I am sure this has been covered in older posts but i thought i'd revisit some ideas about Lizzie and Emma relationship after rereading 'Lizzie Borden: A case book of family and crime in the 1890s'
I will say it upfront: after all this time i have discovered that I am becoming more intrigued with Emma and find her an (almost) complete enigma, and i will find any excuse to talk about her.
We may never know why Emma moved out Of Maplecroft in 1905, however it fascinates me that someone who swore to her dying mother that she would always look after 'baby Lizzie', continually stands by her, at times, infuriating sister, and then one day finally separates herself from Lizzie never to speak to her again (we assume).
I find it fascinating that even in 1913, years after she stops speaking to Lizzie, Emma continues to protect her sister (re: April 13 1913 article in the Sunday Post). And yet. When i re-read Lizzie's will and she explains why she isn't leaving Emma anything, it is clear that so many things don't match up about their relationship.
Could it be that Lizzie never forgave Emma for leaving her? I often feel that Lizzie needed Emma more than Emma needed her.
Had Emma, in this interview, tried to reach out to Lizzie?
Or is Emma simply following through with her mother's dying wish, hoping that she will be seen as a good daughter, and actually found it freeing being away from Lizzie.
Oh, I think there's quite a bit more to Emma than meets us throught the leaves and pages that exist.
She may have well been the Iago to Lizzie's Othello.
If that sounds strong, let's put it this way: It's doubtful that Emma ever went out of her way to portray Abby in a positive light, to Lizzie in particular, or to anyone else for that matter.
Yes, one wonders what sent Emma running from Maplecroft. Somethin' real bad.
Lizzie's refusal to stop "entertaining" and people's perceptions thereof?
Jealousy over Lizzie's relationship with Nance, whether it was sexual or not.
And/or did Emma discover that Lizzie was blabbing secrets?
I'm holding that train of thought to leave a response on the post re Emma's trip abroad.
I agree. I also think there's a lot to Emma. I can't forget reading in the coroner's inquest that she disliked Abby more than Lizzie did.
Oh, I had forgotten about Emma making that dying wish to their mother! Thanks, Sarah Jay. That has to play into her leaving Maplecroft. Makes it seem to be something totally serious.
Personally, I used to think that Emma's Boston Post interview was made up by the paper. She was so reclusive, then gives a big interview 8 years after leaving Maplecroft?? But top scholars in the Land of Liz think it's a legitimate interview.
I also agree with your saying, Sarah Jay, that maybe Lizzie never forgave Emma for leaving. She sounds so brusque in her will. Emma left nothing to Lizzie either, but Emma didn't come out and say anything.
Maybe there is more to be found about Emma in her cousins', the Gardners, papers.
It's kind of interesting that Emma left Maplecroft in 1905, then took her trip to Scotland in 1906. Like maybe a trip to soothe her nerves? I think she was living with the Buck family (she was close friends with Nancy Buck, one of the daughters, I believe). Maybe the Bucks were just tired of hearing her whine and strongly suggested the Scotland trip?
There seems to be an inconsistency of sorts between aspirations before the murders and Emma's leaving Maplecroft. Lizzie's relationship with Nance O'Neil seems to be at odds with a desire for the respectability which comes with high social standing. Of course, Lizzie may well have given up acceptance by residents of The Hill by 1905, but she seemed to go completely the opposite direction for some reason. Two things come to mind, first, Emma may have lost any previous influence or control over Lizzie by then. A promise made to Emma's mother would have been negated without Lizzie's cooperation, and a 54 year old Emma taking responsibility for a 45 year old Lizzie when both women are independently wealthy is absurd. Secondly, Lizzie's actions reflected on Emma as well as on Lizzie. Emma's consent may have been implied if Emma stayed at Maplecroft in spite of parties thrown for "theater people". It may be that Emma had lost any ability to control the situation and she may have realized that she had a life to live in spite of Lizzie, if necessary.
