The sad story of Joseph Hurd

[Harry]

The following transcription covers the death of Joseph Hurd at 12 Ferry Street, the very house that Lizzie was born in. Part of this article is in Rebello's book (pages 30-31) as well as additional coverage from the Fall River Globe. This is the complete article from the Evening News:

"The Fall River Evening News, Thursday, December 28, 1893, p8

STARVED TO DEATH.

A Distressing Case on
Ferry Street

Victim a Man Who Had Once
Owned a Fortune.

His Wife, Who Appears Crazed,
Claims To Be Heir to an Estate in
New York.

Although the city may not have as many destitute poor as most of the largest cities, still there are a great many destitute and suffering here, and one case which came to light to-day will shock and distress the community.
At No. 12 Ferry street is a tenement house belonging to the Andrew Borden estate and occupied by three families. The two lower tenements are of the usual order of tenements and rented by two French families, but the third consists of but one small attic room, about 10 by 14 feet. It was occupied by Joseph H. Hurd and his wife.
About 10 o'clock, last night, the husband died, and from all appearances his death was caused by starvation.
Mr. Hurd was 67 years old, was a carpenter by trade and originally came from New Hampshire. He has had this room, for which he paid $4 a month, for some four months, and has been employed at odd times by W. M. Baldwin. He was not a very good workman and did not receive large wages, yet enough to support at least two persons.
Mr. Baldwin noticed that he was not strong, and that after that he had nothing more than a crust of bread for his dinner. At such times he would give him part of his own dinner. Some two weeks ago he did not show up for work, so he went to see him, and was told by the wife that he was sick. At that time he gave her some money, and on Christmas sent her some food.
Mr[s]. Lacombe, who lives on the lower tenement of the block, thought early in the week that all was not right with the Hurds and she went up to see them and carried them food. Mrs. Hurd would not admit her into her room and would not take the food saying that all they wanted was whisky.
Yesterday members of the Lacombe family pushed in the door and they found one of the worst sights imaginable. In this attic room, which is not high enough for man to stand erect in, was one chair, a small stove and a broken down bed. There was no fire in the stove, and no food to be found. A few broken dishes were scattered about the floor. On the bed lay Mr. Hurd unconscious, yet shivering with cold. There was no bedding, and all the covering he had, besides a shabby suit of clothes which he had on, was a small rubber coat.
Mrs. Hurd was very angry that anyone should enter the room, and she would not admit that her husband wanted anything. Despite her protestations a fire was at once started in the stove, suitable bedding brought in and a physician summoned, but before he arrived the man was beyond human help. He died at 10 o'clock last night.
Medical Examiner Dolan was notified, who, after reviewing the remains, pronounced that death was caused by cold and starvation. The case was reported to the police who, after investigating, turned the case over to the poor department.
Mrs. Hurd, who is a woman about 40 years of age, is also in an emaciated condition, and is thought by those who know her to be insane. She says that she is one of several heirs to a large fortune in New York State.
Mr. Hurd had been heard to say that, at one time, he owned property valued at $60,000 in Boston, but had lost it all.
It is not known that Mr. Hurd was addicted to the use of drink, but the wife would drink anything she could get.
The officials of the poor department report that the case is the first one of death from actual starvation that the department has had to deal with.
C. C. Cook, agent of the Borden estate, states that the entire building is let directly to the Lacombes, and he did not know that anyone by the name of Hurd was living in the building."

This is the same house Andrew gave to Lizzie and Emma and later bought back from them. They inherited it back upon his death.

[mbhenty]

Yes Harry:

Very interesting find. Such are Victorian stories of the inner city, and there were many in those days. Sylvia's 3 volume book on Fall River is full of such accounts.

Times must have been hard for such people. No Government silver parachute back then, that is, Social Security, a Welfare state etc. One's welfare, if not looked after by the self, was saved only by the kindness of others.

Also, many such stories though sad and tragic have a hidden element and with any luck is conveyed by the journalist. Back then the newspaperman had much deliverance to write what he felt, especially if the person written about was a nonentity.

