Lizzie Borden Society Forum

In reading about the Ash St. Jail elsewhere on this forum, the question occurred to me--What did Lizzie wear while in prison? Audrey mentioned being "detained" briefly and having to wear a uniform. We know that Lizzie received special treatment (having her meals catered, being allowed to stay in the warden's home), but was it customary at the time for prisoners to be deprived of their ordinary clothing? I'm hoping that some of our historians will have some info on this. Thanks.

I think she did wear her usual clothing...

I forgot to add... That "matron" stole those stockings... I never saw them again and although I was willing to make an issue out of it my husband put one hand FIRMLY under my elbow and escorted me out of there...

As my son says.... "I'm from the streets man!"

g g g g g-Unit!


Am I REALLY the only one out here who has ever been in the klink???

Sorry to say that I too have been to the slammer on more than one occasion. Yes, in my wild youth I was arrested for terroristic threats and DUI. I am NOT proud to say this happened, but I definitely learned my lesson. The terroristic threats charge was dropped thank God. All I did was threaten to beat somebody up! Oh well, when you are young and dumb anything can happen. My time in jail was memorable enough to know that I NEVER wanted to go back. I was put in a cell with about 50 other inmates, and I didnt rank high enough to get a bunk, so I slept on the floor. It was freezing in there, and I had to give my food away to a rather large black man who decided it was his. I was also handcuffed to a drunken bum that stunk to high heaven on the way to see the judge when it was time for my release. 2 days in pure hell made me change my ways rather quickly!

I believe Lizzie wore her normal clothing while at Taunton. This is from the FR Herald, date unknown. Mrs. Wright who had charge of the women prisoners is being interviewed:

"It is my duty to look over whatever a woman committed here brings with her. Miss Borden had beside her clothes, a folding bag filled with books."

And from Porter's Fall River Tragedy, page 75+, when she left for Taunton:

"... To all outward appearances, she was as calm as though she had been going for a visit to relatives. Rev. E. A. Buck, City Marshal Hilliard and State Officer Seaver accompanied her. A small valise containing the prisoner's clothing was placed on the box."

Page 77, Porter:

".... A telescope bag containing Miss Borden's apparel was placed in the cars."

I also believe she was never handcuffed or shackled at any time.

Thanks Har!
Those outfits they wore used huge amounts of material- I wonder how many dresses Lizzie could get into that "small valise?"
I guess we need Susan to hunt up a description on the net of a "telescope bag." That sounds like it would hold more. It really doesn't sound like she was allowed to bring a lot. Maybe Emma was charged with bringing her more, over time?

Perhaps Emma was able to bring in what she took out...

I wonder if there was a limit-- or if Lizzie had to be able to store the clothing in her cell?

They may have rotated her dresses so that she had many different ones--but not at the same time.

Surely she didn't need many fancy dresses while awaiting trial and then did need nicer ones to attend court.

I'm guessing that Lizzie needed all new clothes for prison because her old dresses were "social length" and not suited for wandering around jail. She probably got new shoes, too. . .

FairhavenGuy @ Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:54 am wrote:I'm guessing that Lizzie needed all new clothes for prison because her old dresses were "social length" and not suited for wandering around jail. She probably got new shoes, too. . .

Good one Chris. And probably a new sealskin cape as well. The bugs ate her old one thanks to Eli Bence.

FairhavenGuy @ Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:54 am wrote:I'm guessing that Lizzie needed all new clothes for prison because her old dresses were "social length" and not suited for wandering around jail. She probably got new shoes, too. . .

Of course now that I see it in this light-- Of course she did! Lizzie was the barometer of fashion....

Appropriate social length skirt for a luncheon or afternoon event




Business length skirt:



Now-- you can all plainly see the difference!

So Auds...how come you traded in your life as a supermodel ?


Tracy...

This is the best I can come up with on the "Telescope or Telescopic" bag, heres a pic of an army issued bag:



Maybe it gets its name because it looks like a bag that you could or would carry a telescope in? I thought originally that it was because the bag opened out like a telescope as you put more stuff in it.

Thats an interesting thought, Lizzie in a prison uniform, from what I can gather, women's prison uniforms did exist, usually in plain gray or brown cloth. No black and white striped clothing for the women. The uniforms or clothing were issued by the jail, I imagine if the woman could provide her own clothing, so much the better for the jail, not having to put out the extra money. I don't think the pink and white stripe wrapper would have gone over very well in Taunton.

Well what do you know!
Thanks Susan!
I did picture a bag with an accordian type bottom that would expand sideways.
Hmmm.