Page 1 of 1

A Couple of Emma Tidbits

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2024 2:54 pm
by CagneyBT
The following incident allegedly occured during the inquest:

The World, Thursday, Aug. 11, 1892, pg 2: "Emma Borden, having been out of the city when the murders were committed, of course could tell nothing about them, but she was closely questioned about the relations existing between her sister and herself and the old people. Miss Emma has attained that age when it is scarcely a discourtesy to call her an old maid. She is rapidly nearing forty. Lizie is thirty-three and looks it. That Emma has a temper, too, was illustrated when she came downstairs and entered the carriage.

Marshal Hilliard did not do her the honor to ride with her, as he has alalways done with Lizzie, and Dr. Bowen, who had also been an occupant of the carriage on its arrival at headquarters, did not return with her. Emma had barely been seated when a policeman started to join her.

"I prefer to ride alone," she exclaimed.

"But I was told to go with you."

"I don't care; you shan't. I am not a prisoner, and I don't propose to be treated as such. Get away from here."

She caught the carriage door and closed it. The officer put his hand upon it, and Miss Borden pushed him away.

"You must not enter this carriage, sir. I insist upon my right, and I won't be subjected to this outrage."

The policeman didn't know what to do. Miss Borden's manner was determined and her vocie was high.

A crowd began to gather and then Marshal Hilliard told the driver to go on. Miss Borden won her point."

The Fairhaven Star, Oct. 19, 1961 "...Lewis F. Blossom of 565(?) Washington street, distinctly recalls that Emma Borden, whom he knew well by sight and who frequently visited the Brownell family across the street from his home, was in Fairhaven the day of the tragedy until summoned to her home by news of the deaths of her father and stepmother."

Lewis Farwell Blossom was born in May 1876, making him 16 years old in 1892. According to the 1880 census for Fairhaven, the Blossom & Brownell families were indeed neighbors.
LewisBlossom1880census.png
If Lewis' memory was accurate, then Emma could not have murdered Andrew & Abby, as some have theorized.

Re: A Couple of Emma Tidbits

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2024 7:02 am
by camgarsky4
Thanks for sharing! Both are new insights.

I fully support Emma for not letting herself be forced upon. It would be natural to 'be pissed' at law enforcement if one felt they were ready to arrest your sister. I love these insights....provide so much context to situations.

I've not seen previous postings from the Fairhaven Star. What was the basis or lead topic of the 1961 article?

Re: A Couple of Emma Tidbits

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2024 11:39 am
by CagneyBT
I agree it gives a human insight in how Emma was feeling and reacting during that time. If it's true that Emma was shy and retiring by nature, the hubbub must have more than she could tolerate.

The snippet from the Fairhaven Star was from a 1961 article highlighting a TV show about the Borden case.