Lizzie Borden Society Forum

George W. Allen was born on July 1, 1837 in South Kingston, Rhode Island to William and Elizabeth B. (Crandall) Allen. His sister, Zilphia C., was born in 1833 in Richmond, Rhode Island and died on February 6, 1906 in Little Compton. His brother, John R., was born December 16, 1834 in Kingston and died February 5, 1916 in Fall River. Most everyone knows that Officer Allen was the first officer to arrive at the scene of the Borden murders. It’s been said that he was sent because two thirds of the officers were at Rocky Point enjoying their annual excursion, and Officer Doherty had not yet reported to relieve Officer Leonard who had gone off to dinner. Whatever the reason, the immediately available officer was committing Officer George W. Allen.

George W. Allen married Frances Amelia "Fanny" Gibbs on September 10, 1861 in Newport, Rhode Island. Fanny was the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Southwick) Gibbs. George enlisted in G Company of the 4th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry on September 11, 1861 under Capt. George Washington Tew. On October 16th, the 4th Regiment “paid its respects to President Lincoln at the White House and on the 25th, composed a part of the military cortege at the funeral of Col. Baker, who fell at Ball's Bluff". They mustered into service on October 30th and were “fairly launched upon the sea of stormy rebellion”. The 4th Rhode Island was involved in the Battle of Roanoke from February 7-8, 1862, the Battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862 and the Siege of Fort Macon that raged from March 23 – April 26, 1862. One account of the Battle of New Bern describes the “Fighting Fourth” being told to fix their bayonets and charge Confederate fortifications. The response,” The Rhode Islanders gave ‘three cheers and a Narragansett,’ and vaulted over the Confederate earthworks, capturing Latham’s North Carolina Battery”. On September 17, 1862, the 4th Infantry fought alongside the 16th Connecticut to form the left flank for Gen. George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Antietam. Corporal Allen was injured on May 3, 1863 in The Battle of Hill's Point, Virginia, also called The Battle of Suffolk, which took place between April 11 – May 4, 1863. George was then gravely "incapacitated at a Battle near the Weldon Railroad". The Battle for Weldon Railroad, also known as Grant’s Fourth Offensive, took place between August 18-21, 1864. "His command was posted near a rail fence. A shell exploded at his side, which had the effect of driving a rail against his spinal column with such force as to detach several ribs from the backbone. They were wired in place and Private Allen was forced to lie face-down for months while recovering." Corporal George W. Allen mustered out on October 15, 1864 and he could finally return home to be with his wife Fannie.

George and Fannie Allen had only two children. Their son Arthur was born in 1867 and died on February 17, 1871 in Newport. Their daughter, Eva, was born around 1873 in East Greenwich. George became a member of the Masons at the King George Lodge in Fall River in February 1879. Before joining the police force he worked as a machinist at Crescent, Merchant, and Laurel Lake Mills. He was appointed to the force by Mayor Jackson on February 11, 1889 and was on duty by February 23rd. The Fall River Daily Globe reported on August 20, 1889 that Patrolman George Allen was confirmed to be a competent officer “after a six months trial under Marshall Hilliard". As the committing officer for the 2nd district court George was in charge of conveying convicted prisoners to serve out their sentences in “Taunton, New Bedford, and elsewhere.” This was the position he held on August 4, 1892 when Marshall Hilliard ordered him to “go up on Second street, the house next to Mrs. Buffinton’s above Borden Street, and see what the matter is.” This is the case that memorialized George W. Allen in history. The Allen family were well-known and well-regarded in Fall River. They periodically took vacations in places like Newport or Cottage City. George began to get sick in 1900 and sought out “Clairvoyant Physician” Ezra R. Wilbur to diagnose and provide a treatment for whatever was ailing him. The method that Dr. Wilbur used to treat his patients was to go into a trance and rely on his “clairvoyant powers” to spiritually control him and tell him what to do. Relying on the “medical advice” of this quack psychic healer probably cost George his life. A day after the last visit to Dr. Wilbur George was found unconscious and he didn’t regain consciousness for a couple of days. His health continued to decline and I don’t believe he ever rallied to full health again. George didn’t pay the so-called doctor who then decided to sue. On October 4, 1900 the judge ruled in favor of Dr. Wilbur and ordered George to pay the fourteen dollars in fees. Judge Grime added, however, that the services rendered were “worse than valueless and had those services continued without change, death would have been the result”. An appeal to the decision was entered. It was reported in the Fall River Evening News on January 21, 1901 that “Patrolman George Allen has been confined to his home since Saturday with a severe attack of dropsy”. He died at 4:30 in the morning on February 27, 1901 at Massachusetts General Hospital after being confined to his bed for the last four weeks of his life. The official cause of death was cancer of the prostrate, but it was surmised that the injuries that he had sustained during the war had contributed to his decline. The funeral was held at the Allen residence on 523 Broadway and the coffin was then taken by train to be interred at North Burial Ground in Newport. The Fall River police department flew their flag at half-mast. Officer George W. Allen had lived a full 64 years of life. Fannie A. Allen died on May 7, 1904 at the home of her daughter Miss Eva M. Allen in Providence. The cause of death was consumption of the bowels. Eva married Brainard Taylor Bruce, a widower, on February 22, 1905 in Providence.

