Lizzie Borden Society Forum

There is very little discussion within this forum about Joseph Lemay's potential testimony (Trial vol. 2, page 1455):

"This witness will testify than on the 16th day of August, at his farm, about four north of City Hall. While travelling into the woods for the purpose of cutting poles, just before he reached a turn in the road, he heard the words "poor Mrs. Borden" repeated three times, and immediately saw sitting upon a rock behind a wall and some brushwood, a man. He spoke, to the man in French twice, but received no answer. On speaking to him the second time the man took up from the ground by his side a hatchet, such as is used in shingling houses, and shook it at him. He stepped back and put his own axe up in an attitude of defence. They remained in that position some few minutes, when the man turned, leaped over a wall and disappeared in the
woods. He said nothing to the witness at any time. The witness noticed upon his shirt spots of blood. He notified the police the same evening of what he had seen and heard."

This seems very significant, yet there appeared to be no follow-up by the police. I wonder why Joseph spoke to the man in French (it wasn't clear whether the man was stating "poor Mrs. Borden" in French or English.

Anyone know any more about Joseph Lemay or whether there was any police follow-up?

I think that there was a crazed person (Killer) who wanted to kill Andrew:
- We know that there were many people around the house that day, and that Andrew spoke with a man at the door prior to leaving.
- Maybe Killer gave Abby a note (for her to leave) and got into the house through the front door heard noises and went to up to hide in the only room open - the guest room (JM's room). Killer could have also entered the house through an open window (JM opened the windows.)
- In a strange turn of events, Abby didn't go out immediately, but, unexpectedly, went back to the guest room to put the shams on the beds.
- There Killer attacked her - because Abby was trying to get away, that would explain the multiple wounds. (It's sad that Abby may have been trying to get under the bed to crawl away - I read that someone watching the body stated that the head was more under the bed, like Abby was trying to get away - remember that there are no crime scene photos, only reconstructed photos.) Killer closed the door (took back the note) and waited until the voices subsided. [Note: this isn't unusual for depraved killers - the BTK killer would hide in closets, sometimes for hours.]
- During that time, Andrew came home and the issue with the front door (and "Maggie" swearing) got Lizzie's attention (so, even if the door was open, Lizzie wouldn't have noticed to look to the right to see Abby's body under the bed, but her head was facing the door commotion ahead of her).
- Killer attacked Andrew and snuck out of the house through the side door (that Lizzie had gone out).
- Killer walked 4 miles in a couple of days, wrestling with the guilt of killing "poor Mrs. Borden" which is where Joseph Lemay found Killer.
- Joseph Lemay informed police immediately, but Lizzie was already in custody.

Thoughts? (For full disclosure, I'm on the Lizzie is innocent team.)