Borden Books

This book is alright by textbook standards. It seems like it repeats a lot of the same information, though. If you've never been exposed to community youth development programs before, you'll probably learn a lot. But, if you know anything about this topic already, it will seem like common sense to you.

The drawings are very good. I wish the reproductions of his drawings were better. The pictures are blurry. I kept it any way, but if I had known the quality of the reproductions was this poor I would have skipped it.

This book tells about five famous murders that occurred decades earlier. Pearson was "one of the best trial and crime reporters" in the 1920s-30s. "In all five cases, the determination of guilt or innocence rested on circumstantial evidence".

"The Borden Case" attracted national attention, and divided public opinion as no criminal prosecution had ever done before, or since. Families were divided, and argued over this fascinating case. The Bordens were not of a class where these crimes are common. The verdict did not solve this puzzle. On that "intensely hot morning of Thursday, August 4, 1892" (p.9) Andrew Jackson Borden walked back to his house. In half an hour he was dead; later the body of his pre-deceased wife Abby was found. His youngest daughter Lizzie was charged with these crimes, and found "Not Guilty". This crime remained a mystery until Arnold R. Brown's "Lizzie Borden: The Legend, the Truth, the Final Chapter" was published in 1991 with its solution.

"The Twenty-Third Street Murder" of Friday, July 29, 1870 was of Benjamin Nathan, a New York financier. He was beaten to death in his own room, while his two sons slept in their house. The blood spattered walls and door spoke of a violent struggle; the open safe and empty cash box spoke to the motive (p.132). A newspaper pointed suspicion to one son of irregular morals. The inquest named no one. A convict in Sing Sing named a burglar. This burglar was found in Texas and brought to New York. But a case could not be made (p.155), and the suspect returned to jail in Illinois. It was never solved.

"Mate Bram" concerns the voyage of the barkentine 'Herbert Fuller' from Boston on July 3, 1896. Most of the crew was new to the ship and each other. The boat carried a load of lumber below and on top of the deck. There were some quarrels between the first and second mate. Early on the morning of July 14 the captain and his wife, along with the second mate, were murdered. The Grand Jury indicted Thomas Bram, the first mate (no bloodstains were found on him). Seaman Charley Brown testified he saw Bram kill the captain. Cross-examination revealed incidents from Brown's past that lessened his credibility. Bram was sentenced to life in prison; he served 15 years before being paroled. Six years later he was granted a full pardon. He became a prosperous businessman (p.224).

"The Hunting Knife" is about the murder of Mabel Page on March 31, 1904. Her retired father came home at 2:10PM and found her dead; money was missing from her purse. The police questioned all who had been in the neighborhood. One of these had his picture in the newspaper. A driver who gave him a ride saw this; he found a leather sheath for a knife afterwards. Charles Tucker was taken to the police station and given the usual warning of having his words used against him (p.241). While examining his overcoat, the police asked if this sheath was his; he admitted it was (!), then denied owning a knife. When his house was searched they found a pin of Mabel Page, and parts of a knife; he now admitted it was his. He was then arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death. No plea for mercy was considered (p.255).

"Uncle Amos Dreams a Dream" is about the Boorn case. Russell Colvin disappeared on May 10, 1812 from Manchester, Vermont. Seven years later his Uncle Amos dreamed that Russell was murdered by his brothers-in-law, and buried in a filled-up cellar hole. A dog began to dig by a hollow stump; bones were found. Some physicians said they were human, one didn't agree. Jesse Boorn was arrested, jailed, then admitted his brother did the killing. Stephen Boorn was arrested, but protested his innocence; he was chained in the "inner dungeon". The Grand Jury indicted them both. Russell's son described a fight; a forger in jail testified to a confession from Stephen. Stephen then confessed and said it was self-defense. Both were found guilty and sentenced to death. The brothers protested their innocence, people petitioned the State Legislature. Jesse's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, Stephen was left to the gallows. The Rutland Herald printed an advertisement for Russell Colvin, and the death sentence of Stephen. The NY Evening Post reprinted an article from the Albany Daily Advertiser. A man from Shrewsbury NJ said a Russel Colvin from Manchester Vermont was living there. This person was asked to visit New York, then taken to Troy, then to Bennington. He was recognized and identified beyond all doubt. The Court was criticized for allowing a conviction without a dead body. A new trial was held, the charges dropped, and the Boorn brothers freed. They later moved to Ohio. People wondered why they would confess to a crime they didn't commit, but no answers were given except an "Act of God" (p.285).

this cookbook is a delight to have on my shelf. it has quick recipes that i can use for almost any occasion. the dishes are really delicious.

From the point of view of Borden researchers, the meat of the book consists of five essays previously published in The Hatchet or the Lizzie Borden Quarterly. Dr. Holba has cleverly packaged these as a college textbook designed to teach students to use critical thinking skills to analyze narratives of all kinds. Lizzie Borden's story is a good choice for this: it has blood, mystery, murder, and hints of unsavory sex; it's a story that almost everybody has heard about but whose facts and folklore are widely divergent; there is a great deal of written evidence from the time and a number of retellings.

The Lizzie researcher who isn't interested in critical theory is unlikely to find anything new here.

The Lizzie researcher who is interested in narratives qua narratives will wonder why there isn't a chapter explaining Lizzie's lifelong notoriety in terms of Michel Foucault's carceral continuum.

This is a very brief overview of what happens when you, the physician (or you, the nurse, the PA, nurse practitioner, or whatever) is sued for medical malpractice. It doesn't take much of your time to read this book, but there are some real eye-openers in it. I recommend reading it before you ever look a process server in the eye--and hopefully that never happens. Unfortunately, too often it does. I speak as an RN with 20 years' experience.

