Bridget's window washing

[Angel]

On such a busy street in midmorning, with people running up and down, going off to dentists, selling ice cream, looking for daughters through windows, going off to grocers, seeing Andrew walking around, noticing strange men milling about, sitting outside horse stables, observing horse and buggies parked alongside houses, etc. etc. etc., why is it no one mentioned seeing Bridget at the front or on the parlor side of the house washing windows? She talked to the maid on the sitting room side, but no one ever said anything about her being anywhere else outside. Could it be that she SAID she washed those windows, but was really inside doing dastardly deeds?

[Tina-Kate]

I think the fellow who used to live in the Borden house (Pettee?) mentioned seeing Bridget at the front of the house that morning.

O...& perhaps Adelaide Churchill said something re Bridget washing on the parlour side...

[DJ]

Yes, Mrs. Churchill saw her. But, you lead me to another point, Angel:
Bridget was already working on the inside when Mr. Borden returned, struggling with the lock at the front. It's my understanding, then, that she came back inside and began wiping the inside panes with no sign of Mrs. Borden, and no sign of Lizzie.
Now, perhaps Lizzie's being out of sight was to be expected, but I wonder that Bridget didn't wonder where Mrs. Borden happened to be, and holler up the stairs to Lizzie.
IOW: Bridget is carrying on with the windows inside, and no one's downstairs. Did Bridget expect Mrs. Borden to be going to the market?
Bridget didn't learn of "the note" until Lizzie came downstairs, after Mr. Borden returned.
Perhaps Bridget thought nothing of her "aloneness" downstairs. It seems to me, though, she might have hollered up the front stairs, "Miss Lizzie, are you about? Where's Mrs. Borden off to?"

[Kat]

I don't think the servant would be hollaring up the stairs. And she probably did not pay much attention to where Lizzie was or what she might be doing.
But didn't Lizzie say she did not notice Bridget washing windows, only that she thought Bridget was going to wash the windows? -Inq 59.

Yes TK, Bridget was seen on the south side by Mary Doolan, in front by Pettee, and on the north side at the parlour window by Mrs. Churchill, but the times sighted were between the murders.

Saw Doolan- 9:30 am or so -Prelim p12-13
Pettee __?___*
Churchill saw her- 10 am, Inq 126

*I'm pretty sure Pettee saw her around 10 am as well? I have not looked him up.

[DJ]

It's a good thing for Lizzie that Bridget didn't walk up to the landing to inquire, sotto voce, of Mrs. Borden's absence!
I wonder if she was forbidden to go up the stairs without expressed permission granted, and would be, therefore, only able to "holler" if she wished to make contact with Miss Lizzie, from the downstairs to the up-.
As stated in my previous post, Bridget knew that Lizzie was in the house; her lack of curiosity re Mrs. Borden's absence piqued my curiosity.
The sewing machine wasn't audible upstairs. According to Lizzie, the bed in the guest room had been made up fresh before Lizzie even came downstairs that a.m., save for the pillow coverings.
Of course, Lizzie and Lizzie alone would have known the truth of that, unless Bridget saw Mrs. Borden go upstairs with the bed linens.
I don't know whether Mrs. Borden was in the habit of taking mid-morning naps, or spending much time upstairs to herself. It just seems that Mrs. Borden would have been downstairs when Bridget came back inside, and Bridget has an astounding lack of curiosity regarding her absence, until Lizzie sets the stage.
If Mrs. B had gone to market, surely she would have said something to Bridget outside, in passing, re the matter and how it would affect the preparation of that day's dinner. Mrs. B probably have taken a look at the progress of the window washing, as well.
Not that I think Bridget was involved with the murders, but Mrs. Borden's absence, the fastened "inside bolt" at the front door, and perhaps other oddities or "off-balances" evidently didn't do much to heighten her suspicions of something afoot.
********************************************************

[Yooper]

It's possible that Bridget was intent on getting the window washing out of the way so she could lie down for a while before lunch. She may not have been as attentive if she wasn't feeling well. She never actually inquired about Abby's absence, she overheard Lizzie telling Andrew about the note and Lizzie told her about it directly as she went upstairs, or shortly before that. Bridget had spent most of the time outdoors, she washed more windows there than she did on the inside. She had just begun washing the windows inside when Andrew arrived, and she may only have been occupied with it for a short time before going to her room, possibly fifteen or twenty minutes.

