Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I know that Lizzie got alot of flack for not showing emotion at seeing her fathers' lifeless body, but what about Emmas' reaction of the news? I can understand Lizzie reaction' it's alot to take in to see a loved one's lifeless body. Any ideas or thoughts?
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That's a good question, Robin. I don't re-call a whole lot of anything said about Emma.

I wish I knew how Dr. Bowen worded the telegram he sent to Emma, how much he included as to details. Emma might have been recognized at the train station or met by someone and given the news.

Now you got me wondering what he'd have said! lol Telegrams tended to be short, didn't they? But then my only reference would be what I've seen in the movies. But surely he wouldn't, couldn't have gone into any great detail. Maybe something like...Emma your needed at home immediately stop catch first possible train stop will have someone waiting for you stop.

That's got me wondering to. It would be interesting to find the telegram, but it probably got thrown in the trash once Emma got. Dr. Bowen doesn't give me the impression that he was proned to emotion and such. He strikes me as the type of person that is straight to the point-- give me the facts nothing but facts. He probebly was straight to the point in the telegram to Emma. Emma, too, strikes me as a person that is straight to the point to.

As for Lizzie not having much of a reaction...she may have just been in shock...it's such a common reaction in situations like this.

Hello Donald, and welcome! Lizzie was indeed very controlled with her emotions, maybe too much for her own good.

From the Witness Statements, page 5, Harrington:

During this conversation with Lizzie, I cautioned her about what she might say at the present time.
I said owing to the atrociousness of the crime, perhaps you are not in a mental condition to give as clear
a statement of the facts as you will be tomorrow; and also by that time you may be able to tell more
about the man who wished to hire the store. You may recollect of having heard his name, or of seeing
him, and thereby be enabled to give a description of him, or may recollect of something said about him
by your father; so I say it may be better for you not to submit to an interview until tomorrow, when you
may be better able to recite what you know of the circumstances.” To this she replied “no, I think I can
tell you all I know now, just as well as at any other time.” This conversation took place in Lizzie’s
room, on the second floor, in the presence of Miss Alice Russell, who sat in a chair by the door which
leads to the front hall, by which I entered Lizzie’s room.

This leads me to believe that Lizzie was not in shock, she was very much in control of her emotions.