The Place For Morse

[Kat]

Harry and I have been talking about John Vinnicum Morse lately.
Our emphasis happened to be on the ways Morse seemed to interject himself into the murder case. Whether he was *starting rumors* or checking things out- he was all over the place. When his actions are put in context and chronological order, maybe we might come to some more conclusions about whether he was involved in the planning, the committal, or the aftermath as cover-up.

Some examples we came up with:

Morse asked Fleet if the murderer could have been concealed in the house overnight.

Morse confused the issue as to when Abbie gave the order to Bridget to wash the windows.

Morse said he saw axes and hatchets (or ax and hatchets- or axes and hatchet) taken from the house and put in a bag and taken away, which contradicts Constable Edson that he carried them openly, no bag.

Morse said the cellar door was *open.*

Morse got the eggs from the farm on Wednesday, and Eddy said if he had not done that he himself (Eddy) would have brought them into town to Mr. Borden on that Thursday morning, by 10:45 am or 11 am.

Morse stayed in the yard most of the remainder of that day after his look around the house inside after his return.

Morse said he changed the front door lock after the murders.

Morse had the bloody residue of the crime buried in the yard.

Morse experimented with whether or not a body could be seen under the bed and laid on the spot where Abbie died.


--I've started looking at the Witness Statements to start.
Anyone can add anything, or ask for reference or page numbers.

[Harry]

Another thing he did was to conduct his own search of the barn.

[DJ]

Here is my partial, for the moment, list of grievances to add to those submitted:

1) The repeated insistence, by Morse and Lizzie, that they have not seen one another during that visit. Nor, for that matter, that summer. Nor, have they EVER communicated via letter, at any time. There is an awful lot of insistent distancing between one another.

2) That Morse carries the letter Mr. Borden sent him. It's been suggested that Morse tended to "packrat" things in his coat.
That would be highly unusual in warm weather. Also, Morse's pockets are free enough to tote around pears the evening before the murders. IOW: He seemed to know the letter would come in handy to explain his presence at the bequest of Mr. Borden. That's why he's down there-- he's been invited. And, ladies and gentlemen, here's the ticket!
Most people would have burned the letter. He certainly didn't need to present it to gain admission to the Borden house. Or, did he realize how useful it would be if he saved it? To even carry it with him? More than a little too convenient.

3) That Morse leaves Mrs. Emery with the impression that he's headed straight to New Bedford from her house. But, he returns to the Bordens'. How easy and polite of him to have just remarked, when Mrs. Emery at last invited him to dinner, "Thank you, but I have an engagement at the Bordens'"?

4) I still find it hard to believe that Morse "just" discovers the presence of his niece and nephew in Fall River on the evening before the murders. They were Lizzie's first cousins. I'd wager even Mr. Borden knew they were in town, and he could have easily mentioned this to Morse before Morse took off that afternoon, for the farm.
In any event, since Morse has rented the conveyance, why not leave word at the Emerys' that evening, to expect him on the morrow?

5) Why linger at the Emerys' with your niece feeling sick and your nephew gone?

6) This point ties into the one above-- Mr. Davis has "given" Morse the time to come down. He's expected back. Why not leave the Emerys', make apologies with the Bordens', grab a few pears for the train ride, and get back to work, as you've told your friend you intend to do?

7) Morse seems to be hanging around the Bordens' for an inordinate amount of time the morning of the murders, especially when he has a letter to mail, post-haste, and the P.O. (as Kat has established) was open at 7 a.m. Morse says he didn't want to disturb the niece and nephew too early. They probably wouldn't have minded, given the circumstances, and if he told them he had a limited amount of time in Fall River.
Which brings us to the supposed contraints of time, on his visit:
A) Davis wants him back.
B) He's had an evening and a breakfast with the Bordens, whom he sees regularly. Why not take off ASAP and extend the visit with the niece and nephew, whom he NEVER sees?
C) If he's concerned about being polite, why does he sit and sit and sit at the Emerys', with a sick person on the premises?

I'll leave the streetcar conductor's numbers to someone else. That, as with Lizzie's dress burning, was a MAJOR mistake. Both actions make both persons look involved in the crimes whether they were or not.
Still think it's strange he took a streetcar back, anyway. He couldn't have been tired, after all that sitting.
But, wait-- taking the streetcar sure came in handy, didn't it?
He really didn't need to go overboard with an alibi-- Mrs. Emery would have vouched for him.

[1bigsteve]

Good run down, Kat. I have always felt the John Morse had something to do with the murders. I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure he was involved somehow. He smells dirty to me.

-1bigsteve (o:

[Kat]

DJ-quote-partial:

4) I still find it hard to believe that Morse "just" discovers the presence of his niece and nephew in Fall River on the evening before the murders. They were Lizzie's first cousins. I'd wager even Mr. Borden knew they were in town, and he could have easily mentioned this to Morse before Morse took off that afternoon, for the farm.

Well, Morse did know the kids were in the area, from their grandmother (Caroline Gardner, Swansea) (Inq.103), and also from Andrew Borden (Inq.101). They had been around a couple of weeks.
I think they were only recently at the Emery's tho, in Fall River itself, and Morse had apparently not been to their *new* place at Weybosset. The Morse kids had other cousins in Fall River as well: Ora & Joseph Morse, children of JVM's sister Mary Louisa and her first cousin Joseph, her husband (son of their uncle Gardner Morse).

That's a good point about the confusion created by JVM about where he is going when he leaves Weybosset!

[Kat]

Harry rattled off to me *the lock, the experiment, and burying the clothing* and that was in response to my questions about Morse putting himself into the picture. Once he said that, I knew we had to look at all this Morse stuff put together and in context.

[snokkums]

Good run down, Kat. I have always felt the John Morse had something to do with the murders. I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure he was involved somehow. He smells dirty to me.

-1bigsteve (o:

I, too, think John Morse had more to do more with the murders than anyone ever expected.

If nothing else, planted the idea into Lizzie's head. Maybe even planned the whole thing, or knew Lizzie was going to kill her parents. I don't think he is as innocent or the concerned Uncle as he is trying to make everyone believe he was.

[DJ]

Kat,
Your clarification makes me wonder all the more-- if Morse knew the niece and nephew were in the vicinity, why not write the Morse cousins in Fall River and inquire, "Do you expect them in Fall River? When?"
***********************************************************
We know that Morse was not averse to letter writing. If he can correspond with Mr. Borden about dropping by, why the heck can't he correspond with Fall River relations about this niece and nephew that he knows are about, that he never sees?
He's also sending a letter off the morning of the murders. As far as the post is concerned, he is obviously NOT an incommunicative man.
*************************************************************
IOW: Morse is obviously acting "out of character" in this for-instance.

