Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Adelaide B. Churchill will forever be remembered as a critical witness in the Lizzie Borden case. As the daughter of a former mayor, it was probably natural for her to participate in and support the Fall River community. There's no doubt she had a wide circle of acquaintances. In fact, even before the murders, Mrs. Churchill and Lizzie Borden's social circle frequently overlapped.

⦁ Since 1880, Mrs. Churchill made annual summer visits to Westport; while there, she occasionally stayed at the Manchester House, a popular get-a-way for Fall River residents.

⦁ Mrs. Churchill was an accomplished singer and also played piano. She was a frequent performer at various church and entertainment events throughout her life. For fourteen years, she was organist at the primary school. In 1885, she was a director on the Choral Union. The president was Andrew J. Jennings.

⦁ In 1889, she was junior Vice President of the Richard Borden Women's Relief Corp.

⦁ In July 1890, The Y. M.C.A. held a lawn fete on Bedford St. Mrs. A. B. Churchill helped preside over the lemonade stand. Mrs. George S. Brigham (Lizzie's close friend) presided over the cake department. A "Mrs. Andrew Borden" assisted in the refreshment area.(unknown if this is the Abby Borden). Among the other workers cited were Misses Mabel and Louise Remington and Lizzie T. Johnston who were in charge of the confectionary, popcorn and peanut booth. (Lizzie's Marion friends)

⦁ On November 21, 1890, Mrs. A.B. Churchill was part of the organizing committee when the Richard Borden Women's Relief Corps staged an entertainment at the Academy called "Merchants Carnival and Business Men's Jubilee." Nearly 70 firms were represented on the stage, and the plan was to have each business shown by some appropriate dress or design. Each lady was costumed neatly and with excellent taste, and manky of the designs were of a striking character. In addition, each participant recited a selection of prose or poetry, extolling the firm or business represented. The several parts were well taken, and the ladies acquitted themselves admirably."

A couple of familiar businesses were highlighted in the program. "Miss Mamie Nicholson gave the business of D. R. Smith, druggist, a good send off....One of the most eleborate representations of the evening was Frank E. Sargent's...Miss Lizzie Hathaway was chosen to exemplify its treasures...In extolling the goods she represented, she said: "Seven-eight, lay them straight. Just like those elegant bargains Frank Sargent gives his customers. Have you seen his beautiful dress goods and buttons? It will pay you to examine his lovely ginghams and late style ribbons. A woman's heart is a tender thing and it is drawn out towards those charming goods that line Sargent's counters. The ladies are taken with his laces; the babies are taken with his white goods and embroideries, and their papas take him their money."

Among the participants named in the representations...a lady named Lizzie Borden.

⦁ April, 1891, a reunion was held of Fall River's Aldermen of 1857. Southland Miller, one of the aldermen, was present, as were Mrs. Dr. Bowen, Leontine Lincoln (Victoria's grandfather), and Mrs. A. B. Churchill. William Mason, one of the original aldermen, was unable to attend, due to illness. (He died the following year. It was Mason's estate that Andrew J. Borden considered purchasing in April/May 1892). It was noted that during the festivities, two familiar ladies performed a duet:

"Mrs. Churchill and Mrs. Bowen sweetly rendered the song, "The Land of Swallows.."

⦁ In June, 1891, a benefit was held at the Academy for Hiram J. Bennett, organist at St. Mary's church and organizer of the Choral Union. "The Heavens are Telling" from "Creation" was the next number. The trio was carried by Mrs. Churchill, Mr. McManus and Mr. Pritchard. The number was one of the best, the trio being especially well-performed...The fifth selection was a trio and chorus, "Lift Thine Eyes" and "He is Watching Over Israel," from "Elijah." The trio was sung by Miss Sanford, Miss Murphy and Mrs. Churchill, and the harmony was very fine. An effort was made to have the number repeated, but the auditors were not quite sure that encores were in order."

⦁ The Women's Relief Corps took part in a fair held in October 1891 in which they set up displays highlighting various goods from around the world: The Netherlands, France, Persia, Russia and Japan, among them. Mrs. Churchill hosted the display for Greece. It was noted that "The most picturesque booth is the Grecian. The simplicity of the decorations wins universal comment. Mrs. A. B. Churchill presides with grace, robed in a Grecian gown of pure white." Charles Sawyer helped organize an "art gallery". Andrew J. Jennings was also present for the festivities.