To do is to be. ~Socrates
To be is to do. ~Kant
Do be do be do. ~Sinatra
I tend to think that Lizzie always had the personality she was able to show after the trial. I don't think Lizzie gave a damn who thought what. But I am always coming across writings on Lizzie that say she was reclusive and friendless after the trial. That is not true. There is a piece in The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook written after Lizzie's death where Grace Howe, her second cousin, debunks this. The many kindnesses Lizzie had shown to others that we now know about - and who knows what Parallel Lives will add - portray her as a kind, Christian woman.
That's so true, Yooper, that Emma remaining at Maplecroft would have people believing she approved of whatever Lizzie was doing. I don't think I've thought of that aspect before, and I think it's an important one.
It is interesting to think of what importance, if any, was left in 1905 of Emma's dying promise to their mother. I agree - I do think Emma lost control she may previously had over Lizzie. Maybe that was part of Emma going to the Rev. Buck about the issue(s). Maybe that deathbed promise was making her feel guilty and he helped to put things into perspective.
It might be that we are reading too much into Emma's decision to move. What would be abnormal is for two adult sisters to live out their entire lives in the same house. The fact that they apparently had little contact is unusual but not uncommon. Lizzie appears to have been more independent and highly strung than Emma. As a suspected double-murderer Lizzie certainly didn't need to care much about appearances. No doubt living together for much of their lives resulted in some disagreements between the two. I don't believe Emma played any direct role in the murders and likely believed Lizzie was innocent. However, the ongoing interest and suspicion in Fall River would have been a major source of tension for Emma. And cutting her ties with that life was likely a great relief to her. As someone subject to intense scrutiny, Lizzie likely valued loyalty and friendship. And she may have considered Emma's desire to move as a sort of betrayal. Which would explain the lack of communication between the two later in life.
If Emma left Maplecroft because of Rev. Buck's advice there is a time gap of two years. She left in 1905, he died in March 1903 at the age of 79. I'm inclined to think it was more at Alice Buck's advice.
"...The Rev. Mr. Buck died on 9 March 1903, after a brief attack of pneumonia. His daughter Alice Lydia Buck was a good friend of Emma Borden and "an ardent supporter of Emma and Lizzie Borden during the latter's trial." Mr. Buck was Emma's advisor until his death. After Emma left Maplecroft in 1905, she lived with Alice Buck at least briefly during the year 1912."
I'm beginning to get the idea that the desire for social standing and acceptance by high society stemmed more from Emma than from Lizzie. Emma would have been aware of her family's wealth and the significance of the Borden name much sooner than Lizzie, and Emma would probably have shared that information with Lizzie. Lizzie might well have gone along with the desire, perhaps at first to please Emma as an authority figure. As long as the sisters were teamed against Abby and Andrew within the Borden household the bond between them was solid, they shared common antagonists. Once the antagonism ceased, they were able to allow the difference in their personalities to develop. Emma seems to have been the more solid, not surprising being the older sibling. Lizzie seems to have almost indulged in flights of fancy at times. Emma was responsible while Lizzie was irresponsible, again, due to the older/younger sibling relationship. They had lived together all their lives except while Lizzie was incarcerated, so the relationship had no reason to change. Emma was perpetually the adult while Lizzie was allowed to be "the brat". I get the impression that Lizzie was well aware of the indulgence of her by others and she likely took full advantage of it.
To do is to be. ~Socrates
To be is to do. ~Kant
Do be do be do. ~Sinatra
Harry, thank you for catching the Rev. Buck's date of death. Wow - I've read it in more than one place that Emma went to him about the 1905 decision. Sorry for such a big mistake.
Lizzie was known to have a temper. And I think she was spoiled. Abby was good to her in the early years, and Lizzie treated her like a mother before the bond came apart. I think Emma catered to her, and I think Andrew did as well.
Yes, Emma does seem to be the more proper of the two sisters. But she is soooo quiet - too quiet. We don't have much to go on when we look at her. I hope they have stuff on her in Parallel Lives. Didn't she belong to any groups or go out at all? While Lizzie was going to church, working on committees and making noteworthy friends, did Emma just not go to church?
