Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I don't know much about the Manchester case and have been wondering about Correira. Did he ever admit to the crime? Were they able to prove that it was only he that could have done it? If it was possible that someone else was responsible (Billy Borden, Joe Schmoe, or whoever), then maybe Lizzie could have been innocent, some lunatic was running around, and the sightings of this "bloody man" on the outskirts of town could have been feasible.

Yes Angel, a study of the Manchester Murder could prove very interesting. Can't remember where I read it, (perhaps someone can expound on it) but I remember reading where Correira was upset partially because he was served Cod fish and he hated Cod.

I know very few Portuguese that did not like Fish. It was one of the main food staples of the Azores and all the Portuguese Islands.

Even today one of my favorite dishes is Cod stew, Heavily salted, which is the way the Portuguese always stored it and ate it, even to this day.

If that is what Bertha kept serving to him, she must have had a reason. I doubt the Manchesters ate Cod themselves. Would it not be more reasonable that she would serve him a leftover rather than preparing him a special dish of Cod.

A lot would be lost in translation in interrogation. The police would have retained their own translator who could have done a lousy job. I doubt that the police would have gone to the (enemy) Portuguese community for a translator. I dare add that the police probably never retained a translator but instead left that to Correira's counsel, who probably did just as bad a job. Lawyer + no money = no effort.

Something always smelled rotten about that case. I think the police bungle that case also. I think there was much more to that case than had been disclosed.

mbhenty @ Wed May 03, 2006 9:16 am wrote:

If that is what Bertha kept serving to him, she must have had a reason. I doubt the Manchesters ate Cod themselves. Would it not be more reasonable that she would serve him a leftover rather than preparing him a special dish of Cod.

I would imagine they ate cod, since it was a staple New England food. "Home of the bean and the cod," you know.

Lynn

Right you are Lynn.

I was just talking the matter over with a friend of mine who's an excellent Portuguese cook. As you said, he added that Cod was served readily back in Lizzie's day, and that not only was cod salted, much of it was fresh or kept on ice--- where in the Azores (no ice) Cod was dried and salted down.

Thanks for the info Lynn.

I found reference to the Manchester murder in Sullian's book on page 201. (American edition)

Where are all our Manchester Murder experts?
Anyway, Correra de Mello confessed.
He was brought in by his uncle who was a representative in that community. So he had a good interpreter to start with.
He led officials to where the buried/hidden evidence was.
If he hadn't done that- I could believe he was possibly railroaded.
He had a sort of prelim hearing, he pled guilty to second degree murder and did not go to trial.
Actually, I've not ever really trusted his guilt either anyway.
But he served 20 years, was pardoned in order to be able to deport him, and he left the US.
A family descendant of his is a member of this Forum and is writing a book.

Wow Kat, so much information in such little space. Thanks. I know little about the Manchester murder other than what I read in Sullivan's book or heard in folklore over the years.

The assumption I made about a translator was just that, an assumption; one based on the suspicion immigrants would be treated with.

The info you supplied is very interesting. From what I remember in reading the several popular accounts of the Borden murders, very little is written about the Manchester killing.

The account that sticks in my mind is Arnold Brown's, who, if I am not mistaken, implied that "Billy Boy" could have done it, and was very suspicious about Correira's guilt. (???)

Did I bring up Arnold Brown??? Shhhhhhhhhhh

Thanks Kat

"Speak of the devil and he will appear" goes the old, old saying.
True or not? You decide.

Yes, Arnold Brown suggests the murder of Bertha Manchester was done to provide an alibi for Innocent Lizzie. He quotes the coroner (?) as saying the wound pattern was the same as Abby.
Could it be that a hatchet attack on a person would show a similar pattern, no matter who the victim or attacker?

The interesting part (I must reread Sullivan) is WHY he wasn't hanged for the murder? Was he too young (under 21)?
Brown did skimp on the details of this murder, bu he had to bring it in under 320 pages (practical economics?).

