Who is Albert E Chase and what is his importance?

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:03 am

I was reading thru some old posts and came up with one that got me thinking. It was a post from May 25, 2002 by Susan called "I may have found a Clew."

It state, "I ws reading thru the witness statements and found this interesting under Albert E Chase.

Albert E. Chase

Fall River, September 20, 1892. I this day visited the Borden house under the instructions from the City Marshall and I saw Miss Emma Borden, and she went down to the cellar with me, and shoved me a window in the northeast corner of the room nearest to the barn and north of the cellar door which she wasnted to have fastened and wanted me to note the condition that it was in before any thing was done to it. I found one lightr of broken glass in the upper sash bad the appearance of being pushed in and raised up about 5 inches."

My question is, who is Albert E. Chase and what is his importance to the case?

From what I am gathering he was a low level police man, you know, the "beat cop". And why would the city marshell would send just anyone to go over and look the seen over.

And, I can't figure out the importance of the basement and looking at window and noting the condition of window before anything was done to it.

Just trying to piece it all together.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:08 pm

Chase's notes dated September 20 are almost one full month after the tragedy. No one reported a broken window during the extensive searches of the cellar so it may have occurred during the period between.

A broken window in the cellar would mean that an outsider could possibly gain entrance into the house.

The Boston Globe of December 1st had this tidbit on Uncle John:

"It is interesting to note Uncle John V. Morse's theory of the commission of the crime as given by him in New Bedford recently. He holds that an enemy of Mr. Borden got into the house the night before through the cellar window, which was open; that the man secreted himself in the clothes press; that when Mrs. Borden came up to make her bed he found it necessary to kill her to get rid of her; that he then concealed himself to wait for Mr. Borden's return home; that when Lizzie had gone out to the barn, and Bridget was washing the windows, he murdered Mr. Borden and then made his escape."

His timing of when Bridget was washing the windows is off. Whether he is referring to the same window mentioned by Emma is not mentioned.

Officer Chase (aka Chace) was quite active in the early investigations at the house. It was he who watched as John Morse had the bloody clothes buried. He also stood on guard at the front door allowing only selected persons in. He also testified before the Grand Jury in November.

Besides he had the best moustache.

From Porter:

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:15 pm

All I know about Chase is he was the officer that supervised the burying of the bloody clothes in the Borden yard after the murders and also went to inspect the damaged cellar window after Emma reported to the police. I think they thought it had be done by someone at random, intrigued by the crimes.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:18 pm

I didn't see your post before I sent mine, Harry.

Nice pic. Sorta looks like William H. Macy.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:41 am

Yes cool answer, and pic, Har!

Also, there still was a reward posted too, and it might mean the public was going overboard on their property.
Or maybe Emma wanted to show they had been harassed and wanted recompense.

There's a blurb on Albert E. Chase in Hoffman's Yesterday In Old Fall River.
He "stood guard [at the front door] during the daylight hours and Officers John McCarthy and Michael Reagan shared the night duty." This was from the Herald of around August 12th. It says also that he "investigated the 'confession' of Charles H. Peckham."

For Peckham, see page 3 of "Suspects" at LABVM/L:
http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Crime ... tPart3.htm

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:05 pm

But if it was an intruder (broken glass from cellar window), why didn't Bridget notice someone messing around the cellar window? She was outside washing windows. And Lizzie said at one point she was in the back yard eating pears and in the barn. Neither one of them noticed someone meandering around the house, someone unfamilar?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:40 am

I think the broken window was around September 20th, according to the report. If it was murder-connected to the 4th I think they would have noticed it sooner.