Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I came across Radin's book last eve and realized I had read it so long ago that I almost forgot things he said. Good lord- compared to every other author he makes Lizzie look like Miss America. I did a search about him on this forum and found some really good posts, especially by Kat. Worth reading again.

Just thinking about reading Radin again makes my eyes cross.

I know he did a massive timeline, but actually I never studied it.

A person would be amazed at how much one learns by making their own timeline- especially about this Borden case.
We actually have everything, if not more, info on the case than Radin did. That means we ourselves can match, and master, the research. It's amazing to comprehend that.

In fact, a new productive habit I've gained is to make a timeline when I'm writing anything for the magazine.
I made a huge timeline for the look at Spiering, and one for the Jay Gould/Vanderbilt yachting story I told.

I had to leave out what I thought were pretty interesting nugguts I found in my Spiering research.

I like Edward Radin and can highly recommend it as a good introductory read to anyone just starting to get into the case. Of course, it contains its share of errors and once you get past his scenario.......well,,,,,,,,,,,, at least he is not vapid.

Even though he defends Lizzie, he does so no more than Pearson, Porter or Lincoln cut her up.

Even Kent, who appears highly respected by many on this site, (though I never read him) defends Lizzie.

Most all the old senior writers, pre-80s or so, and many of the newer ones, have plenty of inaccuracies and prejudices in their narratives. For the longest time such writers as Lowndes, Spiering, Sullivan, and the authors mentioned above, were the layman's only source of popular study. Pearson came the closest to getting it all right, and even he custom fits the pieces to fit Lizzie into the guilt box.

Anyone wanting to do a serious study of the Borden case needs to read at least 2 or 3 of these earlier narratives. But it is important to read more than one. Once this is done, move onto the serious and accurate study material, such as Rebello and the inquest material.

To skip Radin would be to miscalculation

Harry and I were just talking about "the old days" when all we had were the authors and just the bit of newspaper coverage in The Casebook and Sourcebook.

Now we have so much material! I hope everyone keeps reading everything!

BTW: Does anyone want my interesting tid-bit that didn't make it into my Spiering article?

Yes, please.

I have 2 that concern his family.
In 1934, 4 people were involved in an auto accident in Great Falls, Montana (where Frank Spiering jr. was born).

It could very well have been Thanksgiving weekend: date 11-24-1934.
"Persons Injured in Auto Crash Improve" was the headline in the Helena Independent (Montana).
It was a head-on collision, 6 in the evening, during a snow storm. Back then people used to drink and drive, and no seatbelts. Especially if it was a Holiday week: (speculation).
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Spiering (sr.) were considered "recovering" in the hospital. He had a fractured knee bone and Mrs. Spiering suffered cuts on her head and face and both ankles were injured.
In the other car was John Eberl (58) from Augusta, Montana, who lost his left eye, had a fractured skull, a broken nose and "other injuries."
Mr. Spiering "collided with a car driven by Clifford Cox on the Great Falls-Helena highway in the Helena Valley."

Well, I knew the Spierings survived, because I traced them to California by 1942. But I wondered about Mr. Eberl. So I looked for him some more and found him still alive, and his wife was also mentioned, in a news account of 9-9-1946 (The Independent Record) where the couple had gone to Helena to probate the will of his father Frank Eberl who died in Great Falls.

I thought it was a horrible accident, and eventually the Spierings showed up in Hayward, CA. where Frank sr. became an insurance salesman.

An odd aside to that story was that a sheepherder for John Eberl, who operated the Sleben Ranch, was hit by a car 9-14-1936 in Augusta. I don't know what happened to him.

Another odd story, based on investigation and speculation also involves Frank Spiering, sr.
He was named to a new county-wide Youth Employment Council. 2-15-1961. He was at the time, a manager of the Met Life Ins. Co. office and head of the Hayward, CA Boys Club.
I noticed on that Council also sat Mrs. Lyle Buchler, who was also a member of the Alameda County Planning Commission.
I see Frank sr. is living at 1830 "B" Street, Hayward.

By 2-26-1962 property owned by Frank sr. at "B" Street has been re-zoned for a new building of a Met. Life Ins. Co.
Then there was a revision to an ammendment, then a legal notice to The Planning Commision by Frank sr. to re-zone 5 parcels on "B" Street and by 4-17-1964 his own home address was re-zoned from single family to "Professional" by The City of Hayward- and he got his Met Life Bldg.

Anyway I thought that too, was interesting.
Oh the sideways paths we follow while looking for the main topic!

In 1958, when a picture of Frank jr appeared in the paper as "Art Players," next to his photo was an article on the new film "Capone's Story" with Rod Steiger. Frank jr went on to write about Capone, which book came out right at 1976-1977.
When a newspaper announcement, of 2-11-1977 was promoting Frank Spiering, jr's book "The Man Who Got Capone" it was on a "New Book Out" list, and the very next item was touting a book called "Bluegrass" by author Borden Deal. I thought that was quite a double-barreled coincidence!

Those are my odd Spiering stories that were left out of my article on the light panel at the Newmarket house.

Interesting sidelights! Thanks, Kat.

Very interesting...thank you Kat !





Tracy...

Whew! I finally got to tell my Spiering Family stories!
You're welcome!