Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Very interesting!

http://www.nationalreview.com/king/king200408061231.asp

That was good! I was immediately turned off at the
word "hosannaed" in the first sentence but the writer went on to use phrases like "even-steven" which saved the article, I thought it was well written
and even funny. " In-bred Wasp town! "

Thanks, Stefani, it was an entertaining read. I wish these people would check the facts of the case before putting what they believe is the truth into black and white, so many errors. But, overall, it was a fun read.

Thanks Stef. I have the original 1992 article but hadn't read it in years.

Ah yes, its obvious the writer has read Lincoln. All the same errors that Vicky has so kindly passed down to us,

Like Lincoln its a good read though.

It does mention one thing that I hadn't thought of. In the robbery of the house while the senior Bordens were at Swansea this author states that Lizzie gained entrance from her own room. Somehow I had always imagined her coming through the senior Borden's bedroom door. Was either door locked then? Anybody have a quick answer so I don't have to dig?

OK -- I'm starting to lose it, here. Why did I think the door between the parents' bedroom and Lizzie's room was only kept locked after the robbery in June 1891? Is that in a primary source somewhere?

Because all I can find at this point is Lizzie's inquest testimony where she says:
"A. Father's bedroom door was kept locked, and his door into my room was locked and hooked too I think, and I had no keys.
Q. That was the custom of the establishment?
A. It had always been so. "

That doesn't sound like a practice that had only been in effect for a little over a year.

Fleet, pg. 2
August 4th
Witness Statements:
"She[Lizzie] said that it was impossible for anyone to get in or throw anything in her room, because she always kept it locked."
......
Prelim
249
Morse
Q. Do you recollect whether Miss Lizzie’s door into the hall was shut or not?
A. It was shut when I went up.

Q. You do not know whether it was locked or not?
A. I do not.

Q. Mr. Knowlton asked you if there was any way of getting into that spare room from the back hall, and I thought you said something about the doors being locked; do you know whether the doors were locked or not?
A. I do not know whether they were locked that night; they generally keep them locked. I did not try it that night.

Q. Which doors do you refer to as locked?
A. This door that goes out of the hall into Lizzie’s room.

Q. Was that locked or hooked?
A. I think it bolts.

Q. How was the other door between her room and her father’s room generally fastened?

Page 250

A. I do not know; there is a hook on it on the side opposite from her, on the east room.

Q. Was the hook on her father’s side, or on her side?
A. On her father’s side.

Q. Sure about that?
A. I think I am correct about it.

Q. There was a hook there at any rate?
A. Yes.

Q. That was the way it was generally fastened?
A. I do not know how it was fastened. I know there was a hook there.

Q. Did you ever notice whether it was hooked or not generally? I suppose you had occasion to go through there.
A. No Sir.

--of course Morse gets it backwards.

It seems reasonable to assume that if Lizzie's door to the hall was kept locked (always been so?) then the other doors in her room would be locked as well.