[snokkums]

On such a busy street in midmorning, with people running up and down, going off to dentists, selling ice cream, looking for daughters through windows, going off to grocers, seeing Andrew walking around, noticing strange men milling about, sitting outside horse stables, observing horse and buggies parked alongside houses, etc. etc. etc., why is it no one mentioned seeing Bridget at the front or on the parlor side of the house washing windows? She talked to the maid on the sitting room side, but no one ever said anything about her being anywhere else outside. Could it be that she SAID she washed those windows, but was really inside doing dastardly deeds?

The only problem I have with that scenrio is that: Why would Bridget kill the Bordens? She was getting paid better than most maid; I think she was getting $2.50 per week as aposed to $1.50 and she was getting room and board. Most maid weren't getting that.
She was treated decent, like a maid but decent. And she was probably used to that and accepted it.

[Shelley]

Some good questions above. Yes, I expect Bridget wanted to get it over with -the window-washing, before it got too hot outside and was pleasantly diverted with that chat over the fence with Mary Doolan for a good while. Later, I bet she may have been surprised to learn Mrs. Borden had gone out, since Bridget had been outside the better part of an hour and did not see Abby leave or walk down the street or in the front of the house. Abby never mentioned where she was going, when she would be back or if they needed anything from the store while she was out. Still, it is possible to leave by the side door and walk North without Bridget seeing her if Bridget had been on the south end of the house. Bridget said she skipped the kitchen windows- how convenient, as Lizzie says she was sitting in the kitchen and would have seen Bridget washing those if she had REALLY been at the table reading and eating cookies and coffee!

Bridget said that she never had any business on the second floor as the girls and Abby kept their own rooms, so I doubt she would have gone upstairs looking for anyone.

Of course we all wonder what it was that Bridget said she wanted to tell later in life when she thought she was dying. I have always guessed that it may have been something about that "note" (or lack thereof) or that the dress Lizzie gave the police was not the same dress she had on all morning. With Bridget being up early, stands to reason that if the note had come to the house hand-delivered, she would have seen or heard something about that.

[SallyG]

I always felt that, while Bridget didn't LIE, she was not entirely forthcoming with all relevant information on the doings in the household on that day, and the time leading up to the murders. Bridget probably put two and two together pretty darn quick on the day of the murders; hence her rush to vacate the premises. For all she knew, Lizzie might come after HER while she was sleeping, figuring she could spill a lot of damaging information!

I'm betting that Bridget, in her later years, and probably before, carried a lot of guilt over helping Lizzie beat a murder charge. If she thought she was on her deathbed, she probably, being a good Irish Catholic, wanted to confess to SOMEONE what she had done. There may not have been a Catholic priest in the area where she lived, so she may have figured confessing to a friend would be the next best thing.

I would not be a bit surprised if Bridget confessed her part in covering up for Lizzie to a priest if she was able to. I don't remember how long she lived after the incident when she was ill and wanted her friend to come to her bedside, nor do I know what the situation was with a Catholic church being in the vicinity where she lived during that time, but I'm sure if she had access to a priest, she gave a confession.

[Shelley]

Oh I am sure there were plenty of priests out there in Butte- very large Irish Catholic population after all. Bridget made old bones and had ample opportunity if she wanted to spill the beans. My guess is that she was afraid and got out of it all as soon as she could. She probably did not want to be the one to put the noose around Lizzie's neck. Too bad they did not let Bence have his moment at the Grand Jury trial.

[twinsrwe]

I always felt that, while Bridget didn't LIE, she was not entirely forthcoming with all relevant information on the doings in the household on that day, and the time leading up to the murders. Bridget probably put two and two together pretty darn quick on the day of the murders; hence her rush to vacate the premises. For all she knew, Lizzie might come after HER while she was sleeping, figuring she could spill a lot of damaging information! ...

