Sarah Cornell

Nancie · Post by **Nancie** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:25 pm

I didn't know where to post this, I have been interested in this case also,
the farmer John Durfee who found the body, could he have been related
to Abby? I know a lot of Durfees and Bordens were in the area, so just
wondering.....
Sarah Cornell, an unmarried 30 year old factory worker in Fall River, Massachusetts, was found hanging near a haystack on a local farm. She was identified by a Methodist minister to whose church she belonged. Initially considered a suicide, the case was reopened when a note in Cornell's handwriting was found among her possessions implicating Rev. Avery.

Cornell had been a member of Avery's church in Lowell, Massachusetts, when she worked in a factory there, but had been expelled from the church for "lewdness and lying." Cornell met with Avery at a Methodist camp meeting in Thompson, Connecticut, in an effort to persuade Avery to destroy the letters of confession she had written, which were preventing her joining any other local Methodist churches. According to a later report of Cornell's brother-in-law, Cornell said that Avery had agreed to destroy the letters on the condition that she have sex with him, which she did. Cornell later discovered that she was pregnant.

Based on the existence of the note, Cornell's body was exhumed and an autopsy performed. It was discovered that she was five months pregnant; there were signs of violence on the body indicating that an attempt had been made at abortion. A warrant for Avery's arrest was issued, but after a much-publicized, extensive, and extremely controversial preliminary hearing, it was ruled that there was not enough evidence against Avery, and he was freed.

John Durfee, the farmer who had found Cornell's body, was dissatisfied with the finding, and convened a Committee of Vigilance; an official complaint was sworn out and filed with a magistrate in Newport. Threatened with arrest, Avery fled Rhode Island, but was traced to his hiding place in Rindge, New Hampshire by the Bristol County sheriff and arrested there.

Press coverage of the trial was extensive, making it difficult to empanel a jury. Avery's trial was a long one for the period, 27 days, during which 196 witnesses were examined. The defense strategy was to point to Avery's respectable position in the community and to Cornell's bad character as proof that there could never have been any "connexion" between the two. Cornell's history of shoplifting and venereal disease was exposed. The jury deliberated for 16 hours, after which Avery was acquitted.

Some weeks later, a Methodist church hearing cleared Avery of all blame in Cornell's death, and he returned to the ministry. Despite this, and despite the acquittal, popular opinion was against Avery, and the scandal continued to follow him. Two years later, Avery left the ministry and moved to Ohio.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:19 pm

From;
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/Univers ... eryms.html
..................
Yes, I am interested in the case. I've read 3 books on it and reviewed them. Hopefully one will make it into The Hatchet.

Len Rebello showed us the park (as we drove by) where Saraha's body was found.
Is it South Park, now?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 4:04 pm

I believe South Park is now called Kennedy Park. Mark A. will know for sure.

Nancie, there are two editions of a book covering that crime on EBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 18791&rd=1

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 28627&rd=1

Thte second one is a first edition and on the pricey side.

Mark A. · Post by **Mark A.** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:23 pm

Yes Har, it is now called Kennedy Park after the late President who visited our nine city a few times and had his wedding cake made here. Sarah Cornell is now buried in Oak Grove Cem. . I think that the greatest book written on the subject has to be " Fall River Outrage". What a good book that was.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:45 pm

Is Kennedy Park, South Park where Cornell's body was found?

Hey Mark! Stef got those books on Sarah Cornell from U!

Mark A. · Post by **Mark A.** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:37 am

Yes Kat, Kennedy park was called South Park. This park was built on land the city purchased from Durfee. Durfee let Sarah Cornell be buried on his property after her Church wanted nothing to do with her burial. She was interred on this spot until the city purchased the land from Durfee. Sarah was then exhumed then buried at Oak Grove Cem. where she lies today. Another little known fact about Kennedy/South Park, the layout was designed by the famed landscape expert, Fredrick Law Olmstead. The same guy who designed Central Park in New York. It's funny because you can tell a Fallriverite's general age by what they call the park.
If they call it South Park, then chances are that they were born about 5-10 years before Pres. Kennedy met his fate in 1963. If the Call it Kennedy Park then they were probably born after 1967.

Nancie · Post by **Nancie** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:41 pm

thanks for the links Harry, I would like to have that
book, funny one went for 8 dollars and the other
starts at over 175! I'm going to try to find it tho,
at a price closer to the first one, thx

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:46 pm

The $8 book is going as low as $3.95 via froogle (go to google, click froogle and search "Fall River Authentic Narrative")

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:23 pm

Thanks Mark!
I'm making sure I got my info straight.
After taking 3 tours with Len in the car at night, I am a bit confused, but it's all coming back to me!
Sarah Cornell was definetly pre-Kennedy, so South Park it is.
(I'd put a smilie here, except it's a serious subject).

EEK. Tomorrow is His anniversary.