Murder in Another Borden Household

[MysteryReader]

How many of you have heard of this? I haven't finished reading it so I don't know what happened, other than what I am going to post. Parallel Lives, p. 160.

. May 27, 1895 in New York (M.C.D.Borden's house)
. tremendous rainstorm, sky dark and water pouring down in sheets (streets empty)
. no family at home except domestic staff
. victim was Walter Ferdinand Harris, 36, second butler in house
. in reception room of basement, where he was packing up rugs (Bordens were going to country next week)
. about 1:30 p.m., basement door bell rang & Katie Murphy (her duty to answer) started for door but Harris said he'd get it
. Murphy was in laundry room and at time, stood by the door so she could see
. 2 strangers made it through the unlocked, iron-lattice outer door and were standing in the vestibule w/ Harris opened door
. 2 men, darkly dressed stepped inside. Harris closes door & shorter stranger pulls out a gun, aiming for butler
. 4 shots fired, only 2 struck butler
. Murphy originally thought it was a prank. However, she soon ran screaming to other domestics that Harris was being murdered
. Harris staggered in and cried, "My God, I am shot, get a doctor" and fell dead. The strangers ran out the door.


* I don't know what happens next- got to go out to work. Be back soon!

[Curryong]

No, never heard of it. Butler shot in Borden house! What a piece of bad luck! The butler had been involved in something he shouldn't, perhaps? I don't think Mr M Borden of New York had anything to do with our Bordens, however.

Mystery, I suppose you know about the other murder/suicide that happened in Fall River decades before Andrew and Abby's murders? The little children's voices from that home have been heard, supposedly, around the cellar of the Borden B and B.

[MysteryReader]

Curry,

I've heard about it but never read about it (yet). That is the woman who killed 2/3 children and then herself, correct? I'm not sure off hand what happened totally.


The Borden family in NY was related to our Borden family. I'll have to finish the story after I eat.

[MysteryReader]

Okay, off hand I don't know how the Borden in NY was related to Andrew. NY was M.C.D. Borden and his family line is complicated as they are inter-woven. I'll have to see what I can find.

[MysteryReader]

As far as I know, the mystery remains unsolved. "It's interesting to note that Borden offered twice the reward money ($10,000) for information on the murder of a member of his domestic staff than his distant cousins, Emma L. and Lizzie A. Borden, did for their father and stepmother just three years earlier. (p. 161).

[MysteryReader]

No, never heard of it. Butler shot in Borden house! What a piece of bad luck! The butler had been involved in something he shouldn't, perhaps? I don't think Mr M Borden of New York had anything to do with our Bordens, however.

As far as I can tell (& I apologize if I've misread it): M.C.D. Borden in NY was related to Andrew J. Borden in some way. From what I can gather:

M.C.D. Borden and his brother Colonel Thomas J. Borden were sons of Colonel Richard Borden and Abby Walker Durfee.

Colonel Richard Borden and his brother, Jefferson Borden shared a great-grandfather with Andrew B. Borden. Holder Borden also shared a great-grandfather with Andrew B. Borden.

Andrew B. Borden married Phebe Davenport (1st wife) and had 3 children (that I could find): Andrew J. Borden, Lurana Borden, and Phebe Borden. Other than Andrew, Lurana is the only one who married.

I'm not sure of years born though.

[Curryong]

They were probably fourth cousins, twice removed or something! 'Smile'.

[irina]

I have read about this murder before and I don't know why. I read about it and didn't connect it to Lizzie. There is some other reason that murder is extra mysterious and remembered but I don't remember why. There is some bigger connection to something or supposedly there is.

(If my reply missed a point here or there I still get these pages half whited out on this one computer. Can't imagine what is the problem. I'll keep working on it.)

