Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Evening Tribune, Providence R.I. - April 9, 1929.

"Breaks Silence in Borden Case"

Fall River, April 9.- Miss Alice M. Russell the state's star witness in the Lizzie Borden trial and the last surviving principle of that sensational murder case, broke a silence of 37 years yesterday to dismiss as a worthless clue the finding of the discolored cooper's tool in the old Borden barn and to defend the name and the memory of Bridget Sullivan, the maid in the Borden household.

Though she is far to fair to say so in so many words, to respectful of a jury's verdict of acquittal to contradict it with a flat statement, there is no doubt in the mind of this 72-year-old woman that Lizzie Borden, once her intimate friend, slew her father and step- mother with some sharp instrument.

"And Andrew Borden brought it on himself," declared the elderly, strong minded woman yesterday, as she brought her clenched fist down on the red checkered cloth on the kitchen table. "I have never said this before to anybody, but I say not that the way he treated those two girls was a shame. How much do you think he gave them, this miserly old man? Three dollars a week. Do you think that Lizzie could keep up with her friends and do the things she wanted on that allowance?

"NOT SAYING THAT SHE DID IT"
"She just couldn't stand it any longer. But of course that never justified the murders. Lizzie was perfectly able to go to work if she wanted money. Now mind. I'm not saying that she did it. A jury has found her innocent."

Legally the Borden case has long been a closed book. The murders took place in 1892. Lizzie is dead, carrying with her to the grave any secrets that bore on the solution of the double crime. The present district attorney has no duty to society in this matter.

But the widespread interest disclosed by the discovery of the stained hoop driver as the Borden barn was being razed and the many heated discussions of sharp axes, locked doors, dusty hay lofts and stained clothes, show that the cruel Borden murders of long ago excited the interest and curiosity of people to-day, just as it did a generation ago.

And to-day, as in 1892, when the city was divided for and against Lizzie, the same difference of opinion exists as to the probability of the four-pound hoop driver being the weapon that was used to kill her father and step-mother. Dr. Fred R. Barnes, the medical examiner, says it is plenty heavy enough to cause a death blow. The ridges, one sixteenth of an inch wide on either side of the grooved end, could make an ugly wound. Lieutenant John (?), one of the few police officers now living who worked on the case, said it might well be the murder weapon. Mrs. (?) B. Cheetham, 88 years old, who was the Borden's nearest neighbor on second street, has reason to believe that the old driver was hidden in the barn by the murderer.

TO PROVE IF STAINS ARE BLOOD
It will remain for Dr. William F. Boos of Beacon street, Boston, the foremost toxicologist in the country, to determine if the two stains on the head of the driver were made by human blood. It will be a day or two before the tests are completed.

But even if Dr. Boos should find these tell tale traces on the old cooperage tool, and it was established as a weapon Lizzie had secreted, Miss Russell would never believe it. She claims that in spite of the defendants alibi that she was in the suffocating loft searching for fish line lead, this was never a fact.

The former friend insisted that Lizzie was never given to "spells", as so many people in the city believed. She was always self contained. The murders were committed when the coast was clear, Miss Russell pointed out. Bridget was outside washing windows and could not have heard any communication in the guest chamber. She was upstairs resting in her attic room when the banker was killed and knew nothing about the crime until Lizzie notified her. There was no probability of anyone entering the house without Lizzie seeing him if she was ironing in the dining room, as she said she was, Miss Russell stated.

DUAL PERSONALITY
And though she recalled incident after incident that clearly indicated she had a positive opinion as to where the guilt lay in the case, Miss Russell interjected at the end of every statement "Mind I say if she did it. Remember she has been acquitted."

The same hesitancy to accuse a person, now dead, of murder was exhibited by another contemporary of the Borden family to-day. A former mayor and a retired lawyer, be requested that his name not be used as he commented on the strange case.

"It's too bad that they did not stop the trial and have a good psychologist examine the girl," he stated. "I am sure they would've discovered a dual personality."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lx ... case&hl=en

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The Providence Journal - November 23, 1905.

