What About A Window For Entry/Escape?

[1bigsteve]

Maybe I missed this in another thread but does anyone know what the conditions of the windows were in Lizzie's house on the day of the murders? Were they in operating condition and did the police check to see if there were any signs that someone had entered or exited through a window such as chiped paint or scuff marks?

-1bigsteve (o:

[diana]

That reminds me of a report in the Witness Statements.
"Fall River, September 20, 1892. I this day visited the Borden house under instructions from the City Marshal. I saw Miss Emma Borden, and she went down cellar with me, and showed me a window in the northeast corner room nearest to the barn, and next north of the cellar door, which she wanted to have fastened up, and wanted me to note the condition that it was in before anything was done. I found one light of glass broke in the upper sash, the lower sash bad the appearance of being pushed in, and raised up about
five inches.
A. PERRON." (W.S., 44)

[Allen]

That is an interesting piece of information about the windows. I noted the date of the report, over a month and a half after the murders. It seems a little remote in time for it to have had anything to do with someone getting in to kill the Bordens. Had Emma made a report to the police to indicate that someone may have been trying to break in again? If so how the window had come to be in this condition is very interesting indeed.

[Yooper]

Maybe I missed this in another thread but does anyone know what the conditions of the windows were in Lizzie's house on the day of the murders? Were they in operating condition and did the police check to see if there were any signs that someone had entered or exited through a window such as chiped paint or scuff marks?

-1bigsteve (o:

There are some posts concerning window height, from the ground outside to the sill. The consensus seemed to be that they were fairly high. Bridget had washed most of the windows from the outside using a step ladder. Someone leaving through a window would probably have left the window open if he couldn't reach it to close it behind him. I expect the police would have noticed a wide open window and someone would have asked Bridget if she had opened it after washing it on the inside. I guess it would depend on whether or not it could be closed from the outside.

[Yooper]

That reminds me of a report in the Witness Statements.
"Fall River, September 20, 1892. I this day visited the Borden house under instructions from the City Marshal. I saw Miss Emma Borden, and she went down cellar with me, and showed me a window in the northeast corner room nearest to the barn, and next north of the cellar door, which she wanted to have fastened up, and wanted me to note the condition that it was in before anything was done. I found one light of glass broke in the upper sash, the lower sash bad the appearance of being pushed in, and raised up about
five inches.
A. PERRON." (W.S., 44)

I have to wonder if the police would have overlooked a broken basement window during the investigation. I imagine one of the immediate considerations was ingress/egress. Emma would have been unaware of it for six weeks, too, if it had anything directly to do with the murders. It sounds to me like it might have been a more recent occurrence.

[Kat]

I had read the opinion that because there was still such a large reward, a citizen *investigating* might have caused the break- or vandalism. It does seem to me that Emma was hinting at restitution...

You would think that Bridget would use a ladder outside- it seems so reasonable because of the height of those windows- but actually she didn't use it outside but she used a step ladder inside to wash the windows.

[Kat]

Knowlton Papers, letter #HK012, has that supposed illegitimate son of Andrew, Phillip Reed, ending his letter with:

.... "Entrance to the House was gained by a front window afterwards fastened egress by side window. The time of Revenge about 11:45 I think.

And the illigitimate who took the revenge is the Writer of this confession. No use to track me for it will be an utter impossibilty to do so. At the hour this letter is mailed I shall take a train for hundreds of miles away.
Yours Truly
Phillip Gordon Reed"

--letter dated August 12, 1892- so someone was picturing using a window to get in and out.

[Yooper]

I had read the opinion that because there was still such a large reward, a citizen *investigating* might have caused the break- or vandalism. It does seem to me that Emma was hinting at restitution...

You would think that Bridget would use a ladder outside- it seems so reasonable because of the height of those windows- but actually she didn't use it outside but she used a step ladder inside to wash the windows.

You're right, Bridget used the ladder inside and some sort of a pole-type handle outside to reach the windows. She threw water on the windows to rinse them. This was probably faster than having to manipulate a ladder around the outside of the house.

[Kat]

There actually were hoses invented by then, and Bridget was asked if she used one, but she didn't.
I suppose some sort of pump might be needed for water pressure? I've been trying to figure that out.
There was running water in the cellar and barn because the city water line was at that level (ground level) but any water that went higher up needed a pump- like the kitchen sink. And to get water to the second story would be harder to accomplish- the higher one went.
The kitchen is so high up (first floor)- it's at least 3/4 of a story high maybe?

[Yooper]

I'm wondering if there was a frost-free hydrant in the barn. The barn wouldn't have been heated, so exposed pipes might have frozen. A frost-free hydrant allows the water to drain down to below the frost line when the water is shut off. I had a few of these on the farm years ago, they are designed for outdoor use or in unheated spaces, and the spigot is threaded on the outside for a hose fitting. Ordinary city water pressure would be sufficient for a hose, it is all we have even today.

I have always wondered about Bridget throwing water on the windows with a dipper. I can't imagine a more awkward utensil to throw water with than a long handled dipper! I would be afraid of putting the handle through the glass!