[Nadzieja]

When I order The Hatchet as it is published I always order an older issue so someday I'll have all of them. I couldn't believe it when I saw this thread. I bought Vol 1, Issue 3. In it is an article on John Morse writted by Glen Carlson. It goes into his family tree. I also think he knew alot more than he told, his behavior was too "abnormal" through the day. In this article it says there are references to Sarah's disposition in The Knowlton Papers (I don't have this book so I can't reference it). There is a reference to a 75 year old retired sea captain named James C. Stafford describing Sarah as "a very peculiar woman" She had a Very bad temper. She was very strong in her likes and dislikes. When I read that I thought that it could have also described Lizzie.

The other article was on Orinton Hanscom written by Harry (Widdows). It mentions how Hanscom was hired by Lizzie to go to Iowa to check out something of John Morse's past record. I can only wonder what this could possibly be about.

I have to say Harry that it was a good article. I really didn't know anything about this man except that he was a detective.

[SallyG]

It's obvious that Morse did not commit the murders himself. But arranging the murders...I just can't see that. He had no motive....he did not gain nor lose anything by the Bordens deaths. No matter how close he may or may not have been to the girls, or how fair or unfair he thought they were treated by Andrew, murder is a very drastic measure. Could he really have been so concerned about the girls getting Andrews entire estate that he would put himself in jeopardy by arranging two murders? His primary friendship seems to have been with Andrew, anyway.

I think Emma's attachment to him was because he was her mothers brother...and Emma quite possibly never got over her mothers death or ever accepted Abby as her step-mother. Lizzie never really knew her mother, so probably did not have the same feelings that Emma did for Morse. I always felt that Emma was the main source of trouble in the family...and probably turned Lizzie against Abby.

It just seems hard to believe that Morse would involve himself in a murder plot. As far as not being honest about where he was headed that day when he left his niece and nephew, he may have had his reasons to simply tell them he was going back home. Perhaps he may have felt they would feel slighted he did not stay longer or have lunch with them...who knows.

I agree Morse's behavior was odd that day. It's impossible to know what was going through his mind. Shock? Disbelief? Suspicion? Fear? Maybe a combination? Who knows. I just have a hard time coming up with a motive for him.

[Kat]

That's cool you got *The Morse Issue* of The Hatchet!. I love that issue. It's very full of info. That is Our Joe. He got me interested in genealogy during working with him on the Morse section. I'm forever grateful.

I started this topic because, after recent discussions with Harry, I thought some here may want to know more about Morse. There's plenty to know- plenty to contribute here.

One thing I was thinking about was when Morse was at the inquest, he told Knowlton "My real home is in the west." (I94)
A bit later Knowlton asks: "Had you visited him [Andrew] during your absence in the West, or had you been East during that time?"
Morse replied with "I don't understand."
Knowlton: "Had you been East during the 38 years?"
Then Morse says yes and recounts the times he has visited the east.

My impression of that exchange is that Morse is at home in the West. And yet Knowlton did not catch that nuance. Knowlton seems to consider Morse's time away as an *absence from the east* whereas Morse considers the West "home" and his property is there.
He was also a horse-trader and shares a birthdate with P.T. Barnum. I think he became a Western man. I think of Western men, of 1854 (when Morse first went to Minnesota), as hardy individuals who have to live by their wits and their banter and maybe even charm, and maybe even some lawlessness. We also have no info that he was ever part of the Civil War. I don't know how he got out of that one. One of his brothers did enter the military tho: Fernando, who was part of the 32nd Illinois Infantry Regiment. (Joe found Fernando had served, see age 14 of the Hatchet article, "The Elusive John Morse," June/July 2004.)

[augusta]

The eggs that Kat posted about. Wow! That is a huge thing. I think that is beyond coincidence.

Kat - What is the significance of Morse changing the lock on the front door after the murder? Is it because he changed something for a change?

YES! Having Andrew's letter right in his pocket is interesting. Thanks for pointing that out, DJ. I never thought anything of that before, but after reading your post it hit me. And Morse's coming to see Andrew was not set for a specific date, so it wasn't like he needed to refer to it to remember what date he said he'd be at Andrew's house.

It has always struck me as weird that Morse made the post office such a priority. Didn't a cop see part of a postcard he mailed to Davis, with "In Haste" scrawled on it?

Didn't he, Lizzie and Emma meet in - was it New Bedford - when Emma and Lizzie were both out of town that first week Emma started on her journey to Green Street in Fairhaven?

I agree that it seemed that Lizzie went way out of her way to make it clear she and Morse had no relationship. BUT ... right after the murders when Morse finally goes in the house, Lizzie talks to him? For someone who supposedly was repulsed by the guy, or whatever, the two sounded like they conversed quite easily then.

YES - Morse sure was sticking close to the police to try to "help". Maybe he was misleading them on some clews. I think he was trying to keep up with their investigation.

There are a lot of guilty people who do that. Richard Loeb did it in the Leopold & Loeb case (1923 Chicago). Ted Bundy did it. The cops look at people like that, at least today, and sometimes consider them suspects.

It was downright weird of Morse to sleep in the guestroom that night of August 4th. And weirder of him to lay in her murder spot. I think Kat brought up a good and interesting point - that Morse was a Westerner. Perhaps a bit more rustic back then.

Did the cops question Morse? This subject is missing some puzzle pieces. It feels like there are hunks missing.

And what about Dr. Bowen racing over to where Morse was? And Morse getting a phone call at Weybosset Street, then leaving right away? Did the cops dig into that stuff? Or are they rumors?

Why would Morse want in on this? I think firstly because of blood ties. We don't know if he got any payoff or not. If he was involved, I'll bet he was paid, and the murderer was paid (I think Davis).

Right after the murders, the papers were reporting that Andrew Borden was worth a lot more than he ended up being. I think that was just that the papers were guessing about it. But still, money could have been handed out and no one having known about it.

[Kat]

Augusta, partial: It has always struck me as weird that Morse made the post office such a priority. Didn't a cop see part of a postcard he mailed to Davis, with "In Haste" scrawled on it?

