Why yes.......the PORTUGUESE did it.

[mbhenty]

Yes, some of us Portuguese have been blamed for many things, including murder. Though a rigorous study may lead you to the fact that some of us are indeed guilty of such vile misconduct, you would most likely discover that most of us are guilty of just being Portuguese.

Such is the truth when it came to the discovery of the dead Bordens.

Though false guilt lead to the incrimination of a Portuguese farm worker very early in the Borden case, it is a fact which has always confused me.

Most of what has been written in books about the "guilty Portuguese" does not appear clear to me.

Was there a Portuguese worker on the farm? (Swansea Farm)



Porter mentions that Borden had a Somerset farm. Andrew Borden did not own any property in Somerset.

Also, Lizzie said there was no Portuguese on the farm and that the man was in fact a Swede.

Did she not mention this early on? Was there a Portuguese gentlemen working for Borden?

Where did Antonio Auriel come into the picture? Did he work for Borden?

Where is the first mention.....the source for the arrest of Auriel?

Who was Antonio Auriel? The first time I heard the name was in Kent's book. Auriel is a very uncommon Portuguese name. In fact, I have never heard it before in Portuguese circles. (Though his alibi came from one Joe Chaves. Chaves is Portuguese)

Was Antonio Auriel the fellow who had an argument with Andrew Borden over wages?

Did this incident over salary actually happen between Borden and this Portuguese.................or anyone.

Where did this story come from.....the one about the wages.

Borden did have an argument over some rent owed him, but the fellow was not Portuguese!

For some reason, the entire Portuguese, Rent, Wage thing appears intertwine in the telling of and in the time line.

Well, none-the-less, I plan to investigate the matter myself and in doing so am running it across this excellent panel. If I have the answer before you do I will post it.

Until then................, ate' logo.

[snokkums]

I think back then it was too easy to blame the immagrant. You know, blame the Irish Catholic maid, blame the portuguese farm worker.

That was the police first thought, I think, the maid did it, she's irish, she's catholic. In that time period, the immagrants were looked down on.

[Harry]

In general I think the latest arriving minority will get its share of the blame. This is especially so if they are the smallest minority.

This is from Arnold Brown's book, paperback edition, bottom of page 15:

"The various ethnic groups and nationalities in Fall River hated each other, and those who owned the industry perpetuated that natural hatred because it ensured competition for cheap labor. French Canadians (19 percent of the population) settled in the east end of the city while the Portuguese (3 percent) were in the south end. There was no west side to the city because of the Taunton River and the mills."

Additional data on page 18:

"Except for The Hill itself, the English (11 percent of the population) and the Irish (7 percent) were allowed their choice of what was left in Fall River. The English were most welcome in an imaginary buffer zone around The Hill. Most of them settled there."

He does not cite a source so I have no idea if they figures are accurate. If you total these figures they only add to 40%. I assume these figures refer to foreign born populace.

Lincoln attributes to Bridget the statement "the Portuguese from over the river, by which she meant the Swede who ran the farm." (Page 152, paperback.) Porter also on page 45.

Brown also has this on page 114:

"First, at that time the generic name for all Irish maids was "Maggie," just as all Irish males were called "Paddy." It was as if the names "Rover" and "Kitty" were used to differentiate one group of animals from another. Appellations of this type were given in all social strata. For example, Bridget, who was a "Maggie," labeled anyone in a social position lower than hers as a "Portuguese." At one point she called a laborer on the Borden farm, who was actually Swedish, a Portuguese."

I imagine the rivalry between the the different ethnic groups for the limited job types available to them was intense.

[mbhenty]

I just opened up my copy of the Sourcebook by David Kent. Why would you publish a book with all newspaper reports, clippings and not include the dates of the papers.

Thus, a book that can be used as a valuable source of first reported accounts is useless as a tool, unless you want to spend half your day trying to find information.

He could at least have included an index. What a waste. Just not done the right way.

Interesting read, but useless reference book, once you weigh out Kent's choice to exclude dates.


...............................................................................................................


Yes, Snokkums, when a crime is committed you round up the usual suspects..., and there are no better suspects than those who can not properly defend themselves, speak the language.

The exercise of prejudice was a virtue in Victorian times, and the practice of it was a common even among those which were the main targets.

But you know Harry? I think Brown is WRONG about the hatred between the ethnic groups especially in 1892. The new ethnic group in town would always be looked upon with suspicion, mistrust and fear, but the word "hate" is a little strong.

Again, I think Bridget called the Swede Portuguese out of ignorance, not out of choice. She just didn't know. Brown make it sound like it was her choice to call him Portuguese, and indeed, it was probably Bridget's claim that triggered the police to look for Portuguese suspects.

[mbhenty]

I spoke to a good Portuguese friend of mine who said he knew someone who was Portuguese and who's first name was Auriel, though he did not how he spelled it. (he pronounced it ooh-ree-eLL)

Though there were no permanent Portuguese working on the Swansea farm(s) there may have been Portuguese hired (sub-contracted) by the farm foreman during harvesting time.

