John V. Morse and Rappal

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:41 pm

It's seems that Rappal (see reference to hotel stay with Morse in Rebello) is a factor. Perhaps John V. is too.

Check out these links. There a little long, so the best bet is to press Edit and type rappal in Find.

http://wyomcases.courts.state.wy.us/app ... teID=15991

http://michelesworld.net/dmm2/frog/obje ... %20Puzzles

Hope this info isn't redundant. NB

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:23 pm

He used cardboard frogs to advertise his business, Rappal Bros. & Co. Livestock in Chicago?

Now that's weird. No wonder he was a friend of Uncle John.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:07 am

Wow you sure know how to research!
The first link is for Oklahoma, right?
How do we know it's the same Rappal?

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:30 am

Kat--

Can't actually prove it without a subsidized trip to Oklahoma, but the nature of the Rappal's business was to out to cattle raising country and negotiate how much cattle someone wanted to sell and then have the Rappal Bros. negotiate with the Armours and the Swifts, etc. in Chicago (of the famous stockyards) and make the deal. They, of course, made a commission on the sale.

Some rancher in Wyoming or Oklahoma didn't have the time or resources to raise the cattle and then go off to Chicago to make a deal, then go back to Wyoming, etc. And with the advent of railroad, the long cattle drives ended. The cattle were driven to the nearest rail station and sent off in cattle cars.

The name of the business is Rappal Bros. implying more than one--but it is probable the one of them was the one who knew Uncle John.

There are some indications that Uncle John acted as a factor (middleman) himself beyond the Davises and Andrew's farm oxen.

When I was at the NBPL on Thursday, I was talking to Paul Cyr (not Sears as I said before)in the Genealogy Room about where to find records in some of the smaller surrounding towns. I happened to spot the Pearson books from where I was standing, and discovered a book about Lizzie about which I was not familiar. I don't have the proper title in front of me but part of the name was "A Pictorial History" and it was authored by Muriel Arnold.

At 5 minutes to closing, I just thumbed through it. There is some story in there about Uncle John's dealings involving a black horse. I need to go back and read it through clearly.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:03 pm

Rebello
70
"In 1870, he [John Morse] resided with the Davidson family. By 1880, the Davidsons lived with John Morse. On Monday, May 10, 1886, John Morse along 'with Rappal' of Hastings and John Gennung [Genung] of Hastings, registered at the Foster House, a local hotel in Hastings. 'L. L. Rappal Chicago, [Illinois]' was written under their names in the register."

Is your research you posted earlier on "L.L. Rappal?"
I don't yet see the actual connection.
Maybe you have left out info?
If not, you could say something like *maybe this is the guy*?
I know you did after I asked-- thanks.
I think, and a lot of us think, you are doing a wonderful job collecting info.
Say HI to Paul from the Koorey girls from Florida! He knows us as wanting Morse info and Evening Standard film.
Tell him you are a member of the Society!

That book by Muriel Arnold is called Pictorial Historical The Hands Of Time. 1999.

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:43 pm

I don't think "The Hands of Time" by Muriel Arnold was very well received. I can't even remember what it was about - well, it was about Lizzie and the Borden case - but I can't remember her theory or anything about it. It's one of the few Borden books I've read that has left no impression on me.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:29 pm

Yes, Augusta--the Muriel Arnold book looks like a light-weight to me. Itl's just that I had never seen it before, and then flipping through it, seeing this horse story. I don't know if I'll have the time next week to get to the Main Library when the Genealogy Room is open, but I do want to read the story and make some notes.

I did take a drive down Russell Street today. Another neighborhood that's looking a little run-down again. I recognized the house I had been touring and noted the address. Again, when I get to the Genealogy Room, I'll check out the New Bedford City Directories to see if it was a boarding house. Someone mentioned John Morse boarding in New Bedford during the trial, and that seemed to ring a bell with me.

I'm reading Masterton for the first time, and this morning came to the page where he says that Morse came back to Fall River in the summers for twenty years after the trial and had a sailboat. I'm just surprised I haven't heard some stories about him. He seems to be one low-profile kind of guy.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:01 am

"Someone mentioned John Morse boarding in New Bedford during the trial, and that seemed to ring a bell with me."
~ ~ ~
"The person thought that there might be a tie-in also with the New England Clafins, and that Woodhull's writings might have affected Lizzie's thoughts about marriage."

--nbcatlover

Can you say who the person is you are referring to?

Edisto · Post by **Edisto** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:34 pm

Muriel Arnold is a hoot! I have her book, which I really couldn't take too seriously. She still sells 'em on eBay from time to time, but the funny thing is that she doesn't seem to understand how eBay works! Her listing says she doesn't want people to bid on the book -- just send her the amount of the opening bid, and she'll ship the book. That can be done with "Buy it Now," but she doesn't use that in her listing. She appears in one of the videos about the case (I think it's "Hash & Rehash"), and she looks exactly the way I had pictured her. She and I had an email correspondence when I bought a copy of her book, and she told me she wrote it to prove to her mother that the Borden case could be solved other than by finding Lizzie guilty. She wanted me to send her my "review" after I read it, but I decided it would be kinder not to.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 4:37 pm

She gives credit to Bev Boileau of Henderson, Iowa for research on John Morse.
I always thought Bev was her sister and am beginning to think I am wrong?

Joe contacted Mrs. Boileau and she reproduced the news articles for him. But in a news interview in the paper she gave verbally the date of Morse's death and in the same article was a photo of his headstone and the 2 dates did not jibe.

It's very easy to make a mistake like that, tho.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:07 pm

This is the house, currently 5 apartments, that I was told had been the rooming house where Uncle John Morse stayed during the trial. It is on Russell Street in New Bedford.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/ ... 0_0239.jpg

At this point, I have not been able to verify that as fact. It is not far from the Pool family, and while not next-door, it is walking distance from the Superior Courthouse.

If anyone from the Fall River-New Bedford area recognizes the property, perhaps you can give me further insights to its history.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:00 pm

Wow! Thanks a lot.
Is there any document or newspaper which claims Morse stayed on Russell Street- or in New Bedfors during the trial?

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:26 pm

Not that I have found yet. Since school is back in session, I haven't even made it to the Registry of Deeds in New Bedford. It will probably be Christmas break before I have any time to do primary Lizzie research.

It's so bad. I live right near the Rural Cemetery in New Bedford, and I found the gravestone for Hosea Knowlton's parents:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/ ... 0_0317.jpg

and abutting them, I believe is his brother:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/ ... 0_0316.jpg

but I haven't even had the time to go back and look for his memorial or for Sylvia Bassett (Almy) Knowlton, who I believe is here as well.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:37 pm

Thanks again for the very nice pictures!

but I haven't even had the time to go back and look for his memorial or for Sylvia Bassett (Almy) Knowlton, who I believe is here as well.

--Cynthia
______

It's OK, no rush- they'll still be there after Christmas, right?