Yes that has bothered me about who saw that addressee and how? Like did the P.O. have a *Hold* on Morse's correspondence so they could check who he was writing to? Maybe the other family members as well?
It was a Friday mailing, BTW, the 5th.
It is from The Witness Statements, page 9:

We were on guard at the house from 1. A. M. until 9. A. M. Friday. At one o’clock the house was all in darkness, and so remained all night. There was no noise until about 6.20 A. M. About 6.30 A. M. Mr. John Morse came to the side door, said “good morning”, and spoke about the weather. At 8.30 he came out, and going over to S. H. Miller’s, he called Bridget, who stayed there that night. He then went to the P. O., stopped about a minute, went out and crossed to Geo. E. Howe’s where he purchased a two cent stamp. He then returned to the P. O. and at 8.32 A.M. dropped a letter addressed to Wm. A. Davis So. Dartmouth. It bore the words “In haste”. On his way home he tried the Daily News door, and it was not open.--Doherty & Harrington
~~~~~~

The thing about the lock is: it sounds like, from Emma, that the lock was not changed.
I guess we should find out what day Morse says he changed it.

Emma
Inquest
114
Q. I dont think I will trouble you with that question any how. Did you use to keep the back door, the screen door, fastened, was that the habit of the household?
A. Intended to when they were in.
Q. How about the front door?
A. We locked that with a spring lock.
Q. Did the spring lock work?
A. Once in a while we would find it did not, but very seldom.
Q. The few times it did not work, did it not come from the fact the door was not slammed too enough to catch the spring?
A. I suppose that must have been it.
Q. You had not had it repaired?
A. No Sir.
Q. It is in the same condition now it had been?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You have lived there since the tragedy; you are still living in the house?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. It works as well now as it did; there is no difference in it?
A. So far as I know, it does.
~~~~~

As for the meeting in New Bedford, can you find that source please? And also the telephone call to Weybosset? We have not ever determined if that had really happened or was some kind of a mistake, including the confusion about Dr. Bowen. Those statements would probably need clarifying here, so people can decide. Thanks!

And what about Dr. Bowen racing over to where Morse was? And Morse getting a phone call at Weybosset Street, then leaving right away? Did the cops dig into that stuff? Or are they rumors?

--partial, Augusta

[augusta]

I will try to find the sources for the Bowen visit to Weybosset that morning and the phone call. Also the three in New Bedford.

I does not sound right about Bowen just happening to go to the Weybosset street house as has been written.

But then I remember the paper he tore up and burned in the kitchen stove and a cop (Harrington, maybe) asked what he was burning and Bowen said "It is nothing" - and said it was something about his daughter. The cop saw the word "Emma" written on a piece in pencil. (And I just got myself some more homework. I will look for the source and post it.)

Bowen, with this action alone, does not sound lily white in this to me.
But I don't want to shift the focus of this thread away from Morse. He's enough to handle in one thread.

Please give to the Edwin Porter gravestone fund. (See 'The Hatchet' main web page.)

[augusta]

Here is the source for Dr. Bowen's visit to the Emerys right as Morse was leaving. It is in the Lizzie Borden Sourcebook, page 9.

Morse's Niece
Mrs. Emery, upon whom Mr. Morse called, was disposed to talk freely to Officer Medley, who interviewed her Thursday night. She said in reply to questions that she had several callers during the day, and that one of them was John Morse.
"Was Morse the name we heard?" asked the officer of a companion.
"Yes," retorted Mrs. Emery quickly, "Morse was the man. He left here at 11:30 o'clock this morning."
"Then you noticed the time?" observed the officer.
"Oh,yes," was the reply. "I noticed the time.
"How did you fix it?" was the next question.
After some little hesitation, Mrs. Emery said that one of her family was sick, and that Dr. Bowen was her physician. "Dr. Bowen came in just as Mr. Morse left."
"Did they meet?" queried the officers.
"No, they did not," said Mrs. Emery.
At this point the niece in question entered the room and corroborated Mrs. Emery's statements, though both women finally fixed upon 11:20 as the exact time of Mr. Morse's departure.
Mrs. Emery volunteered information that Mr. Morse was well-to-do, at least she supposed he was comfortably off and that he had come east to spend his money. She was not positive on this point, however. Morse's niece was asked if she had ever seen her uncle before, and replied that she had. She had met him when she was five years old, and three weeks ago he had taken her from the cars at Warren to the Borden farm, Swansey.

(Italics mine.) If Morse had seen her three weeks prior, then he could have arranged to see her on August 4th. It would have been no big surprise if Morse went to see her, if they had such recent previous contact. I'd think the Bordens probably knew he was in the area ahead of time, too, then. But I don't think Morse told the Bordens ahead of time just what day he'd be over to spend the night.

[augusta]

This contradicts what The Sourcebook said about Morse, posted above.

This is from The Witness Statements, page 29, from Officer Medley:

He said Morse "... went to see a nephew and niece whom he had never seen before."

Medley went to see Mrs. Emery on August 4 to see if this were true. She said "... that he did meet his nephew and niece. ... She asked him to remain to dinner, but he declined saying something about going to New Bedford, to which place they understood be [sic] was going after leaving the house"...

How did Mrs. Emery mean that? "He did meet his nephew and niece." Did she mean Morse did meet them before? Or did she mean he just met them for the first time that morning? The nephew wasn't at home, tho, was he? So Mrs. Emery must have meant that he had met them before August 4th.

[Yooper]

I will try to find the sources for the Bowen visit to Weybosset that morning and the phone call. Also the three in New Bedford.

I does not sound right about Bowen just happening to go to the Weybosset street house as has been written.

But then I remember the paper he tore up and burned in the kitchen stove and a cop (Harrington, maybe) asked what he was burning and Bowen said "It is nothing" - and said it was something about his daughter. The cop saw the word "Emma" written on a piece in pencil. (And I just got myself some more homework. I will look for the source and post it.)

Bowen, with this action alone, does not sound lily white in this to me.
But I don't want to shift the focus of this thread away from Morse. He's enough to handle in one thread.

Please give to the Edwin Porter gravestone fund. (See 'The Hatchet' main web page.)

The sheet of paper which Dr. Bowen burned in the stove might have been a telegram from his daughter. If he received it that day, his wife may have been unaware of it. If it contained a message that his daughter would be delayed in her return home, his wife might not have known it, and would have watched for her daughter, as she did. Dr. Bowen might have written out the message he wished to send to Emma, he wanted to word it discreetly, so maybe he wrote a rough draft. The reverse side of a telegram might have been used instead of a notebook. He probably went to the telegraph office in haste and didn't think of it until he got there. If it was something incriminating he wished to hide, then it makes more sense to keep it in his pocket and dispose of it later, than to burn it with the possibility of being observed.

There is also the possibility he didn't receive the telegram until he reached the telegraph office, then wrote the message to Emma on the reverse side.

[augusta]

Yooper - That is an exciting - and new - possibility. You're thinking outside the box, and I think that's what it will take to make advances in the Borden case.

It makes excellent sense! That's right - his wife was watching for a time out the window, waiting for their daughter to come home. And she was, I think, running late. Bowen did say "something about my daughter ..."

I found this last night in the Sourcebook (page 240) about it: I have never seen this before.

(Officer Harrington is on the stand)
"When I was in the kitchen" said witness, "I saw Dr. Bowen with some scraps of paper in his hand. I asked him what they were, and he answered that he guessed they were nothing, and he started to arrange them so as to show me what they were. I saw the word 'Ellen' written in lead pencil. The doctor then lifted the lid from the stove, and I noticed the fire was nearly extinguished...."

Ellen! Ellen! That was from an article from The New York Times. The reporting was done from New Bedford, date June 9 (1893).

Is there even an Ellen in this story? Eagan was involved. That has to be a mistake. Time to check Harrington's actual trial testimony.

