John Morse was considered a material witness and released on bail. From Dance of Death by DeMille:
"Uncle Vinnicum was released on $300 bail put up by the Fall River Daily News. Bail in a murder case was customarily $500."
Why would Uncle John need a newspaper to put up the bail money when he himself was quite well off? Also why wouldn't Emma, who supposedly was fond of her uncle, put up the money?
Bailing out Uncle John
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Harry
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Bailing out Uncle John
I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
And fool enough to think that's what I'll find
And fool enough to think that's what I'll find
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john
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While I wonder also, if Emma was so ever fond of her uncle, while her uncle came to visit the Borden's (even live-in) occasionally, did the Bordens ever visit him, or Emma go to even visit him? Had they, or she, ever even, or eventually would they ever have? Evidently this makes it even more evocative.
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Kat
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Well, in The Evening Standard paper, they seem to suggest that the bond is low for Bridget & Morse (and that Morse's bond was $500):
"Now that there is time to study every aspect of the tragedy, the amount of the bail required for Bridget Sullivan, the servant, and John V. Morse, is exciting comment. It is considered strange that the two persons who have been regarded as the most important witnesses for the government should have been placed under nominal bonds. If either of these witnesses dreaded the proceedings which are very sure to follow the arrest which has been made, either because they objected to further publicity, or for any other reason, there is nothing to detain them in Fall River, unless, as has been hinted, they are still under police surveillance. While the present feeling prevails, more than one person can be found who would gladly pay twice the bond demanded to embarrass the police; at least people so express themselves, and they talk as if they were in earnest. But, like other criticism, these comments may not rest on facts. Possibly the testimony of neither of the witnesses mentioned is so vital to the case as is generally supposed, and the government may have arranged to lay its hands on them at any moment. Furthermore, if there were any real object in spiriting them away, it would take considerable more security to hold them than is usually demanded. Until the end comes, therefore, it is well to take it for granted that the government knows what it is doing, and to assume that it is insane, and from now on the less effort expended in concocting puzzles and undertaking to unravel them the better for all concerned."
--Tuesday, August 16, 1892 Page 2
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"This is only new evidence of the ceaseless thinking Fall River people direct toward the tragedy and its many inexplicable features. The citizen, "Circumstances," and all others, for that matter, trouble John V. Morse little. He accounted for his time to the minute, almost. The police paid an eloquent tribute to the strength of his alibi when they placed him under $500 bonds and called off the shadows in citizens' clothes which dogged his footsteps previous to the arrest."
--Wednesday, August 24, 1892 Page 1
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As to Bridget's bail:
"Messrs. Almy and Milne, proprietors of the Fall River Daily News, went bail for Mr. Morse and Bridget Sullivan. Bridget returned to her friend's residence on Division street."
--Saturday, August 13, 1892 Page 2
"Now that there is time to study every aspect of the tragedy, the amount of the bail required for Bridget Sullivan, the servant, and John V. Morse, is exciting comment. It is considered strange that the two persons who have been regarded as the most important witnesses for the government should have been placed under nominal bonds. If either of these witnesses dreaded the proceedings which are very sure to follow the arrest which has been made, either because they objected to further publicity, or for any other reason, there is nothing to detain them in Fall River, unless, as has been hinted, they are still under police surveillance. While the present feeling prevails, more than one person can be found who would gladly pay twice the bond demanded to embarrass the police; at least people so express themselves, and they talk as if they were in earnest. But, like other criticism, these comments may not rest on facts. Possibly the testimony of neither of the witnesses mentioned is so vital to the case as is generally supposed, and the government may have arranged to lay its hands on them at any moment. Furthermore, if there were any real object in spiriting them away, it would take considerable more security to hold them than is usually demanded. Until the end comes, therefore, it is well to take it for granted that the government knows what it is doing, and to assume that it is insane, and from now on the less effort expended in concocting puzzles and undertaking to unravel them the better for all concerned."
--Tuesday, August 16, 1892 Page 2
_______
"This is only new evidence of the ceaseless thinking Fall River people direct toward the tragedy and its many inexplicable features. The citizen, "Circumstances," and all others, for that matter, trouble John V. Morse little. He accounted for his time to the minute, almost. The police paid an eloquent tribute to the strength of his alibi when they placed him under $500 bonds and called off the shadows in citizens' clothes which dogged his footsteps previous to the arrest."
--Wednesday, August 24, 1892 Page 1
________
As to Bridget's bail:
"Messrs. Almy and Milne, proprietors of the Fall River Daily News, went bail for Mr. Morse and Bridget Sullivan. Bridget returned to her friend's residence on Division street."
--Saturday, August 13, 1892 Page 2