"Fall River. Railroad Employe Arrested on Charge of Larceny. Shoes Stolen in Transit."

Patrick Harrington Was Night Watchmen And Had Been Employed By The Company For 22 Years. - Alderman's Furnan's Sad Experience with Chicken Pie. - Auction Sale of Stocks.

After months of patient and thorough investigation Inspectors Medley and Shay yesterday arrested Patrick Harrington, an employee of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad for the last 22 years, charging him with the larceny of $500 worth of shoes from the company. The arrest is a source of great relief to the railroad company, who admittedly paid hundreds of dollars in the past year or more as damage claims to shoe manufacturers in Brockton, Weymouth and surrounding shoe cities. The theft of shoes in transit from these cities to various places in the Middle west baffled the skill of the detectives employed by the railroad company, and three months ago the local police were asked to assist.

Inspectors Medley and Shay were assigned to the task and they soon reached the conclusion that the goods were not stolen between New York and the Western cities, but between the metropolis and the shipping points. Very recently they ascertained that a number of cobblers and small retailers were selling shoes at low prices and found that they had not obtained them through the regular channels. Following this up it was discovered that they bought them from peddlers, who acted as middlemen for Harrington.

Traps were set for Harrington, who is a night watchmen in the freight yard, but he skillfully avoided falling into any of them. Inspectors Medley and Shay, however, used one of his peddlers and with marked money caught Harrington red handed. They recovered a large quantity of stolen property, and it is thought that before their investigation is finished they will be in a position to get as trace of perhaps $1500 worth of stuff he disposed of. Shoes valued at prices ranging from $2 to $5 were sold by him for $1 a pair, and the middlemen took very small profits, but did rushing business.

Harrington pleaded not guilty when arraigned before Judge McDonough and obtained a weeks continuance, being ordered to furnish $2000 bail. The damage claims paid by the company reach a high sum. Special Claim Agent John Foley of the Boston office of the railroad and Agent Boucher of this city had a long talk with the prisoner in his cell last night. Harrington is married and has some property. He is a brother-in- law of Bridget Sullivan, who gained such fame as the servant girl in the famous Borden murder case......

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yM ... ivan&hl=en

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The Philadelphia Record - December 3, 1899

"Old Crime Resurrected. Detective Offers to Find The Borden Murderer. Renews His Tender of Five Years Ago to The Girl Once Suspected of The Felony."
Special to "The Record"

Fall River, Mass. Dec. 2. - The Borden murder has been brought to light again by the offer of the New York detective, Harry Simons, to prove the guilt of the Bordens' servant girl's lover in connection with the double tragedy.

Six years ago Lizzie Borden was tried at Taunton and acquitted of the murder of her father and mother, but so many of her friends believed her guilty that she was not wholly restored to her former society standing. She inherited about 175,000, and has invested this so well she is amply able to prosecute any search if she is so disposed that will reveal the murderer.

SECOND ATTEMPT TO PROVE GUILT
A year after the trial this same man offered for a large consideration to prove the guilt of a man who was a friend of Bridget Sullivan. The latter went to Ireland but has returned to Taunton and is living there.

The story goes that she was to be joined in Ireland by her lover. During the trial there was no suspicion of a man around the house because it was proved impossible for one to have been there. More than that, the servant and her lover would have gained nothing by the death of the husband and wife, so that a motive for the crime is not offered them.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pP ... ivan&hl=en

Yes, very interesting MA.

Thanks for posting it.

Old newspaper accounts and side stories about the Borden crime are always interesting. Especially those from papers who deem Lizzie guilty or try in vain to make the connection.

The story about the Hoop Driver is preposterous....... a desperate story to discover or prove the murder weapon.

The fact that someone could be chopped up by a Hoop Driver is highly unlikely; especially by a women or average man. If indeed someone was killed by such a tool, the wounds would be crushing, compressed, pulverizing. To count the blows, as with those of a real axe, would be very difficult if not improbable.