My thoughts exactly! I think Bridget knew a lot more about what went on in the house that morning, than what she told. She may have been the maid, but I can't believe that she would have lived her life blinded to the relationships of the people living in that house. I'm sure she knew more about the relationships of these people than anyone one else in the household.

If Bridget did figure out that Lizzie was indeed the killer of Abby and Andrew, then she would not only have been in fear for her life while asleep, she would been just as fearful, if not more so, in broad daylight.

[snokkums]

I dn't think she purposely meant to cover any thing up by helping Lizzie. I think she very loyal to the Bordens, and she was still in thier employement when she helped clean Lizzie up , if that's what happened.

[Kat]

We would need to know which windows were there in the kitchen in Aug 1892. And when Lizzie was in the kitchen compared to when Bridget was talking to Mary Doolan.

[Shelley]

Well, there are and were in 1892 two kitchen southend windows and two sitting room windows. Bridget says she started with the two sitting room windows on the south end(and did not wash the kitchen windows) . If Lizzie were sitting in the kitchen at the table, and the table at the time was in between the two kitchen windows, and we know there were no curtains in the kitchen window at that time, then Lizzie would have had a view into the south yard. We also know the windows are high in the house and that standing on the ground, Bridget would not have been able to see into the house.

I have assumed Lizzie's probable position in the kitchen and I could see the whole side yard, including Kelly's fence. It does not work, however, the other direction. Standing out by Kelly's fence or in the side yard looking up into the kitchen windows, you cannot see into the kitchen or if you were at a table in between the two windows, nobody can see someone sitting there.

I say probable position because Lizzie could have been sitting at either end of the table but one would assume she sat away from the end near the stove, putting her therefore near the southeast kitchen corner just in front of the rocking chair. Today the refrigerator is in that corner and the coffee bar is approximately where the kitchen table was in 1892.

[Kat]

Was Lizzie at the table around the time Bridget was at the fence?
I was thinking it over without looking stuff up and I can't seem to figure what Lizzie was possibly doing all morning!

Minor point- Don't you think Lizzie would sit away from the stove, being that it was August?

Now I have visions of that "Legend" TV movie in my head, where Lizzie looks out her bedroom window to see Bridget gabbing over the fence!

[Susan]

Perhaps the Legend movie actually has the right idea as to Lizzie's whereabouts that morning? According to Lizzie's inquest testimony, she took 5 or so minutes in the cellar watercloset and 5 or so minutes to take her clean clothes up to her room and baste a loop on a sleeve first thing that morning. After that, she was at the kitchen table to eat breakfast. In the dining room to set up her ironing things. At the kitchen table to read a Harper's magazine while waiting for her flats to get hot. In the sitting room to get the Journal to read. And also in the sitting room to address some paper wrappers. But, for the most part, she states she was pretty much in the kitchen.

Which doesn't jibe at all with Bridget's preliminary testimony. Bridget was in the kitchen, sitting room and dining room before washing the windows and no Lizzie in sight. Lizzie appears briefly at the side door as Bridget gathers her window washing gear. When Bridget comes in for a dipper there is no sight of Lizzie in the kitchen again. Then, no Lizzie in the kitchen when Bridget comes in to wash the insides of the windows. And no Lizzie in the sitting room.

So, where could Lizzie have been hanging out all that time? The parlor? The cellar? Or, in her room, to me that would be the most likely place. I suppose she could have been in the kitchen, dining room or sitting room while Bridget was outside, but, to vanish each time Bridget came into the house?

[Yooper]

The problem with the bedroom/kitchen scenario is that if Lizzie was in the bedroom she should have been aware of Abby's murder. If she was in the kitchen, she should have been aware of an intruder entering the house. The front door was locked and bolted when Andrew arrived and again when the authorities first arrived. If the front door was unlocked for a time and subsequently locked, then by whom, when, and why? If an intruder was "needed", why not testify that the front door was unlocked for part of the morning?