[augusta]

Here is Officer Harrington on the stand at the trial. He is being questioned by Knowlton.

Q: When you got into the kitchen who was there?

A: Well, there were quite a number of people, among whom I noticed or recognized Drs. Bowen and Dolan, assistant marshal Fleet, and the servant girl, whose name at that time I did not know.

Q: You say you saw Dr. Bowen with some scraps of note paper in his hand?

A: Yes, sir.

Q: Where was he standing?

A: He was standing a little west of the door that led into the rear hall or entryway.

Q: Go on and describe what was done and what you and Dr. Bowen said, not what anyone else did.

A: I asked him what they were, referring to the pieces of paper, and he said, "Oh, I guess it is nothing."

MR. ROBINSON: I cannot let this go in unless you give me an assurance that it has nothing whatever to do with it. [Don't ask me. I'm just transcribing. - Augusta]

MR. KNOWLTON: It has nothing to do with the case at all.

MR. ROBINSON: You claim the paper has no significance?

MR. KNOWLTON: Well, he said it has no significance.

THE WITNESS: So he started to arrange them so as to determine what was on them, or to learn their contents. They were very small and it was rather difficult, but on one piece, on the upper left-hand corner, was the word "Emma." And that was written in lead pencil, as well as other pieces I saw.

Q: Now then, what did you do with that paper?

A: I asked him again what they contained, and he said, "Oh, I think it is nothing. It is something, I think, about my daughter going through somewhere." He then turned slightly to his left and took the lid from the stove and threw the papers in, or the pieces in.

Q: Now then, did you observe anything as he lifted the lid from the stove?

A: Yes, sir.

*********************
(What follows is that cylindrical roll Harrington saw being burned.)

Well, what nut case said the paper said "Ellen" (besides me, I mean)? Why did Officer Harrington not stop Dr. Bowen and say, "Here, let me see this a moment." No, he stood there while Dr. Bowen threw it away. And 'Emma' written - it sounds like - several times on it?

Bowen said it was about his daughter going thru somewhere. What - "Hi Emma! I am going home on Thursday, the 4th, and want to stop and see you in Fairhaven, Emma. Emma, is that all right? Let me know, Emma. Goodbye, Emma. - Flo"

I wonder if Dr. Bowen was ever questioned on the stand about this

If the pieces don't fit, you can't acquit. [/i]

[Yooper]

I don't think "Emma" being written on a piece of paper would have raised any red flags at that moment. People weren't even considering Lizzie as a suspect at that particular time. Dr. Bowen's daughter could well have written her parents, knowing she would be delayed by stopping in (choose any town between her and Fall River, in order to do whatever) and letting her parents know she would arrive late. The message would certainly have taken a back seat to the immediacy of the murders, so perhaps Mrs. Bowen didn't hear of it until later.

[Kat]

I'm finding flaws where Medley is concerned. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this? He's crucial to the case, but his statements don't seem to always agree with what others say- like the *no footprints in the dust of the barn loft* when I doubt he was the first one up there, now - and more.
Someone may want to compare Medley to other's statements, throughout?

As for Harrington: earlier, and closer to the time of the murders, in The Witness Statements, page 6, he said ". . .After leaving her, I went down in the kitchen where was Dr. Bowen, Asst. Fleet, Dr. Dolan, Bridget and several others. Dr. Bowen had scraps of paper in his hand, on which there was some writing. He and I spoke about them, and he tried to put some of them together. He said “it is nothing, it is something about, I think, my daughter going through somewhere.” If I recollect correctly, it was addressed to Emma; but about that I am not sure. The Doctor then said “it does not amount to anything”, and taking the lid off the kitchen stove, he dropped the pieces in. There was very little fire in the stove, and the ashes which were on top looked as though paper had been burned there.". . .

Thank you very much for the trial transcription of testimony, Augusta, and for The Sourcebook source.

[augusta]

That's interesting, Kat, what you found in the Witness Statements. So then Harrington thought it might have been a note to Emma. But when he testified at the trial, he said that he saw "Emma" written several times on it.

There was some hoopla at the trial between - I think it was Medley and Fleet's testimony about the hatchet. It's very confusing. Maybe I can find it. Seems like one of them got caught saying something far different from the other. I will look for it; I think I know where to find that.

[Yooper]

I find it interesting that they would question Dr. Bowen about what he was disposing of at that time. Did they have reason to suspect him of the murders? Possible collaboration with someone else they suspected of the murders? If I had been Bowen, I would have been angry about the question and answered accordingly, but he doesn't seem to do that, he seems a bit defensive.

[diana]

partial ....

The thing about the lock is: it sounds like, from Emma, that the lock was not changed.
I guess we should find out what day Morse says he changed it.

