Newzletter - May, 2003

Happy Mother's Day to you and yours. Did you know that the woman who "invented" the holiday and petitioned Congress to have it instituted as a national day of thanks for mothers everywhere later regretted her decision and tried to cancel the whole thing?

In the US Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings each year in Boston. Her efforts were not continued when she stopped paying for the events.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day, after swearing on her mother's grave in 1905 that she would dedicate her life to this cause. It was rumored that Anna and her mother had quarreled and that her mother had died before they could reconcile, hence the intensity of Jarvis'' determination to make it up to her deceased mom.

Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. By 1909, Mother's Day services were held in 46 states, plus Canada and Mexico. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day a national holiday to be held on the 2nd Sunday of May each year.

Anna Jarvis became increasingly concerned over the commercialization of Mother's Day and she spent the rest of her life working diligently to reverse what she played such a major role in creating. "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit." She opposed the selling of flowers and also the use of greeting cards: "a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write." In 1923, Anna Jarvis filed suit against New York Governor Al Smith, over a Mother's Day celebration. When the suit was thrown out of court, Jarvis began a public protest and was arrested for disturbing the peace. In 1931, Jarvis publicly criticized Eleanor Roosevelt for her work with a Mother's Day committee. Anna Jarvis never married and never had children of her own. She died in 1948 at the age of 84. She had spent all of her money unsuccessfully trying to stop the commercialization of the holiday she worked so hard to found.

These are the events related to the Lizzie Borden case that occurred in the month of May:

I have had 18 responses to my request for birth dates of newzletter subscribers. I was planning on using the data to determine if any particular astrological sign is more attracted to this case than any others. Based on those who replied, here are my findings:

Three signs has equal representation: Leo, Virgo and Libra, with three birthdays each.
Two signs tied at second with two birthdays each: Aries and Cancer.
The following signs had one birthday each: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Gemini, and Sagittarius.
Two signs had NO birthdays: Taurus and Scorpio.

Perhaps of more interest than astrological signs is that one month had the most birthdays with FIVE. The month is August. I wonder if the murder has specifically attracted these individuals because of their connection to this month?

I welcome additional data. Please email me with the date of your birth (not year).

Apparently, my email address on the web site has been harvested by spammers. Some of you may have received spam with my return address. Please be assured that they are not from me and I have no connection with any email that advertises the sale of anything. All of your email addresses are safe and have not been given away or used in this manner. If any of you receive any email that does not sound like something I would send to you, please forward it to me and I will take all necessary action to try to get this type of illegal activity from happening to you and me again.

LBQ subscribers only: If you have not received your April issue of the LBQ yet, you should contact Maynard Bertolet.

Newzletter subscriber and Lizzie Borden Society Forum member Kathleen Carbone will be speaking on the case on Wednesday, June 4, at 6:30 PM at the Lynn Public Library. Her talk is entitled "Lizzie Through the Looking Glass." More details here next month. The library is located at 5 North Common Street, in Lynn, MA. Their phone number is 781-595-0567. Keep checking the Lynn Public Library web site for additional news regarding her visit.

Thanks to Michael Martins, here is a list of the FRHS' calendar of events celebrating Fall River's Bicentennial.

The Shaw Festival announces their production of "Blood Relations" by Sharon Pollock, written 1980, May 1 to November 30.

In Fall River, Massachusetts, the spinster Lizzie Borden is drawn into re-enacting the events that led to the axe-murders of her father and stepmother ten years earlier. Written by one of Canada’s finest playwrights, this production puts a new twist on The Shaw’s tradition of psychological thrillers performed at the Royal George.

The Shaw Festival is one of the largest repertory companies in North America, and the only theatre that specializes in plays written by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries — "plays about the beginning of the modern world." Productions run April to November in three different theatres, in a beautiful village 20 minutes down-river from Niagara Falls, and two hours from Toronto.

Visit their web site for ticket information.

Conference on Guilt: The Department of English at the University of New England is sponsoring a Law and Humanities conference on the Westbrook College Campus this summer, June 14, 2003. The topic is "Guilt." The keynote speaker will be Professor Austin Sarat, founder of the Department of Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought at Amherst College and president of the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities. Cultural critic Carolyn Gage will be presenting a paper on Lizzie Borden at said conference, a reworking of her "The Real Mystery Behind the Fall River Murders" from a few years ago. Her web site can be seen here

Maplecroft in the Newz! By now we all know that Robert Dube, the current owner of Maplecroft, has decided to put this famous house up for sale (see the January Newzletter for details). More recently, however, he created some controversy when he applied for permission from the Fall River's Zoning Board to erect a house on the property to the east of 306 French Street, in the now vacant lot next to the house. The Fall River Herald News ran a story on Mr. Dube's plans on April 8, 2003 ("Lizzie's Maplecroft Up for Sale.") You can read that story by clicking here.

The Board was scheduled to hear the request on Thursday, April 17, 2003. There was an article in the Fall River Herald News on April 13th. Here is a link to that news report.