[Shelley]

Yes, I already mentioned above that she would have been sitting away from the stove IF she was indeed in the kitchen. That puts her at the table with a view out the window looking down into the south lawn with a vista of the Kelly fence. Of course personally I do not believe she was in the kitchen the whole time. We know Bridget goes out from about 9:15-10:15 roughly, and comes in once for a dipper when Lizzie says she is reading and eating. Bridget says she did not notice Lizzie around the kitchen area when she did come in. Thing is, that table is in DIRECT eyeshot of anyone coming in the side door,-therefore, Lizzie was NOT sitting at the kitchen table when Bridget came in for the dipper. You CAN be in the kitchen without being seen, yes. One could be in the kitchen pantry, or way back in the corner where the rocking chair was, perhaps in the closet to the left of the stove, or in front of the pantry (now a bathroom) without being seen from the back hall.
Yes, I rather think she was either in the cellar or in her room cleaning up. She had a dandy birdseye view of the Kelly fence and south yard from her room.

[Kat]

Oh OK. I read that "she sat away from the end near the stove..." as: "she sat away from the end,[comma] near the stove..." Not being there as I post,and not having access to house pictures on my laptop, I could not envision the window configuration in the kitchen, of 1892. Thanks!

Here is Bridget's timeline, partial, from website:
(From Prelim)
8:45- 9:00 a.m. — Mr. Borden went back upstairs. Came down with his collar and tie and went into the sitting room. (pg. 9).

Lizzie came down to kitchen. (pg. 11).

Bridget went outside to vomit, "10 to 15 minutes". (pg. 11).

Did not see Lizzie when she came back in from outside. (pg. 11).

9 a.m. — Bridget saw Mrs. Borden in the dining room dusting. (pg. 10).

Mr. Borden "was gone then". (pg. 10).

Bridget did not see Mrs. Borden after that. (pg. 10).

9- 9:30 a.m. — Bridget cleaned her kitchen. (pg. 13).

Shut 1 sitting room window and 2 dining room windows in preparation of washing windows. (pg. 15).

Did not see Lizzie. (pg. 15).

Did not go in the parlor at all. (pg. 15).

9:30 a.m. — Bridget started to get her implements together to wash windows outside. (pg. 13).

Lizzie appeared at back screen door to inquire if Bridget was about to wash windows, while Bridget was just outside. (pg. 12).

10:20 a.m. — Bridget "got (back) in the house". (pg. 17).

"Got the hand basin and went in the sitting room, and started to wash the sitting room windows inside." (pg. 18).

"Part of 1 window washed when Mr. Borden came." (pg. 18).

10:30- 10:40 a.m. — Mr. Borden at the front door. (pg. 19).

"It might be later than half past ten; I could not tell."- Bridget. (pg. 19).

Bridget heard Lizzie laugh from up the front stairs. (pg. 19).

Previous to this, had not seen Lizzie or Mrs. Borden during the intermediate time. (pg. 19).

10:35- 10:45 a.m. — Bridget saw Lizzie 5 to 10 minutes after Mr. Borden came in. (pg. 20).

"She (Lizzie) came through the front hall...She came through the sitting room, I was in the sitting room." (pg. 20).

Lizzie then went into the dining room, where Mr. Borden was. (pg. 20).

Bridget heard Lizzie" telling her father very slowly that her mother got a note . . . and had gone out." (pg. 20).

http://lizzieandrewborden.com/CrimeLibr ... ridget.htm

Lizzie said she wasn't sure if she ate any cookies [Inq 59].
And also: "Lizzie 'might have seen her ["Maggie"] and not know it.' " (Inq 70).
http://lizzieandrewborden.com/CrimeLibr ... Lizzie.htm

Bridget, Prelim says:
Q. When Lizzie came down did she have anything to say?
A. I asked her what did she want for breakfast. She did not know, she did not want any. If she felt like eating something, she would have some coffee and cookies.

---This would be around 9 am. Lizzie thought she came down about a quarter to 9 then went down cellar for about 5 minutes. But she does say the breakfast things were put away. Bridget says she cleaned her kitchen between 9 and 9:30, so we will have to split the difference.

