Lizzie Borden Society Forum

On this date, May 30th, in 1893, Bertha Manchester was murdered in Fall River. She was 22 years old. She had been struck 23 times with an axe.

Jose Correiro de Mello, 18 or 19 years old at the time, and who had worked on the Manchester farm, confessed to the murder and was given a life term. He was pardoned after 20 years on condition he return to the Azores.

I find this story extremely interesting. I wish there was more info on it.

Poor Bertha!

,,

Since there was a confession and the culprit led authorities to the place where he concealed evidence, it seems pretty certain that Jose was the one. After serving 20 years, the only way under Commonwealth law, at the time, to parole him, was to pardon and to deport him.

My opinion is that the Fall River investigation went pretty well. The fact that there were no trial minutes to ponder might make it seem there was a puacity of information.

I wonder if there was anything more than just a guilty plea. Like a written confession or witness statements that might have survived. I guess the police report would still be there somewhere?

Well, I wasn't going to tout the news items we sell at the website- because this was a sincere tribute to Bertha.
But since there are questions, please note that a C-D is sold here:
http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Borde ... papers.htm

Correira came back to try to get his back pay after being fired.
Stephen Manchester was not at home at the time and Correira
became frusterated and decided to attack Bertha. There was evidence
that Bertha put up a fight to defend herself before she was fatal blow.
Marshall Hilliard was involved the case