⦁ In Nov. 1891, Adelaide B. Churchill was among the names suggested for the school committee on the Republican ticket.

⦁ In April 1892, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church Easter service, "Mrs. Adelaide Churchill rendered two solos in excellent voice" (She was a soprano)

In November 1892, Mrs. Churchill was interviewed about the Borden case:
Mrs. Churchill continued to be active in the Fall River community, as part of the Y. M.C.A. Auxiliary and the W.C.T.U (She was the superintendent of Temperance Literature). She contributed her singing and piano skills to various causes and was a gracious hostess at many public functions. But she's less remembered for her accomplishments than she is as one of the most crucial witnesses in the Borden crime. Sadly, her obituary and funeral notices are more about Lizzie Borden than about Adelaide Buffington Churchill herself:

Thanks for gathering and posting!

I hadn't read the November 1892 Churchill interviews previously. Her alleged comment that she wishes she hadn't gone back to the house the second time....I presume she is referencing after she went out to tell Bowles to find a doctor. Can't imagine she would decide to just leave Lizzie hanging in that house. Ah well....

I'm going to choose to think that was Abby who helped out at the social event!

Mrs. Churchill was a good neighbor trying to do the right thing. But I think Adelaide regretted going back to the house the second time because that's when she and Bridget discovered Abby's body. She left the house quickly after that and apparently never returned.

I want to believe "Mrs. Andrew Borden" was our Abby as well. But it's quite possible that the "Lizzie Borden" who participated in the Merchants's jubliee on November 21, 1890 is our Lizzie. It was three weeks after her return from Europe, so who knows? Maybe?

Churchill's comments in the article also seem to jive with her supposed comment about seeing something she couldn't talk about. I've forgotten the exact quote and source.

Hi Cam!

I think the comment you're referring to came from one of McHenry's witness statements (page 45, interview with Mrs. Oliver Gray, Abby Borden's stepmother):

Fall River, (?) 28, 1892. …" I then pressed the old lady (Mrs. Oliver Gray) very hard as to what was said as coming from Mrs. Churchill. She demurred, and finally admitted she got her information from Mrs Potter and her sister Miss Dimon, the milliners on Fourth street. I then looked up the above mentioned ladies and found them very hard people to handle. I was with them both two hours, and elicited the following; Lizzie Borden has been practicing in a gymnasium for a long time, and she has boasted of the strength she possessed, not to these people, but to others. The place where she practiced was supposed to be in the Troy Block. I also elicited the fact that one George Wiley, a clerk in the Troy Mill is the one who is authority for the statement that Mrs. Churchill made that she (Mrs. Churchill) said, that there was one thing she saw in the house the day of the murder, that she would never repeat, even if they tore her tongue out."

As we know, McHenry's credibility is highly questionable. But there are some details in his report that are worth consideration.

George T. Wiley was bookkeeper for the Richard Borden Mfg. Co. His father, Robert Wiley, was appointed janitor of the Borden school when it opened in 1871 and stayed in that position for 35 years. His brother, William J. Wiley, began working in the Weetamoe Mill office; he was an alderman from 1883-1888 and was manager of the Borden block and the Academy of Music from 1888-1904.

The two ladies McHenry interviewed were Abby Diman Potter and Minerva G. Diman. They lived at 39 Fourth St (the Whiteheads lived at 45 Fourth). Their brother, Charles C. Diman, was superintendent of the Durfee mills and was associated with various mills in both Fall River and New Bedford. He may have heard the comment from George T. Wiley and passed the gossip onto his sisters. Or maybe it was circulated among their business circle.

Although George Wiley had no initial interest in politics, he was encouraged to run for alderman in Sept. 1892 and was elected in December. He was later president of the Board of Aldermen from 1893-1896. He also served many years on Fall River's school committee beginning in 1902 until his death in 1927.

It's unclear if George Wiley heard the comment directly from Mrs. Churchill, but she probably knew the Wiley family very well. Mrs. Churchill had connections with both the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee (she was nominated for membership, as has been noted). In 1894, Mrs. Churchill and Dr. Seabury Bowen appeared before the Board of Alderman to protest the building of a stable at 81 Second St. by A.E. Rich. Wiley was one of the aldermen on the board during that hearing.

Was the comment a fabrication or embellishment by McHenry or was it true? Unfortunately, we'll never know.


George T. Wiley obituary, Feb. 25, 1927:
https://fallriver.advantage-preservatio ... 0&cid=2892