings of the case.
It gave me a new outlook about everything, because I could see the events as they took place, therefore helping me imagine everything much more clear.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:01 am

Yes exactly. It's like 3-D. Harry and I are still agog at Geary's talent. It's like he was there hovering over everything. He must have a brilliant imagination to be able to depict history in 3-D!

Stefani gives me his other graphic novels each year as a present.
I now have HHHolmes, Marie Roget, Abraham Lincoln,and Jack The Ripper. We had JtheR first..

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:43 am

Hello, gorgeous!

I love his treatment of the H. H. Homes serial killings during the World's Fair in Chicago (which our Lizzie visited).

RayS · Post by **RayS** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:16 pm

James D. Horan's book on the Pinkertons mentions the part they played in tracking down this killer. "Holmes" had the audacity to try to collect insurance on the people he murdered! An English Doctor (William ???) also tried this and wound up on the gallows.
There was no national police force around. The Secret Service dealt with counterfeiters, counter-espionage, Presidential protection, etc.

RayS · Post by **RayS** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:18 pm

Bob Gutowski @ Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:38 pm wrote:Or, as many of us do, hold up the Arnold Brown book, and point at it and laugh.
...

WHAT are their names? Or are you just using "many of us" as a figure of speech?
His book did solve the crime, for most people. Or do people buy it as some buy "Plan 9"?

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:50 pm

I wonder if anyone has ever tried a recreation of the crime?
You know, actually placing a person ( Lizzie ) there where She said She was during the time of the murders & placing a Person ( bridget ) Where She testified She was during the crime. Andrew, Abby & so on ?
Maybe some clues would come out if there was an actual recreation.
I wonder if the current owners of the borden House would consider such a thing?? You never know, it might bring forth something that has been missing.
Or it might be just another one of my Nutty ideas, considering I'm on my third glass of Shiraz ?!?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:25 am

What's a shiraz?

I also have the Geary treatment called The Fatal Bullet! The story of the assassination of Pres. Garfield.

I really wish Geary was in bookstores!

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:54 pm

His book did solve the crime, for most people.

Well, MY comment was intended as a facetious insult to the book, to be perfectly clear, and yours, above, is merely a laughable and unsubstantiated claim. What survey did you carry out?

I bought the Brown book to see what he had to say. While we're on Geary, I wanted to mention for those who never heard it that the late Edward Gorey was planning to execute a paper cut-out puppet-show of the Borden case but, alas, he never did - or the unfinished remains of it rest in the Gorey archives.

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:31 pm

Hey Kat

Shiraz is a Variety of Red Wine. actually Shiraz is a type of Grape, its similar to a Merlot or Cabernet/Sauvingon in taste
If you like red wine.
It's very Tasty, You should try it some time.
It goes great with red meats or desserts ( anything Chocolate )
A real tasty Frugal brand is "Yellow Tail " Its grown in Australia if I'm not mistaken. Stay clear of California red wines. South American or European wines, especially reds are the best.
Have a few glasses and you will come up with some Crazy ideas on the case like I do.
P.S. Just dont drive afterwards.
Matt

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:22 am

Thanks for the info.
I don't drink. I used to help manage a beer and wine rock n' roll bar for 3 years but still I don't drink. I just don't like it.
I was the perfect person to leave in charge when the other owners went out to *shop the competition*

serendipity · Post by **serendipity** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:26 am

I just found the Geary book in the local library, i quite enjoyed the comic book style and the drawings are excellent.

The first time I read about this case was in a Mad magazine when I was a teenager. I assumed it happened in an isolated farm house when a week ago I read the house was in a busy street of a large town.

Certainly a tricky case.

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:48 pm

Hey Serendipity

The Borden case is ever so Tricky.
You will find out something new everyday here on the forum.
Everyone has a theory, and soon you will also.
Its a lot of fun to read everyones post, and by doing so you will be amazed at just how much there is going on in the case.
have Fun.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:30 pm

Hi!
What was the Mad Magazine Treatment, do you recall?

Has anyone heard of this?
(I used to be a devotee of Mad Magazine- I think I quit around 1970, and transferred allegiance to National Lampoon.).

