In which personal fave of mine Edmund Pearson tackles the Borden case, among others. [In some respects his tone is more serious here than in his other books; there's a chapter discussing the Hauptman case and the concept of circumstancial evidence, and another called "Do We Execute Innocent People?" Even keeping in mind that this was written in 1924, Pearson's views on these issues might seem a little naive - but he does raise some good points. Anyway, I don't read him so much to agree with him as to listen to him talk, as it were...]

Among the more frivolous items in this book is the wonderful case of the Boorns of Vermont, in which two family members were very nearly executed for the murder of a relative, and were saved only by his reappearance just in time; the story includes ghostly visitations as well, and why it hasn't been made into a TV-movie yet I can't explain. "The two younger Boorns, even before their Uncle Amos received his [ghostly] warning, had made unfeeling remarks about their absent brother-in-law. One of them said that he knew that Colwin was dead; while the other added that 'we have put him where potatoes will not freeze.' This speech, everybody in the village agreed, seemed to possess a sinister significance."

*** This is the Modern Library Edition, about the size of a mass-market paperback but with a cloth cover. The binding's loosening a bit but the pages are still sound; with respectful handling it should provide a good many more readings, but it's not something I'd risk in a wild release.

I'm starting a bookray on this one. Here's the mailing order:

cestmoi (Toronto, Ontario)
Rampallion (Evanston, IL)
ladyofunicorns (Santa Fe, NM)
LaurieS (Merrimack, NH)

I'll ask each person to journal the book when they receive it, PM the next person in line for their mailing address, read the book relatively promptly, and journal again when you've read it and are ready to pass it along. Hope you all enjoy it!

Controlled release:

I'm sending this to BCer cestmoi in Toronto, to start the bookray.

Just arrived today. Perfect timing, I am just about finished another bookring book so I will start this one tomorrow, I think.
Looking forward to reading this one.
Thanks GD.

<----Portrait of Lizzie Borden.

Great little book. Not an easy read, by any means. Lots of technical legalese but it was very interesting to see that not much has changed in 100 or so years. The media frenzy at the Lizzie Borden trial was not unlike the frenzy of the O.J. trial...and the rumours and alternate theories abounded. The other thing that struck me as similar was that everyone knew she was guilty, she had to have done it..but there just wasn't enough concrete evidence. Does that prove that the justice system is still as faulty as it was 100 years or ago..or still as strong at protecting innocent people..not sure which way I want to look at it myself, yet!

Thanks for sharing this GD..you find the most interesting books!

After a long day at work, I was delighted to find this book waiting for me. The author's formal, almost pompous way of writing is a treat--such a contrast with the slangy, choppy writing styles that so many of us use nowadays.
Thanks for the nifty postcards, GD and Enza, and thanks for sharing this very unusual book!
--Rampallion, eagerly awaiting a lazy holiday weekend

An intriguing, unusual book. The author sometimes becomes acerbic--he suggests that the mysterious letter writer and messenger that Lizzie Borden tried to use as an alibi might have been carried off by giant eagles--but overall he sets out the facts fairly and without much bias.
My favorite parts were the analysis of the Borden case, which I knew something about, and the _Herbert Fuller_ and Boorn brothers cases, which were new to me. I agree that the story of the Boorns would make a wonderful movie. Somebody should send that chapter to an agent. :-)
I plan to send this to ladyofunicorns this week.

Released on Monday, July 07, 2003 at to fellow bookcrosser in postal release, postal release USA.

Sent today by mediamail. Enjoy the book and the postcard collection!

Just received this book and am adding it to my bookray/ring pile to be read and will make another entry when I am done and will pass it on!

The only one I knew of from this book was the Lizzie Borden case. I only knew a little bit about that one so it was interesting to read about it though the author kind of seems biased in a way for all the cases in the book. I was intrigued with all the cases presented in this book and realize that or legal system has only seemed to have changed a little bit from about 100 years or so ago...if there is not much concrete evidence, the guilty still seem to go free...thanks for allowing me to read this book and being part of the bookray!

sending to LaurieS in NH....enjoy!

Studies In Murder arrived today (a bit worse for wear ~ pages have severed themselves from the hardback binding). Sadly, I'm thoroughly swamped with ring/ray books (7 at last count) and will not be able to get to it for a little bit. For now it shall reside in this toppling to be read pile.

I'm finally getting unburied and am starting this tonight. I am in a foul mood and its subject matter suits me well :) I will write more once I finish.

Update 11/30/03: Being from New England I *thought* I knew all about the Lizzie Borden case but learned some interesting tidbits in this little tome. It was quite fascinating to compare the hysteria and the public's obsession with the case to recent murder trials and mysteries and see how very little changes when it comes to human nature. I knew nothing about any of the others in this book. I must admit I had a little difficulty with the writing style. I'm used to reading fiction and found this difficult going at times. I truly enjoyed the author's tendency to sneak in a few appropriate sarcastic remarks whenever he could. Thanks for sharing Gorydetails!

Released on Thursday, August 19, 2004 at RABCK in n/a, RABCK Controlled Releases.

Sent this well loved book off to talon2claw today.

I got this book in the mail today! I'm looking forward to reading it and passing it along. Thanks!