Emma
Inquest
114
Q. I dont think I will trouble you with that question any how. Did you use to keep the back door, the screen door, fastened, was that the habit of the household?
A. Intended to when they were in.
Q. How about the front door?
A. We locked that with a spring lock.
Q. Did the spring lock work?
A. Once in a while we would find it did not, but very seldom.
Q. The few times it did not work, did it not come from the fact the door was not slammed too enough to catch the spring?
A. I suppose that must have been it.
Q. You had not had it repaired?
A. No Sir.
Q. It is in the same condition now it had been?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You have lived there since the tragedy; you are still living in the house?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. It works as well now as it did; there is no difference in it?
A. So far as I know, it does.
~~~~~

Here's Morse at trial (page 148. 149):
"Q. I will ask you whether you have observed anything in the use of the front door in regard to the spring lock, Mr. Morse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is that? State it plainly so that we can hear it. You do not speak quite loudly enough, if you will let me say.
A. Well, if you shut the door hard, the spring lock would catch; if you didn't, it would not.
Q. Then if it did not catch----
A. You could open it without any trouble.
Q. Push it, or turn the ordinary knob, and it would come right open. And when had you noticed that?
A. That was after the tragedy.
Q. Did you specially examine it to see about that? Was your attention called to it?
A. It was not called especially to that. I went to try the door, and it was unfastened, and I found afterwards by slamming it hard it would catch and if you didn't it would not; and I took the lock off, had it fastened back so it would catch, and a new one was put on while I was there.
Q. A new one was put on?
A. I had it put on.
Q. And do you recall now that the old lock is there and a new latch also?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you are now referring to the one that was on August 4, and did not work?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now if I understand you, it was simply by mere accident that you discovered that the lock behaved so?
A. On my part?
Q. Yes.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And then, having discovered that it did not lock unless the door was slammed, did you try it again?
A. I did.
Q. And what was the result?
A. The same; you could open it and go out without any trouble.
Q. Did you try it more than once?
A. Yes, sir, I tried it several times.
Q. And that, you say, was after the tragedy?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you recall about how long?
A. Oh, within a day or two."

Of course, it's impossible to be totally sure that he changed the lock 'within a day or two' -- maybe he just found the flaw in the closing during that time period; but the inference is that the two events were close together.

[Kat]

Thanks for the transcription, Diana!

I've just checked when Emma and Morse appeared at the Inquest, and find they were one after the other, on Wednesday, August 10, "after dinner." ( Evening Standard, Aug.11) It's possible they were returned together to the Borden house.* If so, they may have chatted about their respective testimonies, but maybe not. It would be interesting to be a fly in that carriage with the 2 of them!

*I guess at this because Marshal Hilliard "drove to the Borden homestead and returned [to the court] with John V. Morse."--see Hatchet "Lizzie Borden In Black & White" issue, page 35.

Seems there was plenty of time for Emma and Morse to get their stories straight about the front door lock. Maybe Emma was still so in shock she was not bothered with such details.

[augusta]

Diana, thanks for finding and posting that testimony. Yes, it is difficult to know how Morse meant that "within a day or two" (after the murders) comment.

Kat, if you were a fly in Morse's carriage you'd have to join all the others.

Seriously, tho, it was very interesting how you put that scenario together. Very likely!

[SallyG]

I remember my grandmother and her friends, born in the 1800's, would say "a day or two" and it could mean anywhere from 2-5 days. They were not really as precise about time back then as we are now. So it's difficult to really know the time frame of the lock changing.

However, if a double murder had been committed in a house I was staying in, I'd sure want to have secure locks on the doors...I think that would be a priority.

[Kat]

They were surrounded by policemen for some nights after the murders. I'm not sure for how long. They also were pretty much escorted to the inquest by police as well. Some argue it might have been the safest place in Fall River for a time.
Personally, I wouldn't care about the locks because I would not stay there!
I can't imagine killing (supposedly) for a better house in a better neighborhood, yet staying in that home after 2 people were butchered. (If I did it...)

[Kat]

More On Morse~
Some may have read this before. It's a good story about Uncle John Morse- and may be the precursor to the legend that he was derelict in his appearance. But it's a joke.

Fall River Weekly News, June 28, 1893

Mr. Morse and His Joke on the County Treasurer

County Treasurer Pratt laughingly related the following incident. Among the Borden trial witnesses who approached him to get their fee was John V. Morse. Mr. Morse approached the desk of the county treasurer and asked:

"I suppose I get mileage, same as the rest?"
"Certainly. Where did you come from?"
"From Iowa."
"Ah, and how far is that?" asked the treasurer, looking up in some trepidation as to the funds holding out.
"About 1600 miles."
"Where were you summoned from?"
"From Fall River."
"Where do you live?"
"Don't live anywhere about here; just knocking about now."
"Where do you have your washing done?"
"Don't have any done: when one shirt is soiled I throw it away and buy another," and there was not a sign of a glint in the joker's eyes.
"Where have you been stopping recently? Where do you call your home for the present about here?"
"Oh, well, I s'pose South Dartmouth is as near to it as any place."
"And how far is that?"
"About two and one-half miles."
"Well," said Mr. Pratt, with a big sigh of relief. "I'll allow you three miles," and the joker took his cash with never a movement of his muscles, while Mr. Pratt mopped his brow and greeted the next comer.

--It could also be interpreted as Morse being so well off that he could just buy shirts regularly rather than wash them.
If it really happened.
But as we think on this, Morse did come back from Iowa for the trial. Of course, he was on bond to return.

Also, Rebello:
page 71:
Ten days after the grand jury indicted Lizzie, John Morse left Fall River and arrived in Hastings on December 12, 1892. He returned to New Bedford to testify at Lizzie's trial. After the trial, he returned to Hastings, Iowa.

[Kat]

Also, Morse in his gray suit:

Rebello page122-3

I have never borrowed a dollar of Andrew Borden in my life.' ... A letter from a cashier in an Iowa bank of recent date, shows a handsome balance of Mr. Morse's credit. Mr. Morse wears a suit of light gray clothes, all he has with him since he has been in the city. There is not a spot apparent on the suit. 'Look at me,' he said, 'as a man of common sense, and say if I could have committed such a horrible butchery and present the appearance I do.' This last remark shows how keenly the unhappy man feels the injustice that hasty suspicion has done him." Fall River Evening News, Friday, August 5, 1892.

It's implied by Morse that he could have returned to the Davis place the same day he came to Fall River (Wednesday). That may be why he seems to not have brought any change of clothing or toiletries.

Morse
Inquest
102
Q. When you came from New Bedford to Fall River did you have any set time to go back?
A. Not particular, no. I told Mr. Davis I would try to get back the next day. He says you will be gone two days, I guess, I will give you that. I could have gone back the night before at six o’clock or half past.

[Kat]

ooops!

[Kat]

This is a post of mine from the Privy. It includes reference to "Jeffery" a past member who had researched intensively the *Davis connection* to the Borden case:

