"loitering' young man on Second Street

[camgarsky4]

As I've been rereading all the various witness accounts of what they saw happening on Second Street the morning of August 4, perhaps some of the sightings were merely moments of real life and not part of the crimes in the Borden home.

Sarah Hart and Delia Manley both testified seeing a younger man leaning against the Borden driveway gate post around 9:50-10am. A summary of Sarah Hart's testimony was provided by the Daily Evening News provided below.

At 9:55 and 10am respectively, Mrs. Mark P. Chace and George Petty describe seeing Bridget with window washing equipment at the northwest corner of the Borden house. The Chace and Petty insights are provided below the photo at the bottom of post.

All these observations occurred at almost the exact place and time. (see photo below). But Sarah/Delia don't mention Bridget and Chace/Petty don't note the presence of the young man.

Would have been nice if the attorney's and police had asked each of these witnesses if they had noticed each other.....or if they did ask, had documented the responses.

Circling back to the question of what was this young man up to? One possible explanation might be that the young man was hanging around with the innocent wish to flirt with Bridget.

Photo (courtesy of Lizzie virtual library website) of the northwest corner of the Borden home. This is the corner where the young man and Bridget were seen around 9:50-10am morning of August 4.

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Sarah Hart's trial testimony summary. June, 1893.

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Mrs. Chace saw Bridget washing windows 9:55 a.m.
Jennings Journals page 77.
Mrs. Mark P. Chace, entry recorded by Arthur S. Phillips
"Morning of murder I saw Bridget washing windows @ 9:55 on N side. Parlor Windows. She had pail & long handled brush. Windows & blinds were closed that AM up & down. I was going to Rock Pt in 11 boat went out of here @ 9:55. It struck 10 as I passed Mrs. Tripp's. Dr Kelly's work girl was washing windows at same time on S. Side. Just commencing on front part of house. Blinds were closed........."

George Petty. testified at the Trial (page 645 of the transcripts) that he saw Bridget standing stationery outside around 10a.m. He saw her with the pail, dipper and brush and presumed she had been washing the windows. She was 'opposite the front door', so I presume that means she was close to the northwest corner of the front.