American woman (1860-1927) who was tried and acquitted in the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. The saga ultimately became one of the most celebrated unsolved cases in the history of American crime. ALS signed “L. A. Borden,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, November 21, 1898. Letter to her neighbor James Kenney, in full: "I sent you a note before you bought the house telling you my price was $700.00 and the stove if you wanted. You were not willing to give 700.00 and as I came down on price, we said nothing more about anything but house. I certainly did not sell the house and stove for $500.00. The stove only went in at $700.00. And I feel sure you understood it and no one could expect me to do any more than I have done for you know you got the house for almost nothing. I am going to use the stove my self, and I feel that every thing has been fair and open on my part. I must once more ask you not to trouble me again. I cannot attend to the business and only talked with you at all because you so disliked Mr. Cook and were my neighbor. I never before talked business with any one." In very good to fine condition, with moderate intersecting folds.
"Mr. Cook" is more than likely Charles C. Cook, a conveyancer, claims agent, and insurance agent who held an office in the Andrew J. Borden Building. A financial advisor to the entire Borden household, Cook was especially close with Lizzie, who rewarded Cook's loyalty and guidance by naming him an executor of her will and a legatee. After her acquittal in June of 1893, Lizzie Borden moved to Maplecroft, a massive Victorian estate at 306 French Street in Fall River’s fashionable Highlands neighborhood. Already infamous and unwelcome, she did nothing to gain friends on her new street, frequently throwing loud and lavish parties into the early morning hours, and complaining about other residents’ habits. She was especially antagonistic towards this letter’s recipient, James Kenney, whose property abutted her own; in 1897 she purchased the lot on which he lived, forcing him to relocate his house shortly after.
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