I think it is somewhat telling that here Emma is so quiet, yet it turned out she disliked Abby the most. Personally, I wouldn't discount Emma having a hand in the murders - maybe behind the scenes.
At the time Andrew married Abby, Lizzie was young enough to have eventually accepted Abby as her mother over a period of time, if there had been no other influence. I can think of no reason why Andrew might want to alienate Lizzie from Abby, in fact, quite the opposite. This leaves Emma to drive the wedge between Abby and Lizzie. Emma may have been aware of the prominence of the Borden name at the time of her mother's death or perhaps not long after. Emma may have thought Abby unworthy of her father, possibly a bit of a gold digger. I wonder if there was gossip about Andrew marrying Abby at the time, something Emma might have overheard or which might have reached her through her friends? There was a much greater disparity between social classes at that time than exists now, I don't think we can quite realize how important that was back then because we haven't experienced it to the same degree. While America was the "Land of Opportunity", the mindset of the European caste system society was slow to die.
If Emma was responsible for alienating Lizzie and Abby, I expect she may well have wondered to what degree she was responsible for the murders. She may have come to grips with the fact that she had created a monster. If Emma was aware of Lizzie being unpredictable and unstable, and assuming Lizzie was those things, then Emma probably was involved in the murders, even if only in the passive sense.
To do is to be. ~Socrates
To be is to do. ~Kant
Do be do be do. ~Sinatra
Augusta's Post, dated Sat., Oct. 29th, partial: I also agree with your saying, Sarah Jay, that maybe Lizzie never forgave Emma for leaving. She sounds so brusque in her will. Emma left nothing to Lizzie either, but Emma didn't come out and say anything.--
In response:
Actually, according to Rebello, the girls signed an Agreement about their wills and their share in the French Street house. And when we look at Emma's Will we see she did fulfill her bargain, yet Lizzie did not (in her will). Perhaps Lizzie thought she would probably outlive Emma and so Emma would never know?
Rebello
Page 312
“After Emma's departure from Maplecroft, an agreement was drafted for Emma and Lizzie.”
Agreement
Whereas Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden, of Fall River, Massachusetts, all equal owners in common of a certain lot of land containing about 34 5/8 rods of land and a dwelling house, thereon numbered 306 French Street, in said Fall River, and also of certain personal property located in said house, said lot being the same purchased by them of Charles M. Allen.
Now therefore we the said Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden do hereby covenant and agree, the one with the other as follows to wit, --
1. Said Lizzie shall have the right to exclusively use and occupy said premises and property as a home and place of residence so long as she chooses to do so during her natural life upon condition however that during such time she shall and does pay all water bills and taxes, make and pay for all necessary repairs in connection with the premises and property, keep the undivided half of said Emma in said premises and property insured against fire in the sum of sixty-hundred dollars ---, also $4,000 on the house and $2,000 on the contents ---, and also pay unto said Emma one hundred and fifteen dollars every six months for such use and occupation, the first payment to be made January first A.D. 1906 for six months in advance. .
2. If said Lizzie shall before her death cease to use or occupy said premises and property as foresaid, then forthwith said house and property shall be put into the hands of Charles C. Cook of said Fall River as broker to sell the same at private sale or public auction as he deems expedient, or in case of his decease, in the hands of some other broker to be designated by Andrew J. Jennings and said personal property shall be divided by the parties, or if they cannot agree upon a division, be sold in the same manner as the real estate, the proceeds of such sale after deducting expenses to be divided equally between the parties.
3. Neither party shall during life except as thereinbefore, provided sell, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of her said undivided interest without consent of the other.
4. Said Emma and Lizzie shall each provide by will or otherwise so that in case the said undivided interest has not been sold or disposed of as aforesaid the same shall go and belong to the other if she survives her.
Page 313
In witness Whereof we the said Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden have hereto set our hands and seals this twelfth day of October A.D. 1905."