The Mystery Unveiled?

The object of this book is to lead to correct opinions as to the perpetrator of the Borden Tragedy so none may fear a similar calamity, and to avert suspicion from the innocent. The public was shocked by these murders because of the circumstances of their condition. One person was indicted for this crime, and acquitted. Therefore there must be an unknown party, a villain, who committed the murders. Abby Borden was killed after 9 am, Andrew was killed about 11 am. The author assumes a skillfully wrought plan to kill and leave no circumstantial evidence. The villain must get into that house undetected, commit two murders undetected, and leave undetected. The author claims no one could have done this, and proves this assertion by his assumptions.

The author lays out all the known facts about the Borden home that day. Lunday creates logical assumptions for the difficulty any stranger would have to enter secretly and secrete himself in the house. But all his arguments fail if the villain had knowledge of this old house and the presence or absence of its residents. Emma was away, a very rare event. Uncle John arrived Wednesday without luggage, as if for a short visit. Abby received a note that was to draw her away. Bridget was sent outdoors to wash windows. Andrew went to his bank and returned for dinner. Only Lizzie was inside the house until before 11 am. A villain could enter with a skeleton key, or by invitation to a secret meeting. Lunday assumes that the murder was planned, rather than being the emotional reaction of an unbalanced mind. My assumption was that this meeting was to be kept secret from Bridget, hence the suggestion of a bargain sale that day. The assumptions of Lunday are refuted by the facts of that day. A visitor was brought into the house for a meeting that went awry. Lizzie, outdoors at 11 am, knew who this visitor was, but decided to keep her Father's secret.

Given the facts in Arnold R. Brown's book, it seems to have happened this way. [My assumptions, of course.] Uncle John drops by Wednesday to pass a message for a requested meeting Thursday morning; he then leaves. A note is brought to get Abby out of the house. But she goes to the guest room and finds the hidden visitor. Words are exchanged, and this visitor strikes Abby 19 times. Then he waits for his meeting with Andrew. Bridget was out of doors, Lizzie is in the cellar privy. Noise from the carts and horses masks any indoor noises. After Andrew returns, Bridget is sent to her third floor room, and Lizzie goes out to the backyard. Another violent scene occurs, and Andrew is struck 10 times. As the visitor leaves, he is seen by Lizzie. She knows the meeting is over and returns inside and gets the shock of her life. When the police arrive Lizzie says "it wasn't Bridget or anyone who worked for Father". She knew, but kept the family secret. The rest is well-known. After the trial, Bridget leaves for Ireland, buys property for her parents, then returns via Canada to western America. [I think Bridget was given a loan for her trip to Ireland, and would have to repay it when she returned.]

You may disagree with this solution, but it best fits the known facts. Thanks to Arnold R. Brown and the book he wrote a few years before his death. The only thing we know for sure is that Lizzie was acquitted, and the same lack of evidence (and motive) applies to Bridget. All of Lunday's assumed difficulties disappear given a secret meeting that went awry due to the insane actions of the visitor.

I have enjoyed reading the subject matter thus far even though I do not particularly care for research. The author did a very good job of writing this text.

The original trial transcript is preserved in Massachusetts. People would have to pay for a copy of thousands of pages to read this testimony. The reason for a record is in case of any appeal based on reversible error. All trials have errors, only serious errors are cause for a new trial. Lawyers raise objections because that preserves their right of appeal. Any jury decides on the facts from conflicting testimony. The written words do not capture the tone of a voice, the manner of the witness, etc. The jury represents the people chosen at that time. Who knows what others may decide at another time? Moot juries have repeated the 'not guilty' verdict. Some people read trial transcripts for research, or to contradict established decisions. There is an Internet site that used to carry a version that could be downloaded to a computer.

Books have been written about this famous unsolved murder of Abby and Andrew Borden. Some say Lizzie did it, others name someone else. The only legal proof is that Lizzie was found 'not guilty' of the murders. Some claim this was a mistake, but they have no proof. One author, Arnold Brown, came up with the best solution: it was a secret visitor whose presence was kept hidden by Lizzie and Uncle John. That explains why no murder weapon was found, no blood spatter on Lizzie (or Bridget). Brown developed his story from a manuscript that was brought to his attention. David Kent's "Forty Whacks" is still the one best book on this perplexing puzzle. That is all that is needed for a general audience.

The Trial of O.J. Simpson is the modern equivalent of a controversial decision followed by many books published by authors who were not present at the trial. There are many books on people who were convicted of crimes but later found innocent. Tom Mooney and Dr. Sam Sheppard were freed but their lives were ruined. Jack Kehoe was posthumously cleared of his conviction. Professor Borchard wrote a book on "Convicting the Innocent", mostly on mistaken identification. The judge at the Lizzie Borden trial remarked on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony that can't be corroborated.

In the book of Wild Animals of Africa written by Beatrice Brown Borden I learned about many different animals. It told me about a little lion cub. He was keeping his family up so his mom took him to play. In the story the lion cub was hunted so his mom had to hide him. Then in the book it told me about how the wild beasts lived. They lived close to one another so it would be harder for predators to hunt them. I learned about the many different species of antelopes, big and small. For example, small antelopes had big ears and big eyes. Big antelopes could almost weigh 1000 pounds. The story told me about the Cape buffalo, they're always ready for a fight. I enjoyed when I read about the cheetah's leopard. Then I learned about scavengers. I also really enjoyed learning about the African elephants and birds. In addition, I learned about the great rhinoceros and ostriches. To conclude, I liked this story, "Wild Animals of Africa"; you should read this book.