A Hoop Driver has a very blunt end, unlike an axe, though some were pretty sharp. (To bad we don't have a photo of the actual Hoop Driver in the newspaper account) Though shaped like an axe head the chopping end is almost flat, shaped like a U in most cases (to grip the hoop strap). Most Hoop Drivers were chisels of sorts, made to be used with a hammer to drive a wood barrel hoop into place. Though there were hoop hammer drivers, most looked like chisels with a wood handle. (but not necessarily so) You could easily kill someone with a Hoop Hammer Drive, which looks a lot like an axe, but the wounds would not be clean. And, if it was just a straight Hoop Driver, you would need to have powerful hands to grip and to sink one into someone's scull.

Though an intriguing story it's really outrageous to suggest that a Hoop Driver was used on the Bordens.

Good stuff Allen

Yes, this forum entices us to do studies into countless other things, such as poison, trolley cars, mutton, and Hoop Drivers.

I am fascinated by the topic. Hoop Driver.

Probably because I have been around wine barrels as a child.

So, let us beat this topic up.

Growing up, many of my friends fathers made wine in the basement. Cellars contained countless barrels, full or empty. Some of these wooden barrels were even imported from the old country. This was done when Portuguese immigrated to the US, carrying most of their entire worldly possessions stored in wine barrels. These same cylindrical containers were later used to make homemade wine with native New England grapes mixed with grapes from California. (to enhance the sweetness and tame the bitterness of New England grapes at the time)

Some of these barrels had age and had been around for many decades. In time the hoops rusted or became stretched and were replaced. As children we would spin them down the road with a stick. No Xboxes or computer games in those days.

Though I remember these old guy working on the wine barrels, I can't remember anyone using a Hoop Driver.

So, I went looking to find a hammer type Hoop Driver and came up with a couple. In the photo below, one of them has it's handle missing.

If you look closely at the drive head, you will notice there is no cutting edge. It is tapered and wide. Many were made of wood instead of steel.

Someone in that article should have challenged the probability of a Hoop Driver being used to kill the Bordens, and I'm sure they did. The author/reporter could have excluded that little fact. Printed only what he felt made his story work.

The more I read in Newsprint, the less I trust.

Interesting

At least the discovery of the cooper's tool gave the newspaper a pretext to speak with Alice Russell, whose comments, as temporary resident of No. 92 during the days following the murders, should be considered with the weight they deserve.

Thanks for sharing, Allen!

Thanks for posting the pictures MB. I can agree that it was highly unlikely this was the murder weapon. I did find the statements attributed to Alice Russell very interesting. In this article she seems to be less than the shy retiring woman I had believed. I thought the article about Patrick Harrington was also quite interesting because I believe it was Patrick Harrington that Bridget stayed with during the trial for a time wasn't it?

Yes MA.

In the year of the Borden Trial there was almost 200 Harringtons in fall river.

Out of that 12 of them were Patrick Harringtons.

Apparently the Harrington mentioned in the article is a different "Patrick Harrington."

As mentioned in Porter, Patrick Harrington was Bridget's cousin. He lived at 95 Division St. (Street directory in 1892 shows him at 93 Division Street. It is probably the same house and most likely the same Harrington. Or should we assume?)

In the 1892 directory it shows a Patrick Harrington watchman at the Globe Mills. It also shows another Patrick Harrignton, Laborer 93 Division Street.

So, both Patrick Harringtons were probably different guys.

Complicated, Huh?

Complicated indeed. So many people with the same name during this time. This is why I've always been a little doubtful about the information we have about Bridget Sullivan. It is unreal how many Bridget Sullivan's were living in the same area of Montana and Massachusetts. It's very interesting that the article claims this Patrick Harrington was Bridget's brother-in-law. This indicates that he was married to Bridget Sullivan's sister, who was also living in Fall River as early as 1905.

I was very intrigued by the fact that this could have been an actual sibling of Bridget who was married to this man. I did a search on a wonderful free genealogy site that I use and found marriage records for many Patrick Harrington's marrying many maiden's Sullivan in Fall River. A tongue twister I know. But so is trying to find out who was where sometimes Ok, I will show just one that caught my eye because it ties in so nicely with this thread as a whole. This marriage record shows Patrick Harrington - Occupation Cooper, marrying Catherine Sullivan - Occupation domestic. They were married April 18, 1883 in Fall River.