I think it is important that Bridget claims:
Q. During that half hour you were engaged in cleaning up your kitchen?
A. Yes Sir.

Q. What was Miss Lizzie doing?
A. I could not tell.

Q. Did you see her during that time?
A. I do not think I did, not to my memory.

Q. When was the next time you saw her after going out to vomit, then you left her in the kitchen?
A. Yes Sir, eating breakfast.

Q. When was the next time you saw her, was it when she came to the screen door, and you were outside?
A. Yes Sir, to my memory.

Q. During the meantime you had not seen her?
A. No Sir.

Q. Where she was, you do not know?
A. No Sir.

--page 19 Prelim, Bridget:
Q. Up to the time you let Mr. Borden in, had you seen Miss Lizzie?
A. She was up stairs at the time I let him in.

Q. Where up stairs?
A. She might be in the hall, for I heard her laugh.

Q. Up the back or front stairs?
A. The front stairs.

Q. At the time you let Mr. Borden in?
A. Yes Sir.

Q. Was that the first you had heard or seen of her since you spoke to her at the back door?
A. Yes Sir.

Q. You had not seen her or Mrs. Borden during the intermediate time?
A. No Sir.

[jcurrie]

I've just re-read Edward Radin's book on the case. He seems to think that Bridget was the guilty one, and sets great store by the fact that she spent far longer washing the outside windows (almost an hour) than the inside ones (just a few minutes). I don't think he is taking into consideration several factors; it was a scorching hot day and she probably worked slower than usual; she had been sick and still wasn't feeling well; she had to replenish her water from the stable quite a few times which would have made the task longer; she chatted to the Kelly's servant (it's not stated how long - Sullivan's book said it was a brief chat; Ms Lincoln's book said she "settled down for a good long chat"). When washing the indoor windows she only had to go to the kitchen to change the water. Also, she failed to wash the parlour inside windows (maybe she gave them a miss as she was tired and decided to go to her room for a rest before getting the dinner). More importantly, she had no motive for killing the Bordens. She was treated well, comparatively speaking, and her tasks weren't particularly onerous by 1890s standards. She was fond of Mrs Borden, and Mrs Borden was fond of her. She could have earned more money in the mills, but stayed where she was. I feel, though, that she probably knew more about the Borden set up than she revealed at the trial, but she was fond of Lizzie too and was loyal to her.

[Kat]

Maybe Bridget threw up because she had just been chopping at Mrs. Borden?

[jcurrie]

Maybe Bridget threw up because she had just been chopping at Mrs. Borden?

I have just re-read some of Bridget's testimony in the Lizzle Borden Sourcebook, and it said she had thrown up after she had seen Mrs Borden's body. I still don't think she was the guilty one, but suspect she knew more about the family disputes than she was letting on.

[cfking]

I often wonder if the secret Bridget was hiding that it was actually Lizzie that ask her to wash the windows. Wouldn't that change everything!

[Angel]

I don't think Bridget did the murders. Her reaction to being asked to go upstairs to look for Mrs. Borden was that of genuine fear because she didn't know what or who she may encounter.

[Kat]

Maybe Bridget threw up because she had just been chopping at Mrs. Borden?

I have just re-read some of Bridget's testimony in the Lizzle Borden Sourcebook, and it said she had thrown up after she had seen Mrs Borden's body.

--partial quote-jcurrie

I hope you have read the Timeline info I posted above~ based on Bridget's testimony at the Preliminary Hearing which proves the Sourcebook (based on newspaper paraphrasing of testimony most likely) is incorrect as to when Bridget vomited out in the backyard. It was around the time that Andrew left- 9ish, and she did not see him leave. I always thought it was strange that if Andrew did leave that morning by the side door, he did not say anything to Bridget as she was being sick outside. Maybe he had already left. If so, Bridget killing Abbie, or seeing Abbie's body around 9ish might make her sick.

[jcurrie]

Thanks Kat, for that information. But wasn't it established by the coroner that Abby had died about 9.30 a.m? At least an hour and a half before her husband? I know that medical examiners can't establish the exact time of death but wasn't it according to the temperature of her body and congealed blood? I guess, though,, in 1892 that establishing time of death wasn't as exact as in our day.