Jeffery referred to the January, 1998 LBQ, as providing info in there on Mrs. Doris Reed Grimwade, who, he claims, by their own family tree, are related to Wm. Davis.

She is apparently the great niece of Wm. A. Davis. They are the direct line of Emma W. Davis, the older sister of William.

The atticle in the LBq is entitled "John Vinnicum Morse"- 'I Sat On His Lap', by Mr. Bertolet.
The Bertolets went to interview this Mrs. Grimwade, who was 98 in 1998.

She recalled Alice Russell teaching sewing in the schools and she shesays about Lizzie that her own mother thought her innocent but "mother came around. No one in Fall River ever believed Lizzie was innocent after the trial. They protected her throughout but there never was any chance of her being convicted. After all, she was a woman and a Sunday School teacher."

As for Morse: This Mrs. Grimwade sat on his lap!
She recalls:
"John Vinnicum Morse was a friend of the family. I was only about three years old when all this was happening with John Morse and what I remember is mother taking me to New Bedford because John Morse was visiting and she wanted to see him. He was an old family friend. And what I remember about it was sitting on his lap, and his white beard. What interested me most was a gold watch with a heavy gold chain with sort of an ornament. You put the watch in one vest pocket and then the chain and the thing to hold it down in another. The fob, I guess you call it, yes. When he was visiting they were very glad to see him. Mother made a special trip. She was the one who was most interested in the Lizzie Borden business.

...Aunt and Uncle...Mr. Morse was visiting there. I don't know if he was staying with them or not. He was there. John Morse was a friend, a very well-respected, well-liked friend of the family. Sometimes he stayed out in Pettinara with...the Davis', Charles and Isaac, had a farm out there and I don't know if he was staying with my aunt and uncle or just visiting them the way we were. They lived in an apartment on the second floor but I couldn't tell you what street.

What can I tell you about him? Everybody liked John Morse. I mean he was a welcome guest where ever he went. Another thing I can tell you about him that my mother told me, he never allowed you to talk about Lizzie Borden in his presence. He didn't want to discuss her at all. The whole thing was distasteful. Why should he get mixed up in it? And why should he have to talk about it afterwards? I don't know. You don't talk about things like that. He just got mixed up in it and didn't want to talk about it. He never discussed her afterwards. Nobody ever spoke of it to him."...

Jeffery contacted the son of Mrs. Grimwade, and met the grandson of Wm. Davis, but felt they were not being candid with him which made him suspicious. Even after reading this article on Mrs. Grimwade, Jeffery still believed in Morse's complicity in a conspiracy to murder Andrew Borden.

[DJ]

Kat,
Thanks for posting the above--
Too bad JVM wasn't wearing the watch on Aug. 4-- then, maybe, we'd have a better conception of "the timing."
I know it's not the same as a wristwatch, but men who wore these would check them fairly often, at least to make sure they were wound and running up to speed.
************************************************************
Interesting that JVM goes from wearing his clothes for several days to such ornamental splendor, in later years.

[Kat]

Well, we don't know that he wore his clothes over several days- that's just it. Isn't it possible that, like Matlock, he had all his suits the same and so one could not tell which suit he had on?
It worked for Lizzie and her blue outfits!
There is a news item about Morse in Iowa that told of him getting gussied up to -what they surmised might be- going a'courting, but he remained unattached and went back to looking like his old self.

Actually, I was having macabre thoughts that Morse was wearing Abbie's prized watch!

[DJ]

Well, Kat, how can you be sure Matlock didn't wear the same suit, time and again?
I suppose the show's producers were assuming we would infer it was a "lucky suit."
As for Morse's watch-- I wonder whether it was a gift. I don't think he'd have the temerity to wear anything that was "hot." However, I do wonder whether it was a gift-- mayhap from his loving niece, Emma? Wouldn't it be fascinating if it surfaced, with an inscription?
Also wonder whether JVM's silver teapot is still in the family.

[Kat]

I was thinking a similar thing, right? That Emma stole Abbe's watch and gave it to Morse who did not know it was stolen!


As for Matlock- we've been in his closet, so we've seen all his identical seersucker suits!

[DJ]

Kat,
I never got as far as Matlock's closet, but thanks for the enlightenment. It would make a good trivia question for Ken Jennings's new show on GSN.
*************************************************************
Morse was with Emma a great deal in the weeks and months following the murders, through most of the rest of '92, right? In all likelihood, she "went through things" during that time, and, in all likelihood, he was the recipient of some "somethings."
I doubt Emma or Lizzie wanted to hold on to anything belonging to Abby. They probably either gave away her things, or else sold them. Is there any record of their having given anything to any of her family?

[Kat]

On the topic "Why Put The Key...?" we are talking about the LBQ articles and this info is there:
viewtopic.php?p=65109&highlight=#65109

"'Two months after the trial, Emma and Lizzie sold their inherited half share of the Fourth Street property for 'one dollar and other considerations' to Abby's half-sister Sarah and Abby's sister, Priscilla Fish of Connecticut. Abby's personal belongings and bank deposits totaling $1,716.05 were released to Sarah and Priscilla.' (Page 22, as well.)" --from The Lizzie Borden Quarterly, Vol. IX, Number 1, January, 2002, "The Whitehead House Discovered," by Leonard Rebello.

[Kat]

Morse got bail and left Fall River to go to Iowa to see to his property there. That was in early December, 1892. I don't think he returned until May, 1893?
How nice of him to leave the girls over Christmas. Anyway, they still had a Morse aunt in town, Mary Louisa, whose husband was also a Morse, Mary Louisa's first cousin, Joseph Morse.

[DJ]

Guess Emma didn't want to get dragged into court over what was Abby's.
That leaves Andrew's things-- could the watch have belonged to him? JVM would have likely been the recipient of Andrew's personal "male" effects.

[Kat]

Well, it's true Andrew had no Borden male kin in his immediate family, yet if he wanted a Borden to have his watch (or whatever) his sister was still alive, Luranna. Andrew had had uncles and aunts and they had children as well. No Morse need inherit anything of Andrew's.

Abraham Borden's siblings were Thomas, Amey (m. Grinnell), Hannah (m. Cook), Richard, Cook, Ladowick, and Zephaniah.
(Roana and Andrew died young or early.)

[Kat]

Here is my recent "collection" of Morse bits from The Witness Statements. This is a copy/paste, and not my transcribing. Stef or Harry did the typing.

Witness Statements
Page 2
JOHN FLEET
August 4, 1892.

. . .“Did you see anyone around here?” “No, I had not seen anyone in the house or yard.” “Who is this Mr. Morse?” He is my Uncle; he came here last night, and slept here, but went away before nine o’clock A. M. and did not get back until after the murder; he could not know anything about the murder.” “Have you any idea who could have done this?” “No, I do not know that my father had bad trouble with anyone. But about two weeks ago a man called, and they had some talk about a shop; and father told him that he could not have it for that purpose. The man talked as though he was angry; did not know who he was, did not see him, could not tell all that he said. A man came here this morning about nine o’clock, I think he wanted to hire a store, talked English. I did not see him; heard father shut the door, and think the man went away.”
…
Pages 3 and 4

.. . . “Did you see anyone that you think would or could have done the killing”? “No, I did not. I was washing the windows outside, and did not see anyone but Mr. Morse that morning; and he went away before nine o’clock. Am very sure that I was not up stairs more than ten to fifteen minutes. I did not hear the door opened while I was up stairs, nor did I see anyone from my window.”