I found this Massachusetts state census for the year 1865. The household residents are listed as:

Andrew J. Borden - age 42 - estimated birth year 1823- Widowed - born in Massachusetts- occupation furniture dealer.
Elizabeth Morse- age 29- estimated birth year 1836 - single - born in Massachusetts - occupation House Keeper.
Emma Borden - age 14- estimated birth year 1851 - born in Massachusetts.
Lizzie A. Borden - age 4- born in Massachusetts.
Sarah Welch - age 21 years - estimated birth year 1844- single - born in Ireland - occupation Servant.

Household of William S. Borden of Fall River - Massachusetts state census of 1865:

Charles Borden - age 54 years - estimated birth year 1811 - married - born in Massachusetts - occupation carpenter.
Peace Borden - age 46 years - estimated birth year 1819 - born in Massachusetts - married.
Hannah Borden - age 20 years - estimated birth year 1845 - born in Mass - occupation operative.
Eliza Borden - age 15 years - estimated birth year 1850 - born in Mass- occupation Scholar.
William Borden - age 11 years - estimated birth year 1854 - born in Mass.
Joseph Borden - age 4 - estimated birth year 1861- born in Mass.
Edwin Bassett - age 15 - estimated birth year 1850 - born in Mass - occupation Scholar.
William Bassett - age 11 years - estimated birth year 1853 - born in Mass.

1855 Massachusetts State Census:

Households of Abraham and Andrew J. Borden. Hiram C. Harrington an Selecta Morse living with Andrew and Sarah.

It seems like Andrew allowed several family members to live with him at different points in time. This is interesting. Several people had an inside view to that household.

Fall River Directory of 1880:

page 467:

Fall River directory 1880:

page 421:

Well, Yes.......here I go again Allen.

Always butt'n in on your very informative posts.................................................................

When we are searching for Andrew Borden we must be careful that it is the right "Andrew".

For example:

When Andrew J Borden was killed there were 4 Andrew Bordens living in fall river.

As a matter of fact there was two Andrew J Bordens.

Two of the 4 Bordens were laborers and two were professional people.

One Andrew J Borden was President of a bank.....our Andrew B.

The other Andrew J. was a janitor.

There was another Andrew Borden who was just as wealthy as Andrew J Borden, Lizzie's dad, and who was treasurer of the Merchants Mills in fall river and is always known as plain Andrew Borden.

The last Andrew is known as Andrew R. and was employed as a laborer.

So the Andrew Borden you have listed above as a member of the Fall River Bible Society is probably not Andrew J Borden. Notice that the middle initial is omitted.

That Andrew Borden lived near Maplecorft. Two blocks away on Rock Street in a big beautiful house. (after 1896) He also named his house just like Lizzie did. On his granite step are the words "THE MOORING".

If you look below you will notice that both Andrew J Borden and Andrew Borden are on the board of directors in the same bank. One is Andrew J Borden and the other just plain Andrew Borden.

Yes:

To enhance my post above:

In his early years, Andrew Borden lived at 238 North Main Street, a couple of addresses down from Sargents department store on North Main Street. (Where Lizzie had given advice about a sale of cloth, material, to Bridget, a short period before the Bordens were discovered dead)

Number 238 is an awful looking building today Butchered up as much as a building can be. One can only imagine. It must have been a beautiful if not simple Greek Revival when Andrew Borden had it. Now keep in mind........we are not talking about Andrew "J" Borden, but the other Andrew Borden.

Andrew Borden moved sometime in 1896 to Rock Street (The Mooring) to a small mansion. Really, just a big house, but one to rival Maplecorft in interior architecture. (I have posted photos of the interior on this site in the past)

Below is a photo of his first home on Main Street and the Mooring at 742 Rock Street.