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:46 pm

Growing up I used to love Mad Magazine.
Eventually my Mother put Her foot down & said it would lead to smoking pot & getting into trouble.
She forbid it to enter our House .
So I used to hide a copy or two under my matress, ( Like it was a Playboy or something)
Now when I look back on things like that, they were so innocent compared to the things Kids get into today.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:38 am

I've never seen a Geary in a bookstore, let alone a Library!

Which Library is that, can you say? Pretty progressive.

matt kevin jones · Post by **matt kevin jones** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:22 pm

Kat

I found Gearys book in my local Library ( One of the 10 branches in the County)
I actually had to wait over 20 days for it, seems it was reserved twice in a row before I could check it out.
Maybe it was the graphics that made it such a popular little book.
It is one of my Favorites in the Borden Books.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:34 pm

I can volunteer three MAD Borden items. In a fictional guide to New England, they recommended visiting the "Lizzie Borden Museum," which was depicted in a drawing as a mansion. It was the scene of the crimes and, in it, one would find on display the axe with which Lizzie "gave her mother forty whacks, and her father forty-one."

In another paperback collection of past pieces, there were also "Mothers' Day Cards From Children WHo Didn't Turn out Very Well." The one from Lizzie, dated Mother's Day, 1892, read:

WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE CHILD/YOU ALWAYS SAID I WAS TOO WILD
YOU PUNISHED ME FOR ALL MY PRANKS/AND GAVE MY BACKSIDE FORTY SPANKS
AND THEN, WHEN YOU WERE GOOD AND DONE/DEAR PAPA GAVE ME FORTY-ONE
I REALLY DOUBT, SWEET MOTHER DEAR/NEXT MOTHERS' DAY, YOU'LL BOTH BE HERE!

The third was a parody of the Cole Porter song "Just One of Those Things." Without looking at it (it's at home), I remember the first verse going somehing like:

I WAS JUST DOING MY THING/JUST DOING MY (SOMETHING) THING/I PICKED UP AN AXE, AND GAVE IT A SWING, JUST DOING MY THING...

william · Post by **william** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:04 pm

Bobby G. prince of parody
A funnier guy you'll never see
Some how I wish that it were me
(But then, I know it's not to be)

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:07 pm

Thanks, but I'm really only quoting!

In fact, as I was going out to take a lunchtime walk in the 99 degree heat, I remembered the bridge to the Cole Porter parody:

I WAS BORED THAT DAY/WITH NO GAMES TO PLAY
SO I GAVE MY MOM A QUICK CHOP
THEN IT SEEMED TO ME/SHE'D LIKE COMPANY
SO I DID
LIKEWISE TO POP!

MAD magazine did inspire so many of us who do write lyrics and song parodies, though!

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:14 pm

Kat @ Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:38 am wrote:I've never seen a Geary in a bookstore, let alone a Library!
Which Library is that, can you say? Pretty progressive.

I purchased my Geary "The Borden Tragedy" in either Borders or Barns and Noble (I cannot remember which) in Iowa City, Iowa.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:31 pm

OK...all this talk about Geary makes me realize I need to get a copy. We have a Borders within about 20 miles...I will try there.

Tracy...

RayS · Post by **RayS** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:52 pm

Rick Geary's book is a graphic novel, like the old Classic Comics.
It is derivative, no new surprises or facts will be found there.
It is an easy introduction to this case. The story about finding it in a locked trunk seems to show his sense of humor.
Its better than nothing, but David Kent's book is the best introduction to this interesting case.
Do we all agree? IF not, what would you recommend?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:04 am

That's great Mad Magazine stuff you guys. Thanks for bringing it up Serendipity! Cool!

I still think it's wonderful to get a Geary from the Library- Yay!

serendipity · Post by **serendipity** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:25 am

Kat,

I recall the Mad magazine depicted Lizzy sharpening a hachet on one of those wheel sharpening thingeys presented with an original song or poem.
(not the well known ditty)

The theme might have family relationships or something.

The library I found Geary in was just the local library
Parkdale branch, Melbourne.