Conversed with John V. Morse at the A. J. Borden house. Said that he was A. J. Borden’s brother-in-law, his sister was Mr. Borden’s first wife. Had always been on friendly terms with the family, and had frequently made visits to his house. “Last night I stopped here, and slept in the room where Mrs. Borden was found dead. I arrived here yesterday afternoon from New Bedford. Called upon Mr. Borden. Afterward got a carriage from Kirby’s stable, and went to Mr. Borden’s farm, arriving at the house again about 8.30 P. M. We sat up I think until about ten o’clock. Went to bed in the room, as before stated. Got up about six o’clock this morning, got breakfast about seven o’clock, stopped in the house till about 8.40 A. M. Leaving Mr. Borden at the door, went to the Post Office, wrote a letter from there, went as far as Third street on Bedford, from Third to Pleasant street, through Pleasant street to No. 4 Weybosset. Street, arriving there about 9.30 A. M. Saw relatives from the West. Remained at the house from 9.30 to 11:20 A. M., or thereabouts. Left, taking horse car, and stopped at the corner of Pleasant and Second streets, and got to Mr. Borden’s house about or near twelve o’clock. Saw a number of persons around the house, and was told that Mr. and Mrs. Borden was killed. That was the first I knew of their deaths.”
“Where do you live when at home?” “I live at South Dartmouth, have been here about two years. I lived in the West for about twenty years. (Came back two years ago.)” “Have you any idea who did this?” “I cant see who could do this; do not know that he has an enemy in the world.” “Have you seen, or have you heard Bridget or Lizzie say that they had seen anyone around who they suspected’? “No, I have not.”
Mr. Morse afterwards asked if I suspected that the murderer could have been concealed in the house last night. I replied that I did not. Then I said that he might have been in the house, but could not see how he could have been there without some of them seeing him. He said it is very strange that this should be done in the day time, and right in the heart of the city. It put him in mind of the Nathan murder which was twenty or twenty five years ago. In that case they never found the murderer.
_________________________
Page 9
(Doherty/Harrington)

. . . We were on guard at the house from 1. A. M. until 9. A. M. Friday. At one o’clock the house was all in darkness, and so remained all night. There was no noise until about 6.20 A. M. About 6.30 A. M. Mr. John Morse came to the side door, said “good morning”, and spoke about the weather. At 8.30 he came out, and going over to S. H. Miller’s, he called Bridget, who stayed there that night. He then went to the P. O., stopped about a minute, went out and crossed to Geo. E. Howe’s where he purchased a two cent stamp. He then returned to the P. O. and at 8.32 A.M. dropped a letter addressed to Wm. A. Davis So. Dartmouth. It bore the words “In haste”. On his way home he tried the Daily News door, and it was not open.

Saturday morning August 6. A Alan Morse, employed by Covel & Osborn, had to be located on that day, Thursday. His whereabouts were satisfactory.
_______________________

Wm. Medley
Page 29

Fall River, August 4, 1892.

John V. Morse stated to me that be left the Borden homestead on Second street at about 8.50 A. M. and went to see a nephew and niece whom he had never seen before, so he said, who were stopping at Mr. Emery’s at No. 4 Weybosset street. Mr. Morse said he went there, and remained until 11.30 arriving there at about 9.30. Leaving No. 4 Weybosset at 11.30, he said he took a street car going directly back to the Borden home, arriving there about 11.50, when he found that Mr and Mrs. Borden had been murdered; that was the first he knew of it. He told Reporter Porter of the Daily Globe that the first he knew of it was when he was telephoned for.
To prove the truth or falsity of the above statement, I went to the home of Mr. Emery at No. 4 Weybosst street. Mrs. Emery said Mr. Morse did come there at about 9.40, and left there at 11.20, or thereabouts; that he did meet his nephew and niece. She also said Mr. Morse had not been to their house before in several years. She asked him to remain to dinner, but he declined saying something about going to New Bedford, to which place they understood be was going after leaving the house. He left by the front door, but she does not know whether or not he took a street car .

- - - - - - - -
Page 33
(Medley)

Fall River September 13, 1892.
I have visited New Bedford, going to the hardware store of Hillman & Vincent. Mr. Mark Vincent is the man who sold the ax of which I have before made mention, the purchase being made about two days before the murder. I took Mr. Vincent to see the Portugese working at the slaughter house on the Davis farm, and who is well acquainted with Mr. Morse. But after a thorough look at the man, concluded that he was not the man; neither had he ever noticed him in the store at any time. The Portuguese man has a distinctive look about him; and anyone seeing him once, would know him again. This Portugese claims never to have been in New Bedford, except on Sunday, at any time within six months.
_________________________

Page 35/36
F. L. EDSON
Fall River Mass. Friday Aug. 5, 1892.
At 5.55 A. M. went from the Police Station to the residence of the late A. J. Borden, No 92 Second street. Arrived there about 6 A. M. entered house by the side door on North side of the house. Officer Harrington was on duty at the door. The door from the entry to kitchen was open. J. V. Morse was in front of the stove; we did not speak. I went down cellar from the entry, went into the wash room in the southmost corner of the cellar. On the floor were two axes and a single hatchet. On a bench or table were a number of wet towels. There was blood on the towels. I went up stairs with the axes and hatchet, met Harrington at the door. Harrington said “there was one more hatchet in the cellar.” I went down cellar again, Harrington with me. In the vegetable cellar, off wash room, Harrington handed me a hatchet from a shelf or scaffold. We then went up stairs, and out of the house. On the steps I saw John V. Morse coming from the back yard. I said “good morning”; he answered. I went from there directly to the Police Station; arriving there about 6.23 A. M. At the Police Station I examined the axes.

. . . .
About 7.15 A. M. I returned to the Borden house, went into the house with Officer Doherty. Bridget Sullivan and J. V. Morse were in the kitchen. I also inquired of Morse about his relatives in New Bedford and vicinity. I also inquired about Mrs. Borden’s relatives. Morse called Miss Emma, and she answered the questions. While I was talking to Miss Emma, Miss Lizzie came in. She said “Bridget, are you sure the back cellar door was fastened?” Bridget said “Yes marm.”
. . . . . .

Page 36
Friday August 26.
J. V. Morse testified that one ax and three hatchets were taken from the house, put in a light colored bag of coarse material, and carried away. This is false.
(F. L. Edson, Constable)

__________________

Page 36-37
GEORGE F. SEAVER

August 11, 1892.
Early Thursday morning, Aug. 11, went to Luther’s Corners, Swansea, with Marshal Hilliard, to the farm owned by the late Andrew J. Borden, and had an interview with Frederick Eddy and Alfred C. Johnson, who have been employed on that place, Mr. Eddy for sixteen years, and Johnson for nine.
