Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I haven't been posting much because I've had a lot of school work to do over the past few weeks. But I'm on Thanksgiving vacation, so I can breath a sigh, relax, and hopefully get back up to speed on all the threads. But one of the threads here has sparked my curiosity about something. Under Fall River and It's Environs Shelley started that wonderful thread called The House. There is a picture posted there depicting a view into Lizzie's bedroom from the guestroom. How likely is it that Lizzie could've had access to the key which unlocked that door? We know Uncle John slept in that guest room the night before. We know Emma had a few years before switched bedrooms with Lizzie and taken the smaller one for herself. I have always tried to figure out what her motive for doing that was. Could it be that in that small room she could close her door and not have to see something which disturbed her? When she was in the larger room Lizzie would have to walk through to get to other rooms of the house, or persons wanting to get to Lizzie's room would have to walk through there. There have always been persistant rumors about incest between Uncle John and Lizzie. Just an idea, but what if Emma moved to the smaller room because she could then close out something she did not want to have to deal with? Whatever that might be. The door between the elder Borden's bedroom and Lizzie's was not only kept locked, but Lizzie pushed her bed up against that door. It seems an unlikely place to put the bed for me.

I've been trying to figure out if LIzzie rearranged the larger room when it became hers? I think she possibly would, just based on her personality.
But I've had the impression that the desk against the door to the guestroom was there since Emma's occupation. I'm not sure about that- but it was my impression. So I really don't know.

Yes, I think Emma could have moved to gain more privacy. Lizzie had been away tho for 19 weeks before the room shift. During that time, Emma would have had all the privacy she wanted. That might have inspired her to take the bedroom with only one door, after Lizzie's return.

It's also possible she moved because of things she heard from the elder Borden's bedroom.
Emma seems like the type who would not listen at doors, tho Lizzie strikes me as someone who would.
Since things were *escalating* in that household during that time of the room change, it could have been any of these reasons, or a combination of them.
If you specifically want to know about Uncle John, you can check his inquest testimony as to when he came to stay. And when he did come, he didn't always stay in the guest room.

We would need to know how many times he stayed over after returning East, which might help you decide?

Yes, Lizzie's pillow lines up perfectly with the keyhole of the Borden's room if you move the bed in the corner as she did- not only can you HEAR every word Andrew and Abby said in bed, but you can peek through into the room. Snooping.....