Why did Dr. Bowen change his testimony?

[Aamartin]

Dr. Bowen at the Inquest:

Q. You were the first outsider to get there?
A. As far as I know.
Q. Mrs. Churchill had not then got there?
A. No Sir.

At the trial:

Q. When you came to your house you had some talk with Mrs. Bowen? I don't ask you for it?
A. Yes, sir. I didn't go into the house.
Q. But she said something to you as you came up to the house? A. She came to the door. She was looking for me.
Q. In consequence of that where did you go?
A. I went across the street into the house of Mr. Borden.
Q. To which door did you go?
A. Side door.
Q. Did you see anyone there when you arrived?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Whom did you see?
A. Miss Lizzie Borden and Mrs. Churchill.

[NancyDrew]

Good catch, Martin....I have no idea why he changed his story. I would also like to know what he was doing for an hour upstairs with Lizzie in her bedroom. Their relationship might have been more than what was on the surface...just pure speculation.

[PossumPie]

I have seen a lot of speculation about Dr. Bowen. Was he Lizzie's lover? why did he burn a possible clue (the note from 'his daughter') Why did he think Mrs. Borden fainted when he had to have seen the blood? I think that much of it is innocent. He thought at first sight of Mrs. Borden lying beside the bed that she had Fainted. He observed moments later that she was dead and people confused the fainting statement. I think he showed poor judgement several times trying to protect Lizzie from suspicion. I think that like everyone else in the case, he mis-remembered some details (who was first where, when, etc.) As for Lizzie's lover- tongues wag in gossip all of the time. Mrs. Bowen doesn't seem to worry, and the only thing I have read was that while the family was away, Lizzie and the Dr. went to church together. If they were lovers, would the go to church together to be seen? or stay at home in private?
As for being the first in the house, I'm sure he got confused. If he lied about that he surely knew he would have been contradicted.

[Allen]

Mrs. Churchill also changed her story that she is the one who told Dr. Bowen that Andrew was in the sitting room. At the inquest she testified that she was there when Bowen arrived and told him that Andrew was in the sitting room. Then at trial stated 'someone' told Dr. Bowen that Andrew was in the sitting room. I've always put little things like that down to confusion.

Inquest testimony of Adelaide Churchill page 128:

....Very soon Dr. Bowen came in, and I said to him "he is in the sitting room." Dr. Bowen went directly to the door that opens from the kitchen into the dining room, at the right of the right of the door as you come in the back entry, just beyond it, and Lizzie and Bridget and I, Bridget had come back, she had been for Alice Russell, a friend of Lizzie's, and had got back, and Lizzie, Bridget and I went as far as the dining room. Lizzie sat down on the lounge, Bridget and I stood there. Dr. Bowen went into the sitting room, came out and shook his head and says "that is awful."

page 129:

Q. Before Dr. Bowen came, you came? You came before he did?
A. Yes, we stood in that entry. I went again to find a doctor before he got there.

Q. You got back the second time before Dr. Bowen came?
A. Yes.


Trial Testimony page 349:

Q. Now when you returned to the house had anyone got there?
A. No, sir.

Q. Had Bridget returned from Miss Russell's?
A. No, sir.

Q. Who came next?
A. Bridget.

Q. Who came after that?
A. Dr. Bowen.

Q. Will you state what happened after Bridget and Dr. Bowen came?
A. Some one told him that Mr. Borden was in the sitting room, and we followed him, Lizzie myself and Bridget, into the dining room, and he passed from the dining room into the sitting room where Mr. Borden was.

[snokkums]

I have seen a lot of speculation about Dr. Bowen. Was he Lizzie's lover? why did he burn a possible clue (the note from 'his daughter') Why did he think Mrs. Borden fainted when he had to have seen the blood? I think that much of it is innocent. He thought at first sight of Mrs. Borden lying beside the bed that she had Fainted. He observed moments later that she was dead and people confused the fainting statement. I think he showed poor judgement several times trying to protect Lizzie from suspicion. I think that like everyone else in the case, he mis-remembered some details (who was first where, when, etc.) As for Lizzie's lover- tongues wag in gossip all of the time. Mrs. Bowen doesn't seem to worry, and the only thing I have read was that while the family was away, Lizzie and the Dr. went to church together. If they were lovers, would the go to church together to be seen? or stay at home in private?
As for being the first in the house, I'm sure he got confused. If he lied about that he surely knew he would have been contradicted.

I, too, have a lot of speculation about the good doctor. I think at best he might have helped clean up the scene and lied for Lizzie. There might have been a sexual relationship going on. That might be one of the reason that daddy warbucks was killed. Don't know, just a thought.