Another Lizzie Borden "Tidbit"

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Fri May 29, 2009 3:01 pm

The folks at the Fall River Historical Society have added another “tantalizing tidbit” from their forthcoming book on Lizzie Borden—Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.

This time it is a Lizzie Borden letter!

I wonder what goes in the blanks. Let’s guess!

http://lizzieborden.org/ParallelLives.html

DJ · Post by DJ » Fri May 29, 2009 3:24 pm

Who reads Greek? Are there more letters (correspondence) included? The promo sounds as if there are.
Congrats on the Index!
Wonder if Elizabeth Johnston's letter will ever show, if Lizzie did indeed write about coming to Marion with a sharp hatchet ... .

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:45 pm

Oh, I thought that was Klingon!

Do you think Liz is repeating her "I am quite ready for autumn" comment in this letter?

I am glad that our Steph is involved, and that as a member of the FRHS I will be hearing about the book's publication from that august group as well.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:19 pm

The LETTERS are Greek, but it's just gibberish. For example, the "word" "Μδδλρθφ" is all consonants, transliterating as "Mddlrf."

In short, someone is putting us on. Sorry.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:20 pm

The thought just occurred to me that this might be a partial cryptogram. I'll see if I can solve it.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:45 pm

Nope! It's not a cryptogram. For example, the letter "α" (alpha) occurs as a single-letter word. In English, this could only be "a," "I" or (rarely) "o." All are out of the question, "a" and "I" because they occur doubled, and "o" because it is too frequent and is not set off with any punctuation indicating that it is an exclamation. (Yes, we mutton eaters should remember words like "baa," but there are too many other combinations here.)

I hope one of you can come up with a better explanation.

JoAnne · Post by **JoAnne** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:17 pm

Perhaps I'm naive. But, I thought the letter was intentionally shown like that so we would not know just exactly what the letter says until we buy the book. I assume ( I know it is dangerous to assume!)the full letter will be in the book as written by Lizzie.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:38 pm

I think I was the one who was naive. That seems like the only explanation.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:36 am

My guess is that it's a letter to EMMA!
That would surprise people so that's my extreme suggestion: that the sisters were not estranged as legend says.
So that what it says is not as important as to whom it is addressed!

stuartwsa · Post by **stuartwsa** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:25 pm

My guess is that it is written to Nance O'Neill. That would shake the foundations!

JoAnne · Post by **JoAnne** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:12 pm

I do not think it is a letter to Emma . It could possibly be to Nance. Because If you look at the letter, there are 5 symbols for the name of the recipient. Also the place from her return has 6 symbols; so that could be Boston and going on to say for several (4 symbols) "days". Just a guess!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:50 pm

How about David Anthony? That is Ruby Cameron's favorite suspect.

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:51 pm

While the order and sequence of Greek letters seems random, the number of characters may correspond. The triple epsilon in the third paragraph doesn't correlate with anything I can think of offhand, implying randomness. If the number of Greek characters corresponds, maybe she returned from "Marion" after a few "days". Plural units of time are needed in four letters, and I doubt if "eons" qualifies!

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:07 pm

The first character for the recipient is a capital Pi, so there are four letters, possibly "Emma". The signature line may read "Always your 'sister'". I don't think it is too far fetched to think the letter was written to Emma, perhaps a year after Emma left Maplecroft.

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:20 pm

What time of year did Emma leave Maplecroft? That could possibly shed some light on what was intended by "am here now for the long ... ..." and dreading the next two months might be weather related.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:37 am

In Rebello, Lizzie Borden Past & Present p. 312+ he has this:

After Emma's departure from Maplecroft, an agreement was drafted for Emma and Lizzie.

Agreement

"Whereas Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden, of Fall River, Massachusetts, all equal owners in common of a certain lot of land containing about 34 5/8 rods of land and a dwelling house, thereon numbered 306 French Street, in said Fall River, and also of certain personal property located in said house, said lot being the same purchased by them of Charles M. Allen.

Now therefore we the said Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden do hereby covenant and agree, the one with the other as follows to wit, --

1. Said Lizzie shall have the right to exclusively use and occupy said premises and property as a home and place of residence so long as she chooses to do so during her natural life upon condition however that during such time she shall and does pay all water bills and taxes, make and pay for all necessary repairs in connection with the premises and property, keep the undivided half of said Emma in said premises and property insured against fire in the sum of sixty-hundred dollars ---, also $4,000 on the house and $2,000 on the contents ---, and also pay unto said Emma one hundred and fifteen dollars every six months for such use and occupation, the first payment to be made January first A.D. 1906 for six months in advance.. . .

. . .In witness Whereof we the said Emma L. Borden and Lizzie A. Borden have hereto set our hands and seals this twelfth day of October A.D. 1905.

Yooper · Post by **Yooper** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:26 pm

So, if the agreement was reached and signed October 12th, the arrangement was certainly considered and possibly implemented sometime before that. If Emma moved out as late as January, maybe the winter cold or snow was "dreaded". If Emma moved earlier than October, maybe the hot summer was "dreaded", depending on what was meant by "almost" a year. I don't know if the move was done spur-of-the-moment or if it was contemplated and planned.

The signature line could just as easily read "Always your 'friend'", so taken by itself it doesn't mean much. Would Lizzie sign a letter to Emma "L. A. Borden" or "Lizzie"?