Andrew's bloody hand

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The witness statements - per Harrington
Page 22
Dr. Albert C. Dedrick.

“I was going on a call to Whipple Street, when I saw Dr. Dolan drive along Second street like mad, and stop at Mr. Borden’s. When I returned, there was a large crowd there, and I went in. Mr. Borden’s left hand, which rested on his hip, was smeared with blood. I called Dr. Bowen’s attention to it.”



Now how do you suppose a dead man got blood on his hand?

I thought Andrew was sleeping when he was attacked. The first blow probably did him in; so how did the blood end up on his left hand?

[Richard]

Maybe the first blow didn't kill Andrew and his hand shot up to his face as a "knee-jerk" self-defense move and got caught in the spray of blood.

[Cemetery Hunter]

Not entirely impossible. Blood from Andrew Bordens body seeped down into the basement as well. Blunt force trauma such as this no doubt sent blood in all directions.

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Richard & CH

Thanks for your input; both are possible, no doubt.

I find the word “smeared” and interesting description. Had the blood arrived in a spray or if it had seeped there; how did it get smeared?

Wouldn’t smeared indicate that the blood was touched in some way. One of the very many people floating around the house that day may be the reason for the smear. The witness Dr. Albert C. Dedrick doesn’t expand on the subject except that he told Dr. Bowen.

I haven’t had a chance to do any searching on this; does Dr. Bowen (or anyone else) mention this occurrence…..if so, where would I find it?

[Cemetery Hunter]

When you say smeared was it on the back of the hand or the palm? Was this smear noticed before or after the body was moved from the house? Your right there were so many people running in and out the house its possible one of them could have done it. What hand was it?

[Susan]

Al, I just searched through all the source documents, with the exception of the witness statements, and could find no mention by anyone of smeared blood on Andrew's hand. So, I imagine it must have been something that was caused either by the doctors handling him or by being covered by the sheet. Otherwise I think they would have mentioned it as it seems like a very important find.

Heres a close-up of Andrew's body, can't really see if there is any blood, smeared or otherwise, on his left hand:

[Harry]

Dr. Dedrick testified at the trial that he arrived at the Borden house "after 2pm" on the day of the crimes. By then Andrew had been seen and examined by a few doctors.

Since the blood was still not coagulated when some of the initial examinations were made I can see blood transfer easily occurring. This is Dr. Dolan testifying at the Preliminary hearing, p120+:

"Q. At that time did you put your fingers or hands into his wounds, or any of them?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did they become bloody?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Do you know whether any blood came from your fingers or hands at that time?
A. What do you mean, dropped from them?
Q. Yes.
A. No Sir, I do not think there did.
Q. Have you thought of it before?
A. No Sir, I have not.
Q. Will you swear there did not?
A. No Sir I will not."

[Shelley]

I believe his body was also searched to see if burglary was a motive fairly early on - pockets examined and his watch and chain and money found. When I see that well-known photo of Andrew it makes sense that his hands are somewhat unnatural looking stacked up on his chest- dead arms dangle and they must have been positioned and balanced that way after the first body examination for signs of burglary was concluded. Andrew's hand could have been smeared during this time as the sofa was saturated. Whoever balanced his arms and hands on his chest must have touched him perhaps with blood traces on their hands or sleeve. Maybe Undertaker Winward who posts here will offer some observations on rigor mortis. I know the hands crossed or laid upon the chest was helpful for undertakers and persons moving the body as stiffened outstretched limbs left unpositioned could cause some difficulties until rigor wore off.

I often try to picture the moving of poor Abby's body down those steep stairs.

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Thanks everyone!

You’re right, poor Andrew was manhandled so much that day and I had completely forgotten about the sheet used to cover him (thanks Susan) which would have been pull back and/or removed countless time throughout the day.

This would have been especially true by the time Dr. Dedrick arrived around 2-ish (thanks Harry)

Shelley, I have had the same thought about Abby, she was no light weight and although I have yet to make it to the house, the various photos and videos that I have seen of the front staircase reveals that they are very narrow and steep. Not an easy task to lift and carry 200+ pounds of dead weight down that incline.