YES: ONE MORE:

The other Andrew J Borden was a janitor for the Fall River City Hall.

I was curious to where he lived.

Come to find out, he lived in a 3 family home on Linden Street, about 5 or 6 blocks east of Sargents Department Store on Main Street and 5 or 6 blocks South of Maplecroft.

Insignificant and trivial, really. This Andrew J. never made his mark in history. Just a regular Joe. Are we not all? At least to the ages.

I found both humor and sadness in the building he lived in, which still stands.

Take a look at the contrast between the old and new. All the trim has been stripped from this typical fall river 3 decker. But the porch looks pretty much intact, if not out of place, and gives you an idea how ornate this building once was. Funny how the porch STANDS OUT. Notice the flat plywood door. featureless and depraved.......like the rest of the building. (Oh, Mikey, you are so mean to those buildings)

If I could go on vacation anywhere in the world it would be my home town fall river..............in 1892 when all these 3 deckers and Victorians were near new.

Not a problem MB. I always enjoy getting feedback on my posts and exchanging ideas. I do understand what you mean about the many Andrew Bordens. In my research it seems everyone in this case has a dopple ganger or two or three. The many Bridget Sullivan's you have to contend with in research is almost mind numbing. I have found in my research however, that while the middle initial for our Andrew Borden is quite commonly used, it's not always the rule. There are accounts where there is no question it's our Andrew that is being described, but the middle initial is omitted. I think we could use it as a guide, but maybe not a golden rule.

From the book A Fall River Incident; or, A little visit to a big mill: by John Gilmer Speed, 1895.

Hey Allen........

Is that Leontine the father or the son. There were two Leontine Lincolns you know.









(just pulling your leg......though there was a Leontine Lincoln Jr. )

It would be very interesting to know if this positively was Andrew J. Borden in the Bible study group, for the fact that another member of this group was Andrew J. Jennings.

Inland Massachusetts illustrated: a concise résumé of the natural features and past history of Worcester, Bristol and Norfolk, and adjacent counties, their towns, villages, and cities, together with a condensed summary of their industrial advantages and development, and a comprehensive series of sketches descriptive of representative business houses, to which is prefixed a short chapter on the Commonwealth at large. - By Elstner Publishing Company, Worcester, Mass, 1891.

175-176: page 176:

Massachusetts of today: a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago- Daniel P. Toomey, Massachusetts Board of Managers, World's Fair, 1893. Columbia publishing company, 1892 .

That's a great article. She almost admits that Andrew deserved what he got, but what about Abby? wonder what the reasoning behind killing her.

I know many may miss it, since not much posting is being done.

But, I have posted some great newspaper illustrations in the thread below "Second Street Second-Hand Shop" under "Interesting item on ebay"

A list of period newspapers on sale on ebay......as we speak.

Allen wrote:1855 Massachusetts State Census:

Households of Abraham and Andrew J. Borden. Hiram C. Harrington an Selecta Morse living with Andrew and Sarah.

On further thought about this record, Hiram and Lurana were married January 26, 1854. Their marriage license lists her name as Laurana Borden. But it lists Laurana/Laura Borden as living in Abraham's household, and Hiram as living with Andrew in 1855. It might mean nothing, but it's certainly interesting. And Sarah's sister Selecta is living there. It seems the Morse family had a habit of staying with the Borden's for some period of time.

Allen wrote:

Allen wrote:1855 Massachusetts State Census:

Households of Abraham and Andrew J. Borden. Hiram C. Harrington an Selecta Morse living with Andrew and Sarah.

On further thought about this record, Hiram and Lurana were married January 26, 1854. Their marriage license lists her name as Laurana Borden. But it lists Laurana/Laura Borden as living in Abraham's household, and Hiram as living with Andrew in 1855. It might mean nothing, but it's certainly interesting. And Sarah's sister Selecta is living there. It seems the Morse family had a habit of staying with the Borden's for some period of time.

My understanding is that sometimes census takers wrote the names of whoever happened to be staying at the house in question. They also relied entirely - then as now - on testimony of the occupants, who might be busy, irritated or just in no mood to talk to the census taker.

