Andrew: sleeping or sitting?

[BrianKLoftin]

When Andrew Borden's body was found, his feet were on the floor, and the general position of them looks to me as if he was sitting up in the middle of the couch, rather than lying down for a nap. As if he was sitting there, possibly even talking to his killer. Unless he had been lying down WITH his feet on the floor. It seems to me his feet wouldn't have been on the floor if he was lying down. Also, he could have struggled or writhed around after being hit by the weapon, in which case his feet may have fallen to the floor. Somehow it just doesn't look to me as if he was lying there asleep when he was killed. Does it to you?

(It seems as if I've got nothing but questions. Forgive me, but I've had them for a good while.)[/i]

[Harry]

As to the photo, it should be remembered that it was taken sometime about 3pm some 4 hours after Andrew had been murdered. By then his body had been examined, searched and Lord knows what else done to it.

True, Dr. Bowen says that the photo looks like the position Andrew was in when he first saw the body, except for his head being lower in the photo.
I just don't believe Dr. Bowen was a reliable witness. He seemed to be in a state of high anxiety that morning.

An interesting item is in George Pettee's trial testimony (p646), he being one of the earliest to enter the house:

"Q. Now will you tell us anything that you observed with reference to Mr. Borden's body, or the blood upon it?
A. Well, I noticed the position that he laid in. He was lying on his right side, with the left side exposed. His feet was crossed, and one of them rested on the floor. I noticed the condition of his head,---the condition of the blood that came from it."

Certainly Andrew didn't uncross them.