In this case both Mr. Hurd and his wife were removed from reality, probably both drunks. Drinking could have been brought on by poverty and the rejection of help to pride.

Though starvation could have been the cause, it's a good chance that an array of other reasons, such as heart problems, may have been the cause. Little attention would have been paid to such a person after dead. One would need to rely on the doctors diagnoses as the truth. He could have said he died of a broken heart and people would probably have believed him.

But, let us say the Mr. Hurd did have a weak heart? His poor living conditions could have been enough to cause it to fail. If ture it is a better story to say that starvation and not a weak heart killed him.

I am very familiar with the type of house and room the Hurds lived in. In my building the third floor has a couple very similar rooms.

But, all-in-all it makes for a great story. One appalling enough to sell papers.

[Tina-Kate]

This is one of the accounts I worked into the narrative of my Lizzie book. I found it very poignant, esp having occurred the 1st Christmas Emma & Lizzie were snug at Maplecroft.

[DJ]

Aside from Mr. and Mrs. Hurd's tragedy, I'm caught up in the irony of the house being given, bought back, then inherited, all the while drawing rental income. Quite the little gold mine, that.

[snokkums]

Other than living in the house that Lizzie was born in, was he related to Lizzie? Kind of at a loss here. But it is sad what happened.

[Kat]

I think some authors mistakenly held Andrew Borden to blame, not recognizing that this tragedy was almost a year and a half after his murder?
Is that so?

[Kat]

Does anyone know which author blamed Andrew Borden for this unfortunate man's death? Or am I wrong- was it much later, more modern newspaper stories?

[nbcatlover]

I've always thought it was Lizzie's notoriety after her acquital that made this an interesting piece during her lifetime. I believe the entire house was rented to the Lacombe family. They, in turn, sublet the attic to the Hurds.

There have always been stories about Lizzie educating children, and there are 2 Lacombes mentioned in her will. l've always wondered if they were her renter's children. The story of the Hurds may have been her wake-up call to help her tenants.

Does anyone have any details here?

[mbhenty]

As it was said by Rudyard Kipling

OH, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

Thus, as Kipling's old poem goes so does the rich and poor in Victorian times.

I would imagine that Lizzie was very removed from such events. That is why Cook handled her affairs. As one would put it, "I have people who take care of such things".

It is very unlikely that Lizzie could relate. Such poverty was very common and those with money insulated and removed themselves from such people and events. To relate to them personally would be to soil one's self.

Don't get me wrong. It was not that Lizzie was not caring, just that it was not her world. She probably found the incident more unfortunate than tragic.

I can easily see how Lizzie could have recieved a bum rap about this event.

[DJ]

It appears the attic room was sublet, so it wasn't as if Lizzie (or those who handled such matters) was squeezing the Hurds. Moreover, I would imagine they were difficult, noisy tenants-- or, at least, Mrs. Hurd, who apparently was fond of the bottle. I'm sure every little noise made in the attic carried throughout the house.
Perhaps it was more an act of kindness to provide them somewhere-- anywhere-- to live than letting them roam the streets. The Lacombes didn't force them to live there, and they (the Lacombes) probably could have found a more pleasant tenant or tenants, even though it was the proverbial room in the garret.
The real tragedy here seems to be that Mrs. Hurd was spending whatever money was available on drink, and Mr. Hurd was apparently starving himself to feed her habit.

[nbcatlover]

If Mr. Hurd had been a property owner and lost it all, it is probable he was an alcoholic as well as his wife. Many alcoholic starve even today because they would rather drink than spend money on food. The Lacombes probably did these people a favor by allowing them a roof over their head in the winter.

[Kat]

I am thinking it was a misrepresentation about the death on the Internet from some website story. Y'all can stop looking- thanks a bunch for trying!

Here is the Baldwin guy (employer) as carpenter and his business was on Ferry Street.
Also, here is Cook's ad in the 1892 FR City Directory. I did not know he was an auctioneer.