I did read another book which had an example of a hatchet murder. The murderer kept the hatchet with his belongings, making an easy case to prove. When someone uses a hatchet to murder people, it acquires great sentimental value and they take it along.

I'm also suspicious of de Mello's guilt. I think our Manchester experts are suspicious too.
(I'm using the less popular name, *de Mello* because his other name is spelled about 4 different ways- that's why one could suppose the press didn't really care about getting it right- as an immigrant).

I mean so he knew where the watch was hidden- maybe he was taking the rap for someone else, and later the translations broke down? Or maybe *the real muderer* gave him instructions or owed him money and told him where to go to get the booty?

He did not have his uncle in the courtroom with him, I don't think.

But it's kind of like the Hauptman case- he had the *money*: therefore he must be guilty- of something.

There is the "Crime of Opportunity". If something bad happens, some passers-by will pick up anything of value. One example would be a pistol, or watch or money (at a street crime scene). Or so I read in the newspapers.
I remember one True Crime where someone found something of the victim, but was able to prove innocence because they had an alibi.

If you don't believe this, just put $5 under a stone in a parking lot, then watch from a distance to see how fast it disappears. I remember seeing a "Candid Camera" doing something like this 30+ years ago.

Yes Kat: There are several ways to spell Correira's name. The most popular by far is "Correira" This was probably his name.

We have a girl that takes care of my Mom and her name is Correiro, which is the second most popular version but a completely different name, and not another version of the one above.

Other versions of Correira are: Correra, Corriea and Corrier. Not sure if any or all are of Portuguese extraction, but not very common. Corrier is probably French.

I have about 90 news items on the Bertha Manchester crime.
I just checked a cross section, and there were :
Jose Carreiro
Joseph Correiro and Jose Correiro
Jose Coreiro
and
at his sentencing, Jan. 9, 1894 he was sentenced as:
Jose Correra de Mello.

But I think I remember that he was recalled to officially change his name in the records- but Harry would know about that.
Harry, do you remember that?
What was the final, official name that he was sentenced under?

There I go again Kat..............ass+u+me....ing.

Sullivan and Speiring both use the "Correira" name. And since it is the most popular, I assumed. But Correiro is almost/just as popular. (Sullivan's book is well written, and he was highly respected for his knowledge about the case, especially the Court Proceedings.)

So please take my post as a educated guess.

Info you supplied is very interesting Kat, thanks.

There was a name correction before the grand jury in July 1893 -- is that what you're remembering, Kat?

"Will Be Tried Under His Own Name
NEW BEDFORD, Mass., July 24 -- The grand jury convened this morning and after a deliberation of not over five minutes returned an indictment against Jose Correa de Mello for the killing of Bertha Manchester, of Fall River, on the 30th of May last. De Mello was before indicted under the name of Jose Correiro and his counsel entered a plea of misnomer, which was allowed. The new indictment is exactly similar to the previous one, except the substitution of the correct name."
(The Washington Post, July 25, 1893)

But we're still looking at a newspaper report here -- so it's not the final authority as to the name used at his official sentencing.

Thanks Diana!
I guess since the change at the indictment does not reflect the final sentening name, it is still open to dispute, but I think we are getting close.
I just call him de Mello now.

Angel @ Wed May 03, 2006 11:15 am wrote:I don't know much about the Manchester case and have been wondering about Correira. Did he ever admit to the crime? Were they able to prove that it was only he that could have done it? If it was possible that someone else was responsible (Billy Borden, Joe Schmoe, or whoever), then maybe Lizzie could have been innocent, some lunatic was running around, and the sightings of this "bloody man" on the outskirts of town could have been feasible.

There is a disc you can purchase with Bertha Manchester material to start your progress in learning about the case.
http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Borde ... papers.htm

Also, mbhenty, if you have Victorian Vistas, there is some early coverage in there.