And - then as now - some people lied to the government becuase they ddidn't believe the government had a right to the information they wanted. (If the government relied on information given to them by yours truly in the last census, they would believe there are two Wookies, aged 300 years in total, living at my address.)

Which is not to say that the information you found isn't true, but merely points to the reasons we all want corroborating evidence in order to state that something is a fact (in my case, Wookie spore in the woods behind my house).

I agree corroboration is a key factor in proving anything. I tend to cross reference all my information to see if it all pans out the same, and then only in official documents. I don't take internet family trees seriously for one thing. I can claim to be related to whoever I want. I'd love to know what you find out about the wookie spore behind your house.

Allen wrote:I agree corroboration is a key factor in proving anything. I tend to cross reference all my information to see if it all pans out the same, and then only in official documents. I don't take internet family trees seriously for one thing. I can claim to be related to whoever I want. I'd love to know what you find out about the wookie spore behind your house.

I did type "spore," didn't I? Of course I meant "spoor." Sorry.

This drawing of Bridget appeared in the Stark County Democrat of Canton, Ohio on February 6, 1896.

Allen wrote:This drawing of Bridget appeared in the Stark County Democrat of Canton, Ohio on February 6, 1896.

For some reason I always pictured her as being more attractive, less like a man in drag. Maybe the police illustrator didn't need his drawing of the police commissioner and just put some hair on it and called it Bridget? Because otherwise ewwww!

Got a quick question . What kind of tool is a hoop driver, and what does it do exactly? Just by looking at the pictures, seems it would be hard to kill someone with that. Well, I mean, leaving the open wounds on the heads like they were suggests a sharp object. That tool looks like it wouldn't leave wounds like that. Maybe blunt force trauma to the head, but not open cuts. I could see, if LIzzie had used this item, that she could have killed them with with but, as I said, it would have blunt force truama not open slashing wounds like Andrew and Abby had. Just a thought.

Hoop drivers were used in barrel making. The best explanation would be the definition I found, "The tool used, together with a hammer, to force down the hoops to make the barrel tight. This also applies to a hydraulic machine which performs the same operation."

Hyman Lubinsky's naturalization record. Robello lists Hyman Lubinsky as being born in 1876, but does say he lived on Spring Street. This record indicates this Hyman Lubinski was born in 1869.

Yes, Allen.great stuff.

All the Lubinskys in fall river at the time were probably all the same family. The 1892 directory shows Hyman boarding on spring street, but it does not give his occupation. By the 1896 directory he is listed as a peddler.

Below are the Lubinskys listed in the 1892 and 1896 FR directories. The one which lists Hyman as a peddler is the 1896 listing.

(Below is a map of the neighborhood. You can see that Spring, Washington, Union and Third Streets where all the Lubinsky's lived, are all in the same neighborhood. Also you can see the B&B on Second Street.)

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Rebello and the naturalization card may both be wrong.


If Lubinsky was born in 1876, that would make him 16 years old during the borden Murders. If he was born in 1869 then he would have been 23.

It may be a fact that Lubinsky was born in 1868. Not 69 or 76.

If you check the Hebrew Cemetery where old Hyman is buried, (I've been there several times) in the South End of fall river, the dates 1868 to 1928 are engraved in his grave stone.

You can see the trouble one can get in when writing a book or article, and how easy it is to get it wrong, then to have others just copy the research and extend the error.

So, was Hyman born in 1876, 1869 or 1868?

Who can we trust..........?

The author, The Government official, or the Lubinsky Family (which had his grave stone engraved) Most writer/authors would get there information from the city records where Hyman died.

That is how Mr. Rebello probably came up with the birth date 1876. But then again, he was born in Russia, so............makes things more complicated. (Hyman not Rebello )

I would tend to agree that the tombstone information is the one I would probably go with for accuracy.

I came here after searching for it through another thread. It's worth reading and putting back on the current 'list' of threads

Thank you so much, Anthony. That was very interesting reading indeed, and does deserve a place among current threads.