The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for May 15 at 7 p.m. on the first floor of Government Center.

If you are interested in writing a letter either for or against Mr. Dube's application, you can send it to:

I have recently added several new pages to the Lizzie Borden Virtual Museum and Library. They include:

Considered the preeminent journal for Borden scholars, buffs, and armchair detectives, the Lizzie Borden Quarterly has been in publication since January 1993. Publisher: Gabriela Adler, Editor: Maynard F. Bertolet, published by Bristol Community College in Fall River.

Here is the table of contents from the latest (April 2003) issue:

"Ah Yes! I Remember it Well" by Jules Ryckebusch
"Top Twelve Reasons for Lizzie's Acquittal" by Sherry Chapman
"The Trial Testimony of Alice M. Russell - Conclusion"
"Joseph Carpenter — Once More With Feeling" by Mel Disselkoen
"The Jefferson Borden Affair" by Harry Widdows
"Trial by Theory" a play by Paul Fletcher
"Bibliographic Borden" by Lisa Zawadzki
"Lizbits" by Neilson Caplain
"Lizzie On Line" by Stefani Koorey
"Princess Maplecroft" by Mary T. Cusack
"Letters to the Editor" by Carol Pedersen and Robert Gutowski

To Subscribe to the Lizzie Borden Quarterly, send your name
and address and your check or money order for
U.S.A.: 1 Year $18.00, 2 Years $30.00,
Non U.S.A.: 1 Year $24.00, 2 Years $40.00

Mail To:
Lizzie Borden Quarterly
Dr. Gabriela Schalow Adler - Publisher
Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA. 02720-7391

9. LIZZIE GIFTS

Here is a list of the newest additions to the Lizzie Borden Gift Shop. Please visit the store at this address for contact information regarding purchasing these items.

Lizzie Borden Mouse Pads. Now for the first time you can own a Lizzie Borden Mouse Pad! The perfect holiday gift for anyone interested in the Borden murders of 1892, the history of Fall River, or Victorian America. These high quality mouse pads are 3/16th of an inch thick and measure 9.25 X 7.75 inches.This stunning mouse pad depicts Lizzie in front of the 92 Second Street house in Fall River, Mass. in which both her father and stepmother were murdered (see image). While Lizzie was tried and acquitted of the crimes, not everyone believes her to be innocent. Did she or didn't she? Shipping is $1.50 to continental US. $16.95 each or 2 for $32.00

Complete Primary Source Documents PLUS important books on the case on CD-ROM: Police Witness Statements (46 pages + full index); Inquest (2 vols.); Preliminary Hearing (5 vols., 460+ pages); Trial Transcript (2 vols., 1,900 + pages). PLUS The Fall River Tragedy (1893) by Edwin H. Porter and The Trial of Lizzie Borden (1937) by Edmund Pearson --- both books are in PDF format and contain all photographs from the original editions. All documents and books are in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer or operating system (Mac, PC, Linux). Now you can own all of the important primary sources on one disk! If purchased separately in hard paper format, your total would be at least $250. This copy of the Preliminary Hearing is in CORRECT ORDER. The original is not. Includes an original introductory essay that provides much needed information on the preliminary hearing process and Lizzie's process specifically. The disk includes all four documents, two important books on the case (Porter and Pearson), plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in jpg and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $49.95.

The Borden Murders and Their Aftermath, as reported in the New Bedford Evening Standard. One of the foremost and complete newspapers that covered the Borden tragedy of Fall River, Massachusetts, was the New Bedford Evening Standard. Almost all books on the Borden case draw heavily from its pages. Rich in detail, these news reports capture the flavor and atmosphere from the day of the crime to Lizzie’s ultimate acquittal. Now for the first time you can have a digitized transcription of the pages of this vital resource. Arranged by date, these articles if printed out would be over 460 pages in length. This collection does not include the trial coverage itself and is intended as a complement to the primary source documents found at this website. These articles cover the daily side happenings during the period of the trial and the events leading up to it and its decision. Reading these pages is like being transported back in time to 1892-93 Fall River and New Bedford, Mass. Every attempt was made to make an exact duplicate of each daily article. This is a must for any Lizzie Borden buff who wants to read first hand about the excitement and drama surrounding the daily happenings of this extraordinary case. This important document is brought to you in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer or operating system (Mac, PC, Linux). The disk includes the extensive transcripts of the New Bedford Evening Standard plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in jpg and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $19.95.

Lizzie Borden -- The Murders and Their Aftermath, as reported by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. A little known upstate New York newspaper, the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, NY, devoted extensive coverage to the Borden murders in Fall River, Massachusetts and their aftermath in the years 1892 and 1893. In a series of 28 articles they present the daily happenings and events that were so captivating to the reading audience. The articles were transcribed and digitized using the exact spelling and factual errors to reflect the sense of the reporting of this real life drama and are made available for the very first time in this format. This well written and interesting series of articles is a welcome addition to any collector of material on one of the most horrific unsolved murder cases of all time. This collection is in PDF format for viewing on any computer system. The collection can be read with a free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download at Adobe.com. This unique and original collection has never before been offered for sale. Transcribed by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. $9.95

Lizzie Borden Screensaver! This specially created screensaver is for the Lizzie Borden buff, true crime reader, armchair detective, or historian. The screensaver contains over forty photographs covering the span of the 1892 Borden tragedy. Photos of Lizzie, the Bordens, the Morses, 92 Second Street, the victims, Fall River, Maplecroft, and the Oak Grove Cemetery graves are included. This unique and brand new item has never before been offered for sale. Created by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. This CD makes a great gift and installs in seconds on any PC running Windows. $11.95 includes FREE SHIPPING!