[stargazer]

How many were sick ? Did Abby complain of feeling ill, or just Bridget, and Mr. B ?

[Kat]

You had said the Sourcebook (news items) claimed that:
"...it said she [Bridget] had thrown up after she had seen Mrs Borden's body."

As you probably know- Abbie was not found officially until Mrs. Churchill and Bridget Sullivan went up the front stairs to the guest room, while Dr. Bowen had gone to send the telegram to Emma. I was only remarking upon the fact that Bridget herself gave her vomitting episode as during the time Andrew left. So if your notation is correct that the Sourcebook says differently, then it is wrong. Do you have a page number?

As for Abbie's time of death, you are correct in that it is not certain due to the lack of any more sophisticated techniques to ascertain that time.
But based on when she was last seen (and of course on the variables the contemporary scientists used) it is between 9 and 9:30 am.
I tend towards closer to 9 am myself, altho others may disagree.

[andrea]

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a veerrrryyy long time, but have been lurking about the place, enjoying all the lively discussions

As far as this topic... one thing that has always bothered me is why Uncle John Morse testifies at the trial that Abby spoke to Bridget at breakfast time regarding the window-washing, but according to Bridget's trial testimony, Abby didn't speak to her about it until some time after breakfast - when Abby was dusting (and after Uncle John left, I believe).

No matter who may have initially suggested the window-washing, this seems like an odd discrepancy... any thoughts?

[KAE]

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a veerrrryyy long time, but have been lurking about the place, enjoying all the lively discussions

As far as this topic... one thing that has always bothered me is why Uncle John Morse testifies at the trial that Abby spoke to Bridget at breakfast time regarding the window-washing, but according to Bridget's trial testimony, Abby didn't speak to her about it until some time after breakfast - when Abby was dusting (and after Uncle John left, I believe).

No matter who may have initially suggested the window-washing, this seems like an odd discrepancy... any thoughts?

Perhaps Andrew decided the windows needed cleaning and told Abby to have Bridget wash them. This could have been discussed during breakfast.
Just a thought.

[SallyG]

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in a veerrrryyy long time, but have been lurking about the place, enjoying all the lively discussions

As far as this topic... one thing that has always bothered me is why Uncle John Morse testifies at the trial that Abby spoke to Bridget at breakfast time regarding the window-washing, but according to Bridget's trial testimony, Abby didn't speak to her about it until some time after breakfast - when Abby was dusting (and after Uncle John left, I believe).

No matter who may have initially suggested the window-washing, this seems like an odd discrepancy... any thoughts?

Since, as far as everyone knew, it was an ordinary day, no one took any special notice of what was happening, or in which order it was happening. John may have heard about Bridget washing the windows and THOUGHT he heard Abby mention it at breakfast. Bridget may have THOUGHT she mentioned it AFTER breakfast.

I came home tonight after work and unpacked my lunch bag, turned on the fans, checked the caller id, changed my clothes, called my son, texted my husband, put the mail on the table...but in what order I did all that I would be hard pressed to recall exactly.

I don't see anything odd in the discrepancy. I'd actually be surprised if everyone DID have the same story...it would seem too rehearsed.

[andrea]

It may well be that Bridget is mistaken about the timing of the conversation. It's always hard to pin down trivial events when they suddenly take on major significance - like reading a magazine in the kitchen or basting a loop on a sleeve in one's room I also realize the danger of placing too much significance on a trivial event... but this one just bugs me for some reason - LOL.

I guess what seems odd to me is Morse describing a conversation that he wouldn't have witnessed if it actually occurred at the time Bridget testifies to. Just another thing to wonder about...

Here's the trial testimony:

Morse (Trial, p. 147-148)

Q. Did you hear any conversation between Mrs. Borden and Bridget that morning?
A. Spoke to her about washing some windows.

Q. What did she say?
A. Said she would.

Q. That is Bridget said she would?
A. Yes.

Q. Give what Mrs. Borden said to Bridget?
A. I think she said in this way: "Bridget, I want you to wash these windows to-day."

