The Fascinating Mr. Bence
Eli Bence has always been a person of great interest to Borden case historians, even though his testimony did not get considered at the trial in the end. He has been a person of personal fascination for me for 30 years and I was delighted to learn his home in Pittsfield, MA sold in July 2020 and the realtor included some interior photos of the graceful 1900 – built home. Bence had some heartaches in his life, the death of his daughter Priscilla, and first wife, Sarah Hayhurst- and he, himself died tragically at the peak of his illustrious career as a pharmacist. His story, pharmacy in New Bedford in 1894 and second marriage to Annie Maxfield have been covered fairly extensively on the Warps & Wefts blog over the years but here is a new photo of Eli in 1885, and photos of his Pittsfield home as well as two obituaries you will enjoy reading. The link will take you to interiors of his 64 Commonwealth St. Pittsfield home, which sadly, have been greatly modernized. I have always been a great believer in what Eli had to say in 1893. https://www.realtor.com/…/64-Commonwealth-Ave…





3 Comments
Anonymous
What is paralytic shock? A stroke? A dissociative event from dementia?
Shelley
From what I can find out, it was a sudden onset of paralysis, perhaps due to a stroke.
kate lavender
I also believed every word that Eli Bence spoke and if it hadn’t been for that disastrous preliminary hearing with Melvin Addams I think he would have been called to testify before the jury, but would it have made a difference? Probably not.