Fall River Daily Evening News January 10, 1893

Judge Blaisdell
____________

Takes a Lesson in Three Card Monte


Prof. Ausbach, who has, during the few weeks of his stay, built up a reputation as a past master legerdemain and the king of all palmers, dropped into the district court room this morning to familiarize himself with the place and the proceedings, in case one of victims should take it into his head to rush off and enter a complaint that he had been robbed, before investigating to see if he had really lost anything. The regular session was ended, and as the only case before the adjourned session, that of Mandy Watts for making things at Col. Pierce's home in Assonet too lively, was disposed of without trial, things promised to be slow. The professor can always be depended on to add a little life on such occassions and he did not fail today. Before the court came in he discovered a pack of cards under Court Officer Wyatt's vest and George moved to a safe distance and looked inside his vest for any other little treasures which he might be in possession of without knowing it. After giving up the search he came back to the press table and the professor relieved him of a nice looking roll of bills. George agreed to "divvy" and call it square with nothing more said. The professor did not agree and George retired again, this time to count his silver.

After the Assonet case was disposed of Judge Blaisdell came down from the bench and the professor was present. The judge had heard of the man of mystery and did not know but what he better return to the bench and order him placed in the pen. He did not, and in gratitude the professor exhibited a few of his better known tricks with cards, rings, paper and money, and exposed his famous cigarette paper trick. Finally the judge became so interested that he was drawn into a game of three card monte, although he protested that he had never played cards in his life and did not know the tray from the jack. As he had only to distinguish the colors, there was no need to learn the cards. Officer Allen picked out the red three times in succession and was so pleased that he did not stop laughing even after he had been given further trial and failed to find it even with two chances. Clerk Leonard carefully stowed a way the receipts for the day before he was willing to talk over his desk. The professor explained that for the entertainment he would charge nothing, as he intended to get even by coming in some morning to study the life and proceedings peculiar to the second district court.

Officer Allen impact to the case:
1) Verified front door was triple locked immediately after the murder
2) Introduced Charles Sawyer to the case by assigning him to 'guard' the side door. Sawyer provided much testimony and insight into the going's on.

Biggest 'bone head' move:
Leaving the house shortly after checking the front door and did not search the house for the possible intruder. Abby laid dead upstairs for another 15-20 minutes due to Allen's strange decision.

Thank goodness the intruder had already made their escape from the house or Lizzie might have been in danger when Allen left her unprotected.

camgarsky4 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:37 am Officer Allen impact to the case:
1) Verified front door was triple locked immediately after the murder
2) Introduced Charles Sawyer to the case by assigning him to 'guard' the side door. Sawyer provided much testimony and insight into the going's on.

Biggest 'bone head' move:
Leaving the house shortly after checking the front door and did not search the house for the possible intruder. Abby laid dead upstairs for another 15-20 minutes due to Allen's strange decision.

Thank goodness the intruder had already made their escape from the house or Lizzie might have been in danger when Allen left her unprotected.

It does seem sort of illogical that Allen wouldn’t make a search of the house. But, then, Lizzie had already left herself alone and unprotected in the house by sending Bridget away not once, but twice. Not for the police, but for a doctor and Alice Russell. This time would’ve been the logical window for an outside intruder to attack Lizzie who truly was alone in the house. If Allen thought that he was looking at one victim, Andrew, who had been killed on the first floor, for me, it wouldn’t seem logical to believe a killer would run past two exits to hide upstairs and make no attempt to escape until after the alarm had been raised, the body had been discovered, people were starting to gather in the street, and the house was also full of people. Allen was met by Dr. Bowen at the door when he got there. Mrs. Churchill, Bridget Sullivan, and Alice Russell were there. I know Bridget was there because George Allen said that Dr. Bowen told him he had sent for a sheet to cover Andrew. Bridget is the one who got the sheet. He left Charles Sawyer to guard the door after Dr. Bowen said, “you go down to the station and tell the Marshall about it.” Lizzie wasn’t really alone in the house when he left. To be honest, none of the officers, or anyone else, made an attempt to search the upstairs until after Bridget Sullivan said she should go and try to find Abby at Mrs. Whitehead’s. Then Lizzie made the comment about hearing Abby come in and that she wished someone would look upstairs. I’m not sure what finding Abby’s body during the first search would’ve accomplished evidence wise. Nothing about her condition had changed during that time. Lizzie couldn’t tamper with evidence at that point because there were other people in the house. So, anything that could’ve been done was already done. If there was an intruder upstairs the other officers would’ve found him unless the person came down through the house with everyone hanging out in the kitchen, dining room, and side door. The intruder would then need to possibly assail six people instead of just Lizzie alone to get through the side door. The front door was locked. Officer Allen didn’t contribute much to the case, but all in all he didn’t really take much away from it either. I think that Officer Allen also gave the most accurate time that the report had been received because it was his job every day to convey prisoners at 11:15. That was a time he would have to keep track of fairly accurately. Especially if he was conveying the prisoners by the trains which ran on a daily schedule. He also tried to time how long it took to get from the station to the Borden house afterward. It gives an approximation of timelines. Some of the actions by everyone involved don’t make a lot of sense to me. Like no one from the house calling for police.

I've come to believe that Lizzie sent for Alice Russell because she could corroborate the story about Andrew's enemies.