[MysteryReader]

Irina,

I agree- something is fishy there but it remains unsolved to this date. However," it's interesting to note that Borden offered twice the reward money ($10,000) for information on the murder of a member of his domestic staff than his distant cousins, Emma L. and Lizzie A. Borden, did for their father and stepmother just three years earlier. (p. 161).

[patsy]

I hadn't heard about that murder either until I read about it in Parallel Lives. Interesting about how different people offer reward money, but there could be a lot or reasons I suppose. Thanks for sharing, MysteryReader.

[MysteryReader]

You're welcome, Patsy. I read it in Parallel Lives, too.

[mbhenty]

M.C.B. Borden was probably the most successful of the Bordens, and who's father, I would say, was probably the richest Borden who ever lived in fall river.

Colonel Richard Borden had started the Fall River Iron works, started the Fall River Line, textile baron, help build Fall River Railroad, cotton mills, gas works, etc. Very recognizable pioneer in fall river history. This fellow had money and M.C.D was one of his 3 sons. Andrew Borden easily took 2nd place to these relatives in fall river wealth and stature.

M.C.D. was the owner of the American Printing Works in Fall River, was born from fall river, but made his home in New York City.

The amount of reward he offered is no surprise to me. He was born into the "richer" part of the Borden family tree.

Very distinguished looking character.

American Print Works below. At the time the larg

[mbhenty]

I remember watching this western about the guy who's wife was killed, murdered. The fellow was out for revenge, to discover who killed his wife.

When she was alive all he did was abuse her. He didn't care for her at all.

As the story unfolds you realize that he was insulted and driven to anger that someone should take away his property........ his wife.

This murder happened within the M.C.D. household, on his turf, inside his castle. Makes a big difference when compared to Lizzie.

And though M.C.D. had some relationship with Lizzie Borden, it was probably only in fact and not in association.

[twinsrwe]

Thank you for this information on M.C.B. Borden, MB!!!

I knew M.C.B. Borden was from the 'Greater Borden' side of the family:

greater-bordens.jpg

And, Andrew J. Borden was from the 'Lesser Borden' side of the family:

lesser-bordens.jpg

[twinsrwe]

Here are a couple of other images showing the 'Greater Bordens' vs. the 'Lesser Bordens':

Click on images to enlarge. If you look on the right side of the first attachment, you will see the word Less.., with Abraham, Andrew and Emma listed below it.

dscn0557.jpg

dscn0565.jpg

[twinsrwe]

Although I haven't heard of this murder before either. I find it interesting that M.C.D. Borden offered $10,000 reward money for information on the murder of a member of his domestic staff; someone who was not a blood relative. However, I don't find it at all odd that the reward money was twice the amount that Emma and Lizzie offered for information regarding the murders of their father and stepmother. As MB pointed out, M.C.D. Borden was by far a lot wealthier than Andrew J. Borden was.

Calculated in terms of land holdings and the value of his personal estate, Andrew was worth close to one-half million dollars ($500,000) at the time of his death. At the time of M.C.D. Borden’s death, he had $5,000,000 (five million) to be divided between his sons, except for $250,000, which went to Yale University.

M.C.D. BORDEN WILL DIVIDES $5,000,000; All Goes to His Sons Except $250,000, Which Goes to Yale University.
http://tinyurl.com/k3ezrqa

I find it interesting that Yale University received the same amount of money as Emma and Lizzie each did.

[MysteryReader]

The only thing I remember reading about M.C.D. was that he was a spoiled brat...

[Curryong]

Thanks for all that information, twins and Mb. There were always such a lot of Bordens in Fall River that it's a pleasure when the geneaology between some of them is sorted out! Andrew's wealth pales before M.C.D.'s, and other Bordens too, doesn't it? That surname was such a magic one in the area of Fall River that you can understand the verdict at the trial in a way (as well as all the other reasons, of course!)

PS Yes, Yale did get the same -sized portion as Lizzie and Emma but the sisters had to pay legal fees, including that king's ransom to ex Governor George Robinson, out of theirs!