Boston Post Interview with Bridget's Friends

[irishlass78]

From The Boston Post, Saturday, August 20, 1892

ROWS WITH MRS. BORDEN. Bridget Said Lizzie Had Spats With Her Step-Mother. One of the points State Officer Seaver and Marshal Hilliard have been endeavoring to ascertain in the Borden murder case is the disposition manifested by Lizzie toward her father and step-mother. So far the only substantial evidence on this point has been the testimony of the servant girl, Bridget Sullivan.. It was given, of course, in secret court, and although several stories have been published, yet the true facts of her story have not been made known.

Bridget Sullivan has several friends in this city, but one and all have put forth every effort not to be publically known. One of these friends is a young lady whose brother was, till his death, closely identified with the girl upon whom many eyes are centered. In fact, he was Bridget Sullivan’s sweetheart, and arrangements had been fully made for the ceremony that was to unite them as man and wife. Fate, however, had settled that the event should never take place, for a short time before the date set the poor fellow suddenly died. Then Bridget thought the more of his sister, and since then the girls have met and confided in one another. These two were joined by a sister of Attorney Jennings’s servant girl, and the trio were as one. The two girls are at present in Boston. One is keeping house for a prominent family and the other is a visitor.

Yesterday the Post reporter had a long conversation with the two girls collectively, and from one, the housekeeper, ascertained the manner in which Lizzie treated her father and step-mother. The visiting girl told of a conversation that passed between Bridget and herself since the horrible tragedy occurred. This comes from said the former to the Post man: “I have not seen Bridget since the murder, but recollect well what the girl had told me, time and again, last winter. “Bridget is a good girl, and I don't believe she had anything to do with the killing. She used to fell me how Lizzie had helped {illegible} work when she wanted to gel away for the afternoon or evening, and she thought a great deal of Lizzie. (Note: the text is very garbled but the gist is that Lizzie was very loving and solicitous toward her father, according to Bridget) Her attitude toward her stepmother was a trifle in the reverse. Bridget always thought it was because their ideas as to running the household were different. They had occasional spats. ”I remember one instance she told me when Lizzie {illegible..reads as if Lizzie wanted a certain type of beef for dinner} and had told Bridget to order the meat. Mrs. Borden that day wanted to have a roast beef dinner. “They wrangled for a moment or so when Lizzie gave in but left the house just before dinner and ate hers at a friend’s house. “Bridget told me this, and at the same time remarked that usually what Lizzie wanted she had. Emma’s disposition was different, for she never made any fuss and usually acceeded to the requests of both father and step-mother.

“I saw Bridget for a few moments just before I came up here last {illegible}” said her intimate chum, the sister to the servant girl employed by Attorney Jennings, who is defending Lizzie Borden. “Did she talk about the murder,” asked the reporter. “When I saw her it was the next day after the hearing at which she had testified, and I only saw her for perhaps five minutes alone. “She said that the great talk that had been made about her lying down for a few moments to rest was all nonsense, for she said she did that very often. “She was very mum about telling what she said about the questions that were put to her at the hearing. “Several times she told me that she wanted her friends to stick by her, as she knew nothing about it. “She would not say a word about Lizzie, whether or not, she thought her as having had anything to do with the crime. “I did not question her, but saw her simply to express my feelings toward her.”

[MysteryReader]

Very interesting. I wonder why they didn't want their names to be known? What did they have to fear?

[camgarsky4]

Very interesting. I wonder why they didn't want their names to be known? What did they have to fear?

It seemed very few folks wanted to be named in the newspapers if they could avoid it. There are many articles about the "marion girls" and other of Lizzie's acquaintances and friends where quotes are published, but always without a name. Often statements were attributed to "a close friend' or 'someone who has known Lizzie most of her life'.

So if this article is reporting true info, the fact that Bridget's friends wanted anonymity is not unusual. Not sure why few wanted to be named, but it seems to have been the preference.

Inspector -- this is a potential direct link to Boston for Bridget.

[Inspector]

Thanks for posting. I found this fascinating, and possibly lends to more insights into the relationship of the parties involved.
I liked the part especially, that seemed to say that Lizzie helped Bridget with her work, or duties so Bridget could get away for the afternoon, or evening.
It sounds like Lizzie really cared for Bridget which was very beneficial.