[Cemetery Hunter]

Rigor mortis is a postmortem rigidity because of buildup of lactic acid, that causes "the actin and myosin filaments of the muscle fibers to remain linked until the muscles begin to decompose."2 (In simpler terms, this means that the muscles become stiff because there is a build up of the waste of the energy producing process of the body. This buildup is because the chained tissues of muscles hook together and stick until the body starts to decompose.

Even after a body goes into rigor it is possible to manipulate the joints by gently massaging them. It can last from 24 to 72 hours in some cases. Although only an experienced embalmer would most likely know this. Its interesting to note that embalming did not come into the US until around 1850 it was fairly new at this time period.

[snokkums]

With all the blows he took, blood was probably spurting out everywhere.

[Cemetery Hunter]

With all the blows he took, blood was probably spurting out everywhere.

Exactly......but still the smeared blood on the hand would have had to have come from some one either brushing agianst it or some thing of that nature. To me this is blunt force trauma of the worst kind. Lizzies burning of the dress still makes you wonder? Blood spatter would have been every where I would think...another explanation for the blood on his hand could be that it ran down his shirt underneath it from what I have saw of the crime scene photos he did not have much of a head left. I am curious has to why the skulls were not buried with the bodies any one know?

[SteveS.]

The skulls were severed from the bodies after the bodies were brought to Oak Grove for burial. The bodies were placed in a receiving vault and the heads severed to be used as evidence for a murder weapon.

[Cemetery Hunter]

Well thats crude but effective I guess you have to consider the time period. Thanks for the explanation.

[Kat]

Hello Cemetery Hunter.

Interesting posts, thank you.
I did not know that rigor could be manipulated by massage.

Since you gave a quote, may we please have the source? Thanks.

My impression is that the hands were spattered --and then when we add that the sheet was put on and removed and put on and removed--it is a really reasonable suggestion, Susan. That might *drag* or smear the blood. It certainly was fresh enough. Thanks for the further search in testimony, too.

I recall, in the original print of that crime scene picture, that the blood was easily seen on one of his hands but I can't remember which hand!

(Sorry for all the *edits* in my posts tonight- I'm using a laptop with no mouse. It's hard to get used to.)

[Cemetery Hunter]

Hello Cemetery Hunter.

Interesting posts, thank you.
I did not know that rigor could be manipulated by massage.

Since you gave a quote, may we please have the source? Thanks.

My impression is that the hands were spattered --and then when we add that the sheet was put on and removed and put on and removed--it is a really reasonable suggestion, Susan. That might *drag* or smear the blood. It certainly was fresh enough. Thanks for the further search in testimony, too.

I recall, in the original print of that crime scene picture, that the blood was easily seen on one of his hands but I can't remember which hand!

(Sorry for all the *edits* in my posts tonight- I'm using a laptop with no mouse. It's hard to get used to.)

What quote? Confused. If memory serves me correctly the musculature system goes through three stages after death:

1). Primary Flaccidity: Whereby this is a relaxation of all the muscles except for the eyelids. This stage can last from 2 to 8 hours.

2). Then Rigor, which has already been explained.

3). Secondary Flaccidity a relaxation of all the muscles including the eyelids lasting 2 to 8 hours.

If there is some doubt about what I am posting you can read more here:

http://www.deathreference.com/Py-Se/Rig ... anges.html

[Kat]

This quote, is to what I refer, quote marks yours:

"the actin and myosin filaments of the muscle fibers to remain linked until the muscles begin to decompose."2

Thanks for your response.

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Kat,

Speaking of crime scene pictures, I know that FRHS used to sell prints a long time ago. Do you (or anyone else) know if they are still available there?

I’ve tried to call them from time to time, but have had little luck.

I would like to start collecting the pictures; it would be nice to see the photos as photos not something in a book or online.

[Kat]

I don't think they are for sale anymore. I don't even know who bought them in the past, but it's my understanding there are very few sets out there from the old days.
I suppose if you were publishing? I may be wrong, but that's my impression.