Incidentally, I am sure I read in the witness statements and elsewhere that Bridget's cousin was married to a Fall River resident and lived in the town. Bridget stayed with them briefly for a while. I wonder if that reporter was getting confused with Uncle Harrington, who was married to Andrew's sister (and didn't care for Lizzie too much) and so the chicken pie wholesaler was cousin's husband not brother-in-law!

So many Harringtons! Another was Officer Harrington, the fashion reporter!

As one of the reporters alluded to, It has always bothered me that if Lizzie were innocent, and had that much money, Why after the trial didn't she spend time and money trying to find out who killed her father? It would clear her name, AND bring the real killer to justice. There is NO evidence that I have seen that once she was acquitted, she ever pursued the real killer at all. That makes no sense unless she knew she would never find the "real" killer b/c it was her.

PossumPie wrote:As one of the reporters alluded to, It has always bothered me that if Lizzie were innocent, and had that much money, Why after the trial didn't she spend time and money trying to find out who killed her father? It would clear her name, AND bring the real killer to justice. There is NO evidence that I have seen that once she was acquitted, she ever pursued the real killer at all. That makes no sense unless she knew she would never find the "real" killer b/c it was her.

I have wondered the same thing, Possum. I have also wondered why Emma didn't pursue attempting to find the real killer, that is if she truly believed Lizzie was innocent.

twinsrwe wrote:

PossumPie wrote:As one of the reporters alluded to, It has always bothered me that if Lizzie were innocent, and had that much money, Why after the trial didn't she spend time and money trying to find out who killed her father? It would clear her name, AND bring the real killer to justice. There is NO evidence that I have seen that once she was acquitted, she ever pursued the real killer at all. That makes no sense unless she knew she would never find the "real" killer b/c it was her.

I have wondered the same thing, Possum. I have also wondered why Emma didn't pursue attempting to find the real killer, that is if she truly believed Lizzie was innocent.

It is especially odd to me that Emma didn't pursue an independent investigation or at least urge the police to keep looking

Didn't Emma continue an investigation of sorts into the mystery while her sister was in jail, or am I completely off-track? I'm sure that she sent a detective (wasn't his name Hansen) to investigate Uncle Morse's background in the West and dig up any dirt on him. Upon which, incidentally, if I had been John Morse I would have immediately demanded an explanation and cut off ties! Perhaps that's why he never visited them afterwards.

Anyway, I think Emma did pursue inquiries with a reward etc, perhaps urged on by Jennings, while Lizzie was incarcerated. Afterwards, I agree, the sisters seem to have gone into 'let's pretend this never happened' mode! The Bordens were certainly a peculiar family!

I was under the impression they had Pinkertons working on it and that they may have kept working. I don't have a source but this is what I thought. The Pinkertons turned a bunch of records over to the Smithsonian or something and it is possible to get that kind of information. I am not sure of the channels to go through. I would assume with the many restrictions in their social strata that continuing to agitate to find a killer may have been frowned upon. Perhaps the "decent" thing to do was shut up & pretend it never happened?

Orrington Hanscom was, it seems Superintendent at Pinkerton's Boston Agency. He was supposed to have been hired briefly by the sisters in August 1892 at the suggestion of Jennings the family lawyer. He 'discussed random points with police officers, he was at the house during a further and exhaustive search for clues on Saturday' (while the family were at the funeral) and 'on Sunday morning and Monday.' (Goodbye Lizzie Borden, Robert Sullivan Page 16.)

Sullivan suggests that he then fades from the case. In fact, other sources suggest that he and Jennings were suspected by the Fall River police of being deliberately obstructionist. Interestingly, according to Emma's testimony, it was Hanscom whom Alice Russell informed about the dress-burning as 'she had told him a falsehood'; ie that the dresses were all there in the closet.

However, Harry posted something in 2011 from an Iowa newspaper, that I foolishly took note of but didn't notate the source, in which Hanscom continues to work for the Bordens and investigates Morse during the time Lizzie is in jail.