Frederick Eddy made the following statement. “John V. Morse came over to this house Wednesday evening Aug. 3, between seven and eight o’clock. He drove a horse and top buggy; said it was a stable team. He came in the house and brought a rattan basket, took out three pears and laid on the table, said he brought them over from the Borden house. He said Mr. Borden sent him over to see how I was, and get the eggs. Said Mr. Borden was coming with him, but he, his wife and Lizzie were taken sick last night, and he couldn’t come. He said he stopped to supper at Mr. Vinnecum’s, who lives a short distance from here. I said to him, after he got his eggs, “how about the oxen Mr. Davis of South Dartmouth was to have to use?” “I am going back and see Mr. Borden, and think we will make arrangements to get them back over Saturday morning”, was the reply. Mr. Morse stayed here perhaps ten or fifteen minutes. Since hearing of the murder, it has seemed to me a singular coincidence that he should have come over that night for the eggs, for, had he not, I should have taken the train and gone to Mr. Borden’s Thursday morning, arriving at the house about quarter to eleven or eleven. I have seen axes and hatchets at Mr. Borden’s. The large hatchet was comparatively new. When it was bought, it was brought over here, and ground sharp. After being ground, Mr. Borden was here, and it was carried out and put on the wall by the gate for him to carry home. When he went away be said, I wont take the hatchet. You’ll be coming over in a day or two, and you bring it over; which I did. I did not use axes or hatchets at Mr. Borden’s, as a Sweden, Andrew Johnson, went to Mr. Borden’s when he was not busy here, and did all the work, cutting the wood, cleaning up the yard etc. When I go to Fall River with hay or anything for market, I have always been in the habit of going to Mr. Borden’s house to dinner. Sometimes I have eaten dinner with them; often I have not got there until after they were through dinner.
___________________

Page 40
JOHN RILEY

Fall River, August 28, 1892.
I arrived at the Borden House about 12.35 August 4th. I was told of the murder on the way to the station house. Went into the kitchen and sitting room. Saw Mr. Borden on the sofa; saw blood spots on the door leading to the parlor; saw Mrs. Borden up stairs on the floor in the bed room; saw Miss Russell and Lizzie Borden in another room on the second floor. I came down, and went to the cellar. Marshal Fleet, Mr. Morse and Officer Mullaly were there. Looked through the cellar; saw the hatchets. Came up stairs to the kitchen. Dr. Dolan, Dr. Bowen and Bridget Sullivan were in there. Marshal Fleet sent me to the New Bedford Depot. Left there after the 3.30 train left; then came to the station house. The Marshal then sent me to the Borden house, and I helped to search the barn.

[DJ]

Kat, thanks for the gobs of info!
Back to the watch: Since everything was Emma's and, ultimately, Lizzie's, they needn't have been "remembering" of Borden connections when dispensing with Andrew's personal effects.
Of course, some Borden relation could have come in and asked for something, but legally of course they had no claim on it, because Andrew was intestate.
Since Emma was so close to Uncle John, I figure she may have given many of Andrew's nicer things to him: cufflinks, tie pins, what-have-you. And, of course, a gold pocket watch, if there were one. If someone came in and asked about such-and-such an item, she could reply that she had given it to JVM, because he was a brother-in-law. Or, simply, that she had already given it away-- tough cookies. Or, simply, "MYOB."
(I'm sure we all know how people will show up right before or after a funeral and begin mentioning specific things that you know they're just angling for, and I doubt it was much different back in 1892.)
I don't suppose she gave anything to Uncle Hiram-- personally, I would have sent over the dining-room table. I don't think I could have been able to eat off that after 8/04.
Anyway, Kat-- do we know whether Andrew had a gold pocket watch? Most men of his stature would have possessed one. If he had, I would wager it went to JVM.

[Kat]

You can check the testimonies for the possessions taken off Andrew's body to find if he had a watch. Medley I think, Dolan and Winward. I believe our member William seemed to have found a watch chain in Andrew's vest- in the picture of him dead on the couch?

Just how close do you think Emma was to Uncle John? I actually can't conceive of her that close to anyone. She wrote him and called him a "dear" uncle, but she also visited her sick aunt Lurana, too. My impression of Emma is one of the eldest daughter of a Borden, who was taught to keep in touch with the kin: visiting, writing, etc. In a way, it could be expected of her as a duty. Also, Morse did not leave anything to Emma (nor Lizzie) in his will.

We see Anna Morse also visiting her kin- tho she was not Wm. Bradford Morse's eldest daughter. But she made sure to visit the Gardners and Emerys etc that summer, and did visit her Uncle John Morse in his last illness in Iowa. We don't know that Emma ever did that.

I have to think about the supposition that the girls would give personal effects of Andrew to JVM.

[dasdeeboot]

John Morse has been very interesting to me from the start :P

[augusta]

When my mom's second husband died, she gave some things away to some people. The husband's daughter suddenly crawled out of the woodwork, and my mother was ordered by the court to get everything back from everyone.

I wonder if the sisters were told to not give anything to anyone at first; to wait for his estate to go to probate.

I wonder if the sisters gave Abby's sisters all of Abby's personal things. But maybe they disliked Abby so much that they put their noses in the air and said 'Good riddance' as they packed up any reminder of her.

I wonder if Lizzie kept her father's watch. She was the most like her father. And, if he had died without her murdering him (if she did) he may have wanted her to have it. A father's pocket watch is a precious momento. I can't see Morse getting it. He wasn't even Andrew's blood relation. I'll bet he had the nerve to maybe ask for it, tho.

[augusta]

From the Preliminary Hearing, page 386, the undertaker, James Winward, is asked about the contents of Andrew's pockets:

(Knowlton): Were you the one who removed the effects from the body?

A: I took the things out of Andrew J. Borden's clothes.

Q: Did you give whatever you took to Dr. Dolan?

A: I did.

Q: Without bothering to produce them, will you kindly tell me what they were, in the shape of valuables?

A: I think there was $78. in bills in the pocket book.

Q: In a pocket book?

A: Yes Sir.

Q: What pocket was that pocket book in?

A: In the inside pocket in the coat, I should think.

Q: In the coat pocket?

A: Yes Sir, inside pocket, inside the coat.

Q: Not inside the vest. What else in the shape of valuables?

A: In that pocket there were some minor papers, which we did not examine into, just opened them, and saw there was no more money in there, or notes. That is all we examined for.

Q: There was a watch and chain?

A: Yes Sir, in his vest.

Q: Anythingelse? (sic)

A: In his pants pockets some loose change, two or three dollars in silver.

Q: What size bills were these?

A: I think about $5.

Q: All in bills?

A: Yes Sir.

Winward was also asked about Andrew's keys on a ring. Winward said that he thought no separate key/s were loose in a pocket. Winward did not put any keys on the ring, and he found them in Andrew's pants pocket.

Dr. Dolan, on the stand during the Preliminary Hearing, page 184, said that the things Winward gave him out of Andrew's pocket(s) were in the safe at the office. Dolan said there was one key separate from the keys on the ring. "There is a big key there, like a shop key," said Dolan.

I remember someone testifying that there was a pouch of opened chewing tobacco as part of the things taken from a pocket of Andrew's that day. Supposedly Andrew didn't chew tobacco. So far I can't find the source on that.

[DJ]

Thanks for clearing up the matter of the watch. I remembered the large sum of cash in the wallet, wondering why the perp didn't bother to take it. In too much of a hurry? Didn't want to risk being further bloodied, fumbling around for it?
Well, Emma and Lizzie may or may not have handed out Andrew's "remembrances" to Borden relations. I guess it's hard to say how close Emma was to any of them, how she might have felt duty-bound to call on them through the years, as you suggest, Kat.
Also, too, she didn't have all that much to occupy her time. Perhaps dropping in on relations satisfied both a sense of duty and the need for a divertissement-- a reason to get out of the house and pass the empty hours.
As for Emma and Uncle Morse-- it would be fascinating to know how close they truly were. She didn't have a brother or a son on whom to bestow Andrew's possessions, if she didn't plan to keep them. The closest male relative would have been an uncle, and JVM was an uncle by blood, not marriage--so, I don't think it's outside of the realm of possibility that he received some of Andrew's possessions.

[Kat]

Any handwriting experts here?

[DJ]

The first period is interesting--
The "V" is wild-- really Freudian, and that's all I'm gonna say!