Which lawyer?

[Stefani]

I saw this article this morning about someone redoing a dormer at Lizzie Borden's former lawyer's house on Narragansett Bay.

So which lawyer could this be? Any ideas?

http://lifeonthisrock.blogspot.com/2008 ... u-get.html

[Harry]

I saw this article this morning about someone redoing a dormer at Lizzie Borden's former lawyer's house on Narragansett Bay.

So which lawyer could this be? Any ideas?

http://lifeonthisrock.blogspot.com/2008 ... u-get.html

According to the article the house was built in 1896. That was the year Robinson died. I think we can eliminate him.

Of the other two, I would guess Adams. Fall River is so close that there wouldn't be much reason for Jennings to have a second home that near. Adams lived in Boston and I know of a newspaper article that said that Adams rented a summer place in Newport which is that area.

[Stefani]

From the Knowlton Papers:

ADAMS, MELVIN OHIO 1850 - 1920: born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, son of Joseph and Dolly (Whiting) Adams. Educated in the Ashburnham public school system and at Brighton Academy in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1871. He was then employed as a teacher in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, while studying law in the office of Amasa Norcross, Esq. of that city. He graduated from Boston University Law School in 1875 and was admitted to the Suffolk bar, marrying Miss Mary Colony in Fitchburg later that same year. Establishing an office in Boston, Massachusetts, he was soon appointed assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, a position he held until his resignation in 1886 when he returned to private practice. In 1890, he served on the staff of Governor John Q. A. Brackett with the rank of colonel. Well-known in business and literary circles, he served as president of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad and of the General Alumni Association of Dartmouth College. He died in Boston, Massachusetts. He was engaged as associate counsel in defense of Miss Lizzie A. Borden.

[mbhenty]

Yes, I like Adams. From what little he had to say in court, he sounded like quite the character and probably added some grit and pluck to the proceedings.

But you know Harry, not sure if that is necessarily true that the summer home was so close that we must reject it.

The Ocean Grove area in Swansea, though honky-tonk (even back in the earlier part of the last century) was basically a summer resort with street after street of tiny summer cottages. Many of the owners lived very close by, most in Fall River.

Not sure where the simi-rich went for the summer to cool off. Though Adams and Jennings may not be super-rich, still I would assume that they could certianly afford the place above and with a short bugy ride they could be in another world by the bay or ocean in Newport.

If you remember, DAVID ANTHONY had a very similar home on Bay Point Road in Swasea, a short 7 miles from his home off New Boston Road in Fall River.

[Harry]

IMO, Adams was clearly the best lawyer in the case. He handled all the medical testimony for the defense.

At the time of his death in 1920 he owned a summer home in Boston Harbor. At the bottom of this article he is listed as owning several islands in the harbor. He owned a boat and was a member of the Boston Yacht Club.

http://www.kellscraft.com/EventsBoston/ ... ton04.html

Surprisingly when he died he left no will.

[Stefani]

It is also possible this is a Jennings house. He has Rhode Island connections.

From Knowlton Papers:
JENNINGS, ANDREW JACKSON 1849 - 1923: born in Fall River, Massachusetts, son of Andrew M. and Olive B. (Chace) Jennings. Educated in the Fall River public school system, he prepared for college at Mowry and Goff's Classical School in Providence, Rhode Island. He proceeded to Brown University, from which he graduated in 1872, earning a Bachelor of Arts. He subsequently served for two years as principal of the high school in Warren, Rhode Island. In 1874, he began the study of law in the office of James M. Morton, Esq. of Fall River. He attended Boston University Law School, obtained his degree in 1876 and was admitted to the bar in Bristol County, Massachusetts, that same year. His first partnership was formed immediately with Attorney Morton and lasted for fourteen years. He married Miss Marion G. Saunders of Warren, Rhode Island, on Christmas Day in 1879. In 1890, he opened an office with John S. Brayton, Jr. and, upon that firm's dissolution in 1892, continued to practice alone. He was a member of the school committee of Fall River from 1915 to 1878 and served in both the Massachusetts House of' Representatives and state senate. He was elected district attorney for the Southeastern District of Massachusetts, holding that office from 1894 to 1898. A life-long resident of his native city, he was active in civic and church affairs and was a member of various professional organizations. He served for a time as president of the Fall River Bar Association. He was a trustee of Brown University and was identified with several Fall River corporations, being a director of the Globe Yarn Mills, the Sanford Spinning Company and the Merchants Manufacturing Company. He was also a director of the Union Savings Bank. He acted as Miss Lizzie A. Borden's attorney from the time of her arrest. As a member of the legal team which represented her at the trial, he delivered the opening statement for the defense.

[Kat]

In Adams' obit from the Boston Globe August 10, 1920, it says he had an *island summer home in Boston Harbor, [called] Brewster.*

[SteveS.]

It's interesting that David Anthony's summer home had a room built over a porch with stone columns that look very similar to Lizzie's summer bedroom and fireplace she had built over her back porch.