While I was doing research on Bridget Sullivan and her husband John, another famous Sullivan kept popping up in my search results. The first time I got results for John L. Sullivan I thought I had found information on Bridget's husband . But this was John L. Sullivan a famous boxer who lived from 1858-1918. He was heavy weight champion at one time. The reason I bring it up, is while I was looking through my NYT articles about the murders and the trial, there was an article on one of the pages about John L. Sullivan right above the item about Lizzie. I wondered why my research kept bringing me to him. I know it's just coincidence. But, since he kept popping up I decided to research him a little as well .
I'm not much on boxing, but I'd not have minded seeing this feller fight just once. Those were the days of bare knuckles, blood and guts.... Not sure how true it is, but awhile back I'd seen - one of those Biography programs I think - and they mentioned that Sullivan once offered to take on all comers with the words "I'll lick any sonofab... in the house!"
I dunno...in Sullivan's case I suspect it might have had more to do with the bottle than sheer rage. I've heard him described as being very much like Jack Dempsey - a widely-known "soft touch" when it came to money.
Oddly enough, one source has it that "The Boston Strong Boy" fought his last round on the 1st day of March 1905 - and swore off drinking four days later.