Antonio Auriel could have been one of those workers. And after hearing Bridget's tip about the Portuguese in Swansea, police could have hunted Auriel down..............just because it was the only Portuguese lead they had.

[mbhenty]

I am satisfied that we know everything there is to know about Auriel. (Very minor figure in this case) There is a report of his arrest and release and that is it.

But, who was the fellow police tried to arrest for trying to withdraw all his money from a local bank? Was he also Portuguese?

And who was the fellow who argued with Andrew Borden over his wages? Was he also Portuguese?

Could this have been Auriel?

Hmmm? Perhaps I am not satisfied quite yet !


Of course, being of Portuguese extraction supplies me with the curiosity to investigate.

[mbhenty]

Brown makes the claim that the French were in the East End and the Portuguese in the South End. Though the Colombia Street area, where many of the Portuguese lived, may be considered "South", it is really the center of town and not really the South End, though it is south of City Hall (In all fairness, City Hall could be the demarcation point between North and South). The real "South End" is towards Globe Four Corners and further south, and towards the Maplewood and Stafford road area.

So, Brown's account is not totally correct. Though the high concentration of Portuguese were in the Colombia street area there were substantial numbers of Portuguese in the North end and Flint neighborhoods. (Flint, being the East End)

Though not in big numbers, the Portuguese were well established in Fall River since the 1870s when they started the Santo Christo Parish on Colombia Street in 1874.

Sometime later, 1896, another Portuguese church opened in the North End,
(St Michaels) and not long after, in 1904 another in the East End.

So, the Portuguese were all over town, though they settled in on Colombia Street at first.

On an interesting note. Brown claims above that there were 3% Portuguese and 19% French. Today, the French are around 13% and the Portuguese upwards of 50% (Hate to quote them, but the info was taken from Wikipedia, but it is close if not correct.)

[mbhenty]

I have probably earned a reputation as the guy who slams authors. Though this may be true, I try to give an honest opinion, though at times abrasive.

It is easy for me to be so critical. I have lived in fall river for over 30 years.

Ok, ok, 40 years.............

no, 50.

Gud, nearing 60.

So, I have a feel for the place. And though I slam Victoria Lincoln for having the same intuition, truth in the matter is that I may be almost as guilty. Almost........... unlike Vicky, I have lived in fall river well over twice as long as Victoria, have collected fall river, and have studied fall river, have never left fall river.

Mr. Brown seemed like a gentle fellow when I met him, though some say that he became a bitter man later in life. I can't speak to this.

So I will add a little more on the word "Hate", which Brown used to describe the ethnic complexion in fall river.

As I mentioned, though Hate may be a strong word, I can guess why Brown used it.

As the Portuguese became the major ethnic group in the East End towards the early part of the 20th century, resentment grew strong between the French and Portuguese population. It reached a peak when they erected a statue of the Portuguese Navigator Prince Henry in the middle of the French sector in the East End only 2 blocks from the French church Notre Dame in 1940. It stood in the middle of the busiest intersection in the East End, right in the center of Eastern Ave and Pleasant Street, where it still stands today.

There was a demonstration, a fight, and a Frenchmen bit off the ear of a Portuguese, or vice versa..........the story changes, depending who's camp your in, if indeed it was true. Either way, by the time I was a young man most of my French friends had nothing nice to say about the Portuguese, Polish and Italians. Growing up Portuguese, my experience was that the other ethnic groups were not as nice to the French. Off course, everyone forgot they were Americans. In the Northeast part of the country, heritage and where your from is still used as a slide rule for who you are.

Though there are accounts in the newspaper about the scuffle, (if one indeed happened) I never looked it up and instead ran with the rumor.

Thus tensions among the French and Portuguese were strong during Arnold Brown's life.........and living in fall river Arnold Brown may have experienced the "hate" part of it. Perhaps this is what he is referring to.

[mbhenty]

Ok, now that I have been nice to Mr. Brown, allow me to SLAM him.........deservingly so you understand.

On page 13 Arnold Brown claims that fall river was first called Pocasset and later Troy.

Mr. Brown is wrong.............yep wrong.

FAll river was never known as Pocasset. The town of Pocasset was in Rhode Island. Later Pocasset became Portsmouth, R.I.. Today there exists the town of Pocasset in Massachusetts just east of Marion across the bay on Cape Cod. (map below)

Fall river was never known as Pocasset, though the name was given to the greater part of Southeaster New England and was home of the Pocasset Indian tribe.

FAll river was first named FALLRIVER. It was part of Freetown, Ma. After 1802 it ceased being Fallriver and became Troy. In 1834 Troy became FAll River.

But it was never called Pocasset. Where Brown comes up with that is a mystery.

So BE CAREFUL WHO YOU USE FOR A SOURCE.

