Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I read that the Borden Sisters hired their own private detective, does anyone know how long he was retained?

I think that was Hanscom and our Harry wrote about him in The Hatchet, June 2004 "Spotlight on Orinton M. Hanscom."
Maybe he knows- I believe there were conflicting reports about how long Hanscom was on the case.

Okay, thanks kat

Hanscom at the time of the murders was Superintendent of the Boston office of the Pinkerton Agency. He had previously been a member of the Boston Police department. He arrived at the Borden house on Saturday, the 6th, following the murders. His investigation and findings are clouded in mystery.

On August 14th, the head of the Pinkerton Agency announced that they were withdrawing from the case citing conflicts with the Fall River police.

But it doesn't end there.

On the same day, August 14th the Boston Globe, citing a Hastings newspaper, printed this:

"... Miss Lizzie has sent Detective Hanscom out here to investigate relative to Morse's past life. The people of Hastings, and particularly John Davidson, Morse's brother-in-law, are awaiting the arrival of the Pinkerton expert with much interest."

On August 19th the local paper in Hastings, Iowa had this: "While Morse has succeeded in establishing a very fair alibi, it seems that Lizzie Borden, who is now under arrest for the murder, is anxious to know something of his past record. She has accordingly sent Detective Hanscom out here to investigate." Again his findings and whether he was actually there or not are not known.

So we really don't know the specific date his involvement ended.

In 1894 Hanscom was re-admitted to the Boston Police department. They were kind enough to search their files and send me information as well as a photo on Hanscom.

Very intersting Harry, thanks so much!

That's most interesting, Harry.
I had the notion that Hanscom was working for both Lizzie and Emma, and I cannot envision (given her statements re "my very dear uncle") Emma sanctioning such a lookie-loo into JVM's past.
Lizzie must have done this independently of Emma. Perhaps she was grasping at straws, doing anything and everything to deflect attention from herself.
It's also interesting vis a vis Lizzie's "Why would he do it?" response when questioned by police regarding Morse.

What is that quote you are referring to, please? Is that from The Witness Statements? Thanks!

On October 20th, 1892 the New Bedford Evening Standard printed these lines:

"Taunton, Oct. 19. --- It is rumored that a change of venue may be asked for in the Borden case, should it ever come to trial, and, if granted, Plymouth county will probably be the locality selected. Two Pinkerton detectives are now at work on the case in and about Fall River for defence, it is said."

Never trust "it is said" statements. This was a slow period for news on the case and there doesn't appear to be anything further on the Pinkerton involvement. I always felt the Trickey-McHenry article, which was about a week before, was caused by a need to keep the story selling papers.

Kat, that quote is somewhere in the Witness Statements. I went to look, and found an even better one, right away. Re JVM, Lizzie tells Officer Fleet, the a.m. of the Fourth: "He [Morse] could not know anything about the murder [sic, singular]." She also notes that he departed before 9 a.m. For someone who's keeping to her room, she's got a real handle on his movements.
A few paragraphs later, Morse brings up the Nathan case, as if Lizzie couldn't possibly have done murder, either.
They do stand together, regarding one another's innocence.

*As Lt. Columbo would say, "Miss Borden, Mr. Morse: How do you know so much about these murders?"

DJ @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:48 pm wrote:It's also interesting vis a vis Lizzie's "Why would he do it?" response when questioned by police regarding Morse.

--partial quote

This is what it reminds me of:

In Proceedings, page 218, under Jennings notes, it is written,
l. B. Brigham Mrs. George--After murder L. showed her her money and bank book and said,"Why should I do it?"

(Underlined in transcription, from the original notation.)

Of course, Lizzie and Emma had just been paid (2500 each) in July for the Ferry Street house.

Isn't it fascinating that Lizzie would think money would be her motive for murder? A most interesting quote! Thanks, Kat.

***********************************************************
I ran across the following quote in Ellen Hart's latest mystery, "The Mirror and the Mask." It certainly gave pause:

"Murder was an act of profound ego. It was the voice inside the soul screaming, [she italicizes the rest] I want. I deserve. I take because I can."

[/i]

Thanks for the follow-up info, Har!

As for Davidson (Morse's brother-in-law), maybe the extended family out West was hoping to hear some inside news of the case from the representative of the Borden girls, Hanscom?