Q. And about what time was that said?
A. At breakfast time.

Q. While you were seated at the table?
A. Yes, sir.


Bridget (Trial, p. 227)

Q. I don't think I made myself clear to you. You have told us that in the dining-room, after you had finished you dishes, that she gave you some directions about washing the windows?
A. Yes, sir.

Q. And at that time she was dusting between the dining-room and sitting-room?
A. Yes, sir.

[Yooper]

There is a possibility that there were two conversations about washing the windows, one at breakfast and another afterward. Morse would have referred to the one he was witness to, and Bridget may not have wanted to admit that she needed to be reminded. Morse would not have been aware of a second conversation.

[jcurrie]

There is a possibility that there were two conversations about washing the windows, one at breakfast and another afterward. Morse would have referred to the one he was witness to, and Bridget may not have wanted to admit that she needed to be reminded. Morse would not have been aware of a second conversation.

Yooper, I think you are right in that there may have been two conversations about washing windows. Maybe Bridget thought that Abby had been mistaken about her order, in view of the fact that Bridget was feeling poorly and she thought she had misheard. Who on earth would fancy washing outside windows on a boiling hot day when you're feeling ill? Not me, for sure!

[KAE]

There is a possibility that there were two conversations about washing the windows, one at breakfast and another afterward. Morse would have referred to the one he was witness to, and Bridget may not have wanted to admit that she needed to be reminded. Morse would not have been aware of a second conversation.

Yooper, I think you are right in that there may have been two conversations about washing windows. Maybe Bridget thought that Abby had been mistaken about her order, in view of the fact that Bridget was feeling poorly and she thought she had misheard. Who on earth would fancy washing outside windows on a boiling hot day when you're feeling ill? Not me, for sure!

As SallyG said, even on an ordinary day details can be hard to recollect.

When Morse was reconstructing the events of the day, window washing would have been very low on his list of priorities. The level of detail surrounding the event would be correspondingly lower.

His mind may have turned:
"Bridget will be told to wash the windows"
Into :
"Bridget was told to wash the windows"

Like I said it's just a thought. The whole thing is frustrating and fascinating at the same time. It seems the more I learn, the less I know!

[andrea]

Yooper - that's a good point about the possibility of two conversations occurring. I agree that Bridget wouldn't have wanted it known that she had to be reminded to do her work. I seem to recall Bridget saying that it was usual for Mrs. Borden to give her work directions after breakfast, but haven't been able to find where I read that testimony.

I was just re-reading John Morse's testimony in the Preliminary Hearing. He states that he was opening windows in the sitting room when he first came down on Thursday morning. I wonder if he could have commented on the windows to Abby.

So many questions that were never asked or not pursued further...

[Kat]

Bridget
Preliminary Hearing
59-60
Q. Did you go in while they were eating breakfast?
A. Putting the breakfast on the table, and pouring the water into glasses, and passed it around. I did not go in until they got through.

Q. They did not call you in for anything?
A. No Sir.

Q. They kept the coffee on the table?
A. Yes Sir.

Q. Did Mrs. Borden have anything to say to you that morning?
A. No Sir.

Q. Did not have any talk to you at all?
A. She spoke to me about breakfast, before that.

Q. Say anything else to you before that?
A. No Sir.

Q. Was she in the habit of asking you what work you had to do that day?
A. Right after breakfast.

Q. As soon as she had finished breakfast, she would say "well, Maggie, what have you got to do today?"
A. Yes Sir.

Q. That was a common thing right after breakfast?
A. Yes Sir.

--It is hard to find, amongst the breakfast questions.
This does show that Bridget claims nothing was mentioned at breakfast, and hopefully answers the question of *where-is-the-testimony* about Bridget's instructions after breakfast.

[andrea]

Thank you Kat! I did look in the Preliminary Hearing, but just couldn't see it - now it's obvious why - much ado about breakfast

I wonder if Bridget's inquest testimony will ever come to light. It's interesting to see the differences/similarities from inquest to prelim to trial of each witness.