Charles I. Richards

[Harry]

Richards was the foreman of the Borden jury. He was selected by the three Justices. I don't know if that was unusual for its day. In some places the jury itself selects the foreman.

The official trial transcript of Richards voir dire questioning is very short:

"CHARLES I. RICHARDS, North Attleborough. Not related to the parties.
Q. Have you any interest in this cause?
A. Not any.
Q. Have you formed or expressed any opinion in relation to it?
A. I have.
Q. Have you any bias or prejudice in it?
A. I have not.
Q. Such opinions as you have formed or expressed,---would they prevent your giving a candid judgment upon a full hearing of the evidence?
A. They would not.
Q. Have you any opinions that would preclude you from finding a defendant guilty of an offence punishable with death?
A. I have not.
Sworn as the eleventh juror."

In Knowlton, HK206, Knowlton's notes do not indicate that they knew what his opinion was.

"Charles I. Richards, North Attleboro.
American. Real estate. Republican. Episcopalian. Quite interested in church matters. Has served on jury. Has wife and children.
Has not taken sides in the case, but has not made declarations about it.
Remarks by Brown. Is a well appearing man. Will try to get excused
for the reason that he is one of the town assessors.
He is about 55 years old.
He has been a witness against me in a railroad case
Is thick with Pond, who is for defense
Doubtful
Cobb says Guild says he would be a (?) straight Kind of
man, no matter what
Anyone said to him.
Is now an assessor."

Kent, in Forty Whacks, has the (?) word as "string" ie: "string-straight". They were way off on his age. He was 64 and the oldest member of the jury.

Just thought it interesting that he wasn't challenged and excused

[bsr88]

Just out of curiosity, where do you guys find all of these transcripts and such? I know the B+B has all kinds of documents, but do you guys have access to them outside the B+B? I think it's great!

[Harry]

Ben, many of the primary documents and numerous other items are available for download at the Lizzie Borden Virtual Library under Crime Library:

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/CrimeLibrary.htm

And the best news of all is that they are FREE, our gifts to our fellow Bordenphiles..

[Kat]

Harry, do you have the transcription of when the justices made him foreman?
Do we have any idea who "Pond" is or Cobb?"

And do you suppose 'Guild" is not a person but an assembly or organisation of assessors or real estate people?

Hey Christopher- any relation?