Emma's 1913 Interview

[augusta]

I have read that at least some Borden scholars think that the interview Emma supposedly gave to the newspaper in 1913 is genuine.

I used to think that it was bogus. It just doesn't fit. Emma was like hidden away from the public. How did the press find her? How did they get her to talk? Why did she agree to the interview?

If you recall, she was very pro-Lizzie in the article, even tho at that time she had not see nor heard from Lizzie in about eight years - that at least I am aware of. So why does she agree to talk, and it's all pro-Lizzie?

Do you think she was toning things down, so that her own reputation would improve? And/or by trying to "clear" Lizzie, that could have improved Lizzie's rep, who was family after all.

[snokkums]

I haver heard of an interview that Emma gave, but given the way Emma was, I doubt she ever talked to the press.Everything that I have read about Emma, seems to me to be out of charchter for her. I don't ever remember reading anything about her talking about the crime. Best I remember is that Emma was very closed mouth about the situation.

[stargazer]

Had she not truly given the interview, it seems that someone would make a fuss about it being faked. Was she living in that white house where she eventually died ? I forget.

[augusta]

I don't remember where she was living then, Stargazer. I'd like to know. I'll look it up. I'm inclined to think that she was not living there then. Seems like when she was at that house, she was really reclusive.

I agree, Snokkums. It sure does sound way out of character for Emma. But I also agree with you, Stargazer. It would seem that by now there would have been some fuss raised about it.

Yes, Snokkums, there was a published article - I'm thinking it was in The Boston Globe? - with an interview of Emma about the crimes & Lizzie in 1913. That'd be about 8 years after she moved out of Maplecroft.

I wonder if the sisters had contact with one another and we just don't know it?

I would be very interested to hear from people who believe the interview was true, and why?

[mbhenty]

Yes:

Personally, I believe that the interview took place.

Drawing from my hat, if you please... I believe it took place and Emma probably received hell from her sister and later recanted admission to it.

The denial that a interview was given came from the Buck family.

The interview which appeared in the Boston Post, (Boston, Post, Herald, Globe, it can all be so confusing) was supposably held at the Rev. Buck's residence. (The Rev Buck was dead by then and 5 unmarried Buck women, sisters, lived in the house) (No, the Buck sisters is not a soul band)

Emma was probably living with the Buck sisters in 1913 and should be listed in FR directories by 1914. She lived with them for around 5 years. It was at the Buck residence that Maguire, the reporter for the Post, said he held the interview. If he was to lie about it, I don't think he would have used such an address.

Below is a photo of the Buck residence and how it looks like today. Most of the trim has been stripped off and the place was turned into cheap rentals.
Below that is a similar house on Whipple Street in fall river. That is probably what the Buck house looked like at one time. Even the house on Whipple Street has had it's siding covered with vinyl. But at least, mostly all of the trim is there.

[Yooper]

Harry brought up a good point about this in another thread. In the interview, Emma stated that she had tolerated the conditions for some time and when they became unbearable, she consulted Reverend Buck. He advised her to move out as soon as possible. Reverend Buck died in 1903 and Emma moved away from Maplecroft in 1905. While this does not prove that the interview didn't take place, it does tend to cast some doubt. Even if the interview did take place, it at least calls to question Emma's accuracy (at best) or her veracity (at worst).
Why would Emma grant just the one interview? If she wanted to avoid attention after the trial, and further, after leaving Maplecroft, why open the door to pestering from reporters?

[augusta]

Mb - Well, if Emma lived at the Bucks' residence about five years, 1905 + 5 years = 1910. Didn't Emma move into the Buck home in 1905? Or did she not move in the Buck home til about 1908?

I think it seems so out of character for Emma to do that interview.

Thanks for the picture of the Buck home! It's too bad the house probably got changed during renovations.

I agree with you, Yooper.

Why is it believable that she did the interview?

I don't think Emma would come out of her cloistered life to make a big stink over the interview being false.

[mbhenty]

Yes, Augusta:

Emma must have been one very unsettled and odd individual.

She was a bit of a vagabond, a wanderer or nomad of sorts.

One could make the case that she was "one strange chick".

After she left Maplecroft, (1905)it is assumed she lived with the Bucks for a while.

There were newspaper accounts that mentioned that in 1905 she was living in Fairhaven also. (I would need to research that) (taken from memory)

From 1909 to 1913 Emma lived with her cousin Preston Gardner, on the east side of Providence, R.I.

Some time in 1913 or 1914 to 1918 she lived with the Bucks. That was for 4 to 5 years.

By 1919 she was living at the Minden in Providence. (An apartment building) (PHOTOS BELOW)

And by the 20s she was staying in Newmarket N.H. with friends. But probably retained her Providence apartment.

Makes me wonder whether it was Lizzie who took care of Emma and not the other way around.

It also bids the question..............Was Emma Borden capable of living alone? Was she incompetent in some way?

[Yooper]

The pattern seems to be a move every four years or so. Emma really does appear to be unsettled, and she seems to need live-in companionship or others in the household. Maybe she thought Lizzie was innocent and the murderer was still at large, free to possibly visit her at some time. Here's a thought; what if someone decided to play a mind game with Lizzie and/or Emma? If a message was sent by someone pretending to be the murderer and stating that he would soon pay a visit to Maplecroft, what would the reaction be?
Come to think of it, this might decide the matter if the proper reactions manifested. If both sisters ran screaming from the house, then both Lizzie and Emma took it seriously, and Lizzie was innocent. If Emma ran screaming from the house and Lizzie remained, then Lizzie hadn't taken it seriously and was probably guilty. The more I think about this the less far-fetched it seems, I'm sure someone would have thought of it.

[SallyG]

Perhaps it took 4 or 5 years for Emma to wear out her welcome in the homes of those who had offered her a place to live. It would be very interesting to hear what her former roommates had to say about her!!!