Lizzie Borden Bumper Sticker! Now for the first time you can own a "Lizzie Borden -- Did She or Didn't She?" bumper sticker. These high quality bumper stickers are made from the finest synthetic (polypropylene or polyester) materials.The color pigments are heat-fused onto the material.This makes the image resistant to weather,carwashes, etc. The stickers are flexible and easy to apply. Our bumper stickers are the standard 3" by 10" in size. The sticker is black and white (see image). Please note that the word "COPY" does not appear on the finished bumper sticker, it is used for advertisement purposes only. $4.95 each or 2 for $9.00, shipping is only 45 cents!

The Preliminary Hearing. 481 pages, 5 volumes. August 25 - September 1, 1892. Available for the first time in .pdf format on a CD-ROM. Searchable and complete. With introductory essay by Harry Widdows and Stefani Koorey. This copy does not require a word processing program to view as this disk's contents are in PDF format. In addition, this copy of the Preliminary Hearing is in CORRECT ORDER. The original is not. And finally, this copy of the Preliminary Hearing includes an original introductory essay that provides much needed information on the preliminary hearing process and Lizzie's process specifically. The disk includes the Preliminary Hearing plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in jpg and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $29.95

The Murder of Bertha Manchester, 1893, articles of the crime from the Evening Standard, New Bedford, Mass., May 31 to June 13, 1893, on CD-ROM. Says Lizzie Borden scholar, K. Koorey, "The pitiful saga of the Bertha Manchester murder was an important addendum to the legend of the Borden Case. The murder was committed in similar style, with similar weapon, in daylight, upon an innocent woman. It’s splash upon the headlines May 31, 1893, just days before the beginning of the trial of Lizzie Borden for the hatchet murder of her father and step –mother, may have influenced a jury pool that was about to be chosen to serve in the 'Trial of the Century.'" Volume contains thirteen articles and several newspaper images. Also includes an original Introduction and Epilogue by K. Koorey. This collection is in PDF format for viewing on any computer system. The collection can be read with a free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for download at Adobe.com. This unique and original collection has never before been offered for sale. Transcribed by Harry Widdows, famed originator of the Lizzie Borden Trial Transcript in Word format. $7.95.

Edmund Pearson The Trial of Lizzie Borden and Edwin Porter The Fall River Tragedy, on CD-ROM. Pearson, Edmund. The Trial of Lizzie Borden. New York: Doubleday, 1937. Important work that includes great quantities of trial testimony, not generally found elsewhere, but criticized for his one-sided approach which favored Lizzie as the killer. Porter, Edwin H. The Fall River Tragedy. Fall River, MA: George R. H. Buffinton, Press of J. D. Munroe, 1893. Porter's book is the first major work in the field of Borden studies. Includes many rare photographs. Both books are complete and are in PDF format for easy viewing on ANY computer (Mac, PC, Linux). The disk includes both books (and all photos from the original editions) plus a free bonus of a large collection of photographs related to the case in jpg and gif formats, including images of the primary participants in the murder mystery, and photographs of the inside and outside of the murder house, 92 Second St. in Fall River, Mass. $19.95

Lost Lesbian Lives contains three one-woman plays written by actress and playwright Marjorie Conn. It includes The Honeymoon Years of Eleanor Roosevelt & Lorena Hickok, Miss Lizzie A. Borden Invites You to Tea, Thar She Blows! Disguised as a Boy She Went A'whaling. These works and others represent Marj's unwavering commitment to recording and restoring the lives of lesbians, lives which have been all too often erased from history. The plays in this book focus on three very different women: Lorena Hickok, an early female reporter and the lover of Eleanor Roosevelt. Lizzie Borden, the subject of the 19th Century Trial of the Century, who was also the lover of a famous actress. Isabella Chase, a fictional character patterned after the real women who disguised themselves as men and served on whaling and other ships in the mid-19th Century. Each of them encompasses a part of the North American lesbian experience, and thus is a part of our history. All 3 plays are one-woman plays and have enjoyed productions in Provincetown, MA and New York City. Excellent monologue material for women (and men in drag) of all ages.

Excellent reading material. All 3 characters have in common their love for animals. 10% of the proceeds for this book is being donated to Greyhound Rescue Organizations. Lost Lesbian Lives is a captivating read by itself, and the perfect companion for those fortunate enough to see Marj perform one or all of these great plays. Happy Reading! $17, includes shipping. $17.00