Emma L. Borden Seal
Lizzie A Borden Seal
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Emma’s Will
(extract) SIXTH: If my sister, Lizzie A. Borden, shall survive me and I shall own an interest at the time of my death in that tract of land with the dwelling house thereon situated on the northerly side of French Street, in said Fall River, and being the same premises now occupied by my sister and which were purchased by my sister and myself of Charles M. Allen, then I give, devise and bequeath all my right, title and interest in and to said tract of land and the improvements thereon, to my said sister, Lizzie A. Borden, and all my interest in and to the household furniture in said house or upon said premises.
If, however, at the time of my death I shall have disposed of my interest in said tract of land located on French Street and in the contents of the house, and my said sister, Lizzie A. Borden, shall survive me, then I give and bequeath to my said sister the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
I don't know if I've ever read that agreement about Maplecroft. THANKS, Kat. So that was done in 1905. It looks like Emma wasn't planning on coming back.
I kinda think Lizzie was too stubborn to mention it in her will. It was already done on that legal paper. If Lizzie died first, what did she care if it caused Emma a little trouble to iron it all out.
In that agreement, it mentions Andrew Jennings. I thought Andrew Jennings washed his hands of Lizzie after her Tilden-Thurber incident in 1897?
Yooper, it's been mentioned before and I agree that Emma had a little "mother" chip on her shoulder. When Abby came into the household, Abby was now the mother and Emma was not. I have read that Lizzie was close to Abby when growing up. According to testimony, Lizzie called Abby "mother" up until that house business with Abby's half-sister came up.
I get the feeling that Emma was too quiet. There's a saying that you gotta be careful around people who are too quiet - they're usually the loudest/rowdiest, whatever. Remember Emma at the Coroner's Inquest saying she disliked Abby more than Lizzie did. I was stunned when I first read that.
I don't think Emma came back dressed as a man and did the actual killings, as Frank Spiering wrote in his book "Lizzie". But I do believe she conspired with Lizzie and Uncle John. Maybe Andrew wasn't originally part of the plan. I really don't think Bridget was involved. From Nellie McHenry's interview with Bridget after the murders (if it is true - I have some doubt), Bridget wanted to leave the Bordens because the 'girls' were awful to Abby, but Abby pleaded with her to stay so she did. Too bad that didn't make it into any actual court testimony - it'd be more believable.
4. Said Emma and Lizzie shall each provide by will or otherwise so that in case the said undivided interest has not been sold or disposed of as aforesaid the same shall go and belong to the other if she survives her.
So, since Lizzie died before Emma, Maplecroft belonged solely to Emma at the time of Lizzie's death? It might be that if this was a binding contract and was otherwise carried out as specified, there might have been an implied intent to comply with all of the specifications. If Lizzie's will contradicted this, there might have been a basis for breach of contract.
To do is to be. ~Socrates
To be is to do. ~Kant
Do be do be do. ~Sinatra
Kat, you're back! It is good to hear from you again.
Thank you for posting the agreement regarding Emma and Lizzie's wills. Since Emma fulfilled her part of this agreement, it makes me rethink my thoughts about the possibly that Emma was the one who influenced Lizzie's actions (I still believe Lizzie, and Lizzie alone, was the murderer) on the day Abby and Andrew where killed. I think Lizzie depended on Emma to give her advice and whatever Emma said or did was done in the mindset of ‘I’m the little mother, here”.
I think Emma conspired with Lizzie, and that Uncle John had nothing to do with a conspiracy. Being Emma was out of town that morning, I believe that Lizzie acted on the ideas that Emma fed to her through out their early years.
In remembrance of my beloved son: "Vaya Con Dios" (Spanish for: "Go with God"), by Anne Murray ( https://tinyurl.com/y8nvqqx9 ) “God has you in heaven, but I have you in my heart.” ~ TobyMac (https://tinyurl.com/rakc5nd )
I have always thought that Emma was the more level headed one of the two, and probably the smarter of the two. I think she might have given Lizzie the idea to kill her step mother, and smart enough to be out of town when it happened. Lizzie never knew her mother, so she had to go in what Emma told her.
Suicide is painless It brings on many changes and I will take my leave when I please.