[Allen]

I found these bits of information in the Police Statements. It might answer your questions somewhat MB.


Taken from the notes of Harrington and Daugherty page 6:

"Officer Leonard and I had a call to the N.B. Savings Bank. There we found a Portugese who was drawing out his full deposit of sixty odd dollars. He could speak English but poorly, so we brought him to the station. Officer Leonard went for an interpreter, and the suspect giving a satisfactory account of himself, he was allowed to go."


page 13

'Tuesday August 9, 1892. Harrington. Went with the Marshall to summons Lizzie. Returned to the station. When the inquest adjourned, remained in the courtrom until 5:10 P.M.

Peleg Brightman reported to having seen an ax covered with blood in a house over the river on the Brayton farm. Officer Medley and I took Mr. Brightman. We found the ax which was owned by Joseph Silvia. There was no blood on it at this time. Silvia gave a full account of himself. There were two children there, who had dirty dresses on, which were caked with blood. The mother explained this, by saying they were very much subject to the nose bleed, and as the ax is always at the back door yard, where there is a pile of wood, the blood from them might have stained the blade. The ax was old, dull and much worn. In our judgement it could not produce the wounds, and if it were used for this purpose, it would not be carried so far away, over the River, by two ponds, one of them which was close by the house, when either of those places would afford such a secure hiding place.'


Taken from the notes of Joseph Medley on page 31:

Fall River, August 9, 1892,

Went with Officer Harrington to one of Joseph S. Brayton's farms near Gardner's Neck, and there found a Portugese family named Joseph Silvia.
It was reported by a Mr. Brightman that while working there on Friday the 5th, he noticed an ax covered with blood on the porch of the house.
Investigation revealed that no member of the family were in Fall River on the 4th; that the ax had never been out of their possession. The ax found laying on the wood pile was identified as the one saw by Mr. Brightman. There was no blood on the ax when found by us; and the family did not remember to have seen any. If there was blood on the ax at any time, it might be caused by the children having the nose bleed by falling down, which was frequently the case. There was no reason to doubt a word these people said.


page 34:

"Fall River September 13, 1892.

I have visited New Bedford, going to the hardware store of Hillman & Vincent. Mr. Mark Vincent is the man who sold the ax of which I made mention, the being made about two days before the murder. I took Mr. Vincent to see the Portugese working at the slaughter house on the Davis farm, and who is well aquainted with Mr. Morse. But after a thorough look at the man, concluded that he's not the man; neither had he ever noticed him in the store at any time. The Portugese man has a distinctive look about him; and anyone seeing him once, would know him again. The Portugese claims never to have been in New Bedford, except on Sunday, at any time within six months. "

[mbhenty]

Yes, thanks for the response Allen. Very happy to see you post again. Your response is always helpful. Also, your study and translation of events and evidence in the Borden case always empirical, practical and collaborative. So it is always nice to see you post.

Yes of course, since I do have Portuguese blood swirling through my veins this issue became of interest to me. Though, there is little known of what the investigation and police did with their immigrant focus---portuguese immigrants in particular.

It's funny that police happen to be at the bank, or were called to the bank. By who? Probably by the bank employee. If so, does this mean that word on the street was a portuguese did it? Maybe the bank was upset that the money was being withdrawn, which goes to show you that banks were just as arrogant then as they are today.

I get a kick out of the children who always had nose bleeds.

Funny story:

I can relate to that. As a child I always got nose bleeds. Especially if I exerted myself, running etc. If I bumped my nose, which children always did, the blood would flow freely. But I never ran around with blood all over my clothing. I always raised holy hell when mom was prepared to take me to hospital to have my nose cauterized. As I got older I got less and less nose bleeds. Now I may get one or two a year. I asked my doctor about the procedure of cauterizing. I asked him if it hurt. His response, with a smile, was "hell yes".

[Yooper]

Ethnic prejudice was rampant during Victorian times, but there may have been a "reason" for it, not to be confused with justification.

Many of the immigrants tended to retain their ethnic identity after emigrating to the U.S. They tended to live in their own ethnic neighborhoods and tended to interact with those of a common origin. My mother's parents, whose parents emigrated from Germany, spoke German within the household and my mother's parents didn't learn English until they attended school. Groups of young men of Irish, Italian, German, and Polish ethnicity each had a separate section of the Milwaukee river to swim in, which they had claimed for themselves. There was retribution if someone went swimming outside of his designated area.

I imagine people tended to retain their ethnic identity as a form of security at first. This is understandable, many people moved to the U.S. on a wing and a prayer, without any guarantee for the future. People whose families had been here for a couple of generations seemed to adopt an attitude of superiority and often generalized behavior of immigrants according to background. The tendency of immigrants to cling to their ethnic identity was unwarranted justification for the practice.

[SteveS.]

Well I for one thank God for the Portuguese in Fall River. Life would suck without malasadas, favas and chourico.