Hannah Leary
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2023 3:03 pm
From the Witness Statements: Sunday 21." Summoning witnesses, Bestcome A. Case (Rescome Case) and wife of 199 Second street. Their statement. Understood from general talk the girls and Mrs. Borden did not get along very pleasantly. Never heard Mrs. Borden say anything about the family relations. Her allowance was about $200. a year; but much of it was spent on articles for the house. The lace curtains in the parlor she purchased. The girls got the same amount as she, but it was for their own use. A short time ago Mrs. Borden, for the first time, told me of the robbery, which took place about a year ago. She simply mentioned it, and said she would tell me all about it some time. Mrs. Case directed me to Mrs. Daniel O’Leary of Fifth street, who at times worked for the Borden’s. She could give no information." (Note: Mrs. Rescome Case (b. Almy Manchester) wasn’t just a friend and neighbor of Abby Borden. She was Abby’s first cousin. Their mothers, Sarah Sawyer Gray and Cynthia Sawyer Manchester, were sisters. Mrs. Case was reported to be present at the Borden funeral).
Hannah Leary (obituary), Fall River Daily Globe, Oct. 3, 1892. “Beloved wife of Daniel Leary, age 38 years. Funeral will take place from Mr. Leary’s residence, No. 56 Fifth street...”
“The death recently reported of Mrs. Hannah Leary of Fourth street forms the last link in a chain of very peculiar circumstances. Some time before the murder of the Bordens, Mrs. Borden engaged Mrs. Leary to do the housework for the fall. Upon hearing of Mrs. Borden’s sudden death, Mrs. Leary is said to have remarked upon the strangeness of having been engaged to do work and of being prevented by the death of her prospective employer from fulfilling the contract. She said that it seemed as though she wasn’t fated to do the work. Not long afterwards she died herself.”
The Fall River Daily Herald, pg. 6, Oct. 7, 1892.
If the report is true, why would Abby hire Hannah to do housework for the fall? Was Bridget threatening to quit just before the murders?
Hannah Leary (obituary), Fall River Daily Globe, Oct. 3, 1892. “Beloved wife of Daniel Leary, age 38 years. Funeral will take place from Mr. Leary’s residence, No. 56 Fifth street...”
“The death recently reported of Mrs. Hannah Leary of Fourth street forms the last link in a chain of very peculiar circumstances. Some time before the murder of the Bordens, Mrs. Borden engaged Mrs. Leary to do the housework for the fall. Upon hearing of Mrs. Borden’s sudden death, Mrs. Leary is said to have remarked upon the strangeness of having been engaged to do work and of being prevented by the death of her prospective employer from fulfilling the contract. She said that it seemed as though she wasn’t fated to do the work. Not long afterwards she died herself.”
The Fall River Daily Herald, pg. 6, Oct. 7, 1892.
If the report is true, why would Abby hire Hannah to do housework for the fall? Was Bridget threatening to quit just before the murders?