Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Here's another little Lincoln item that I've never seen anywhere else. Regarding Morse's visit to the house on August 3:

"Uncle John did not put up a horse and carriage, as was his custom, in the back-yard stable that the Bordens called the barn."

Andrew had not had a horse for about a year and yet there was a large supply of hay in the loft. I assume that if Morse rented a carriage near his home and drove over he would have to have a place to feed and board the horse. Could that be the reason for some of the hay?

There was a stable right across the street, Halls, and another about one block South, Gardner's. Hall's was where Addie ran for help, and Gardner's was where Lubinsky picked up his ice cream wagon horse that morning.

Yet when it came time to go to Swansea, Morse didn't go to either of these stables, he went to Kirby's stable which I believe was on Rock Street.

And why would Morse take the train to Fall River when he knew he was going over to Swansea and would have needed a horse and carriage?

Maybe that was just due to not wanting to have to take care of a horse during his stay. Or maybe there was a reason he didn't want much attention centering around the barn, the horse inside would cause more attention to be paid to whats going on in the barn.

Allen @ Mon Mar 21, 2005 4:46 pm wrote:Or maybe there was a reason he didn't want much attention centering around the barn, the horse inside would cause more attention to be paid to whats going on in the barn.

That's a nice sinister reason. Maybe he also wanted to take public transit when he visited, so he could reel off those numbers that were his alibi.

Any sources give further info on Uncle John's usual horse-driving or -riding behaviors?

Perhaps the hay in the barn was for horses that Andrew's men from the farm used? From the Witness Statements, Frederick Eddy stated that the day of the murders he would have taken the train to Andrew's house to deliver the eggs. But, I wonder about the other times that he came with "things for market"?

Page 36

"When I go to Fall River with hay or anything for market, I have always been in the habit of going to Mr. Borden's house for dinner."

Mr. Eddy would need some sort of cart or wagon to carry hay in and probably a horse or two. Could the hay then be from Andrew's own farm and for use by Mr. Eddy and Mr. Johnson when they came to the Borden house?

That's an interesting point about Morse not beringing a horse because it would draw attention to the Borden barn. What makes it even more "sinister" is if Morse did not bring a horse because it would draw attention, period.

No one would know when he came or left the house if he walked- no horse to make racket or a big to-do over...

But, I wonder about the other times that he came with "things for market"? Susan.

Ive got it! The Bordens were marijuana dealers and they did their business in the barn, hiding their stash amongst the hay!

Seriously, it does seem rather curious that Morse wanted to travel light, even though he was travelling a distance, and be so quick to be able to rattle off the particulars of his alibi.

***And why would Morse take the train to Fall River when he knew he was going over to Swansea and would have needed a horse and carriage?***


good question. could it be this was the cheaper and/or less cumbersome choice for his itinerary?

knowing andrew did not keep a horse, morse thought trying to keep one there would be impractical/troublesome?

seems like he takes the most convenient choice when the time comes, including walking. renting a horse is the most trouble? and this is his type thinking, which is part-and-parcel with his lack of luggage, etc.?

Renting a team on Rock Street instead of at the stables on Second Street could also indicate some desire to have one's movements go unnoticed by the neighborhood.

Right you are Susan about the farmhands coming over. I believe Bridget testified that they sometimes stayed over night and slept in the small bedroom opposite her room.

As to the hay, Bridget was not much help. She testified at the trial, page 194:

"Q. There was some hay in the barn. Was that hay that had been left over from the time that the horse had been kept there?
A. I suppose so. I don't know.
Q. Did you know of any hay being put in after the horse had been sold or disposed of?
A. No, sir, I don't remember."

wintressanna @ Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:20 am wrote:Ive got it! The Bordens were marijuana dealers and they did their business in the barn, hiding their stash amongst the hay!

Pot was legal until 1937. Louisa May Alcott wrote a strange little story (under a pen name) about the experience of time under hashish, which makes it fairly clear she knew what she was talking about, whether from reading or personal experience. You can read it online here.

Cocaine was in Coca-Cola until 1903. Opium, morphine, and cocaine were sold over the counter until 1906.

Seriously, it does seem rather curious that Morse wanted to travel light, even though he was travelling a distance, and be so quick to be able to rattle off the particulars of his alibi.

Yes, that makes me very suspicious. I cannot believe that his visit was a coincidence -- either it was a precipitating factor, or he was in on the plot, or the killer (not knowing his habit of memorizing streetcar numbers) decided to throw suspicion on him.

It's a fascinating puzzle.

Lynn