New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-05
AN OLD COUPLE BUTCHERED.
MYSTERIOUS DOUBLE MURDER IN FALL
RIVER.

\
WIFE SLAM IN TIEIR HOUSE ~ THE HEART
OF THE CITY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
THEORIES OF THE POLICE.
tbr TELEGRAPH To TuE TkIBUSE.1
Fall River Aug I-Onc of the worst murders
that ever occurred in this section of southwestern
Massachusetts took placc about noon to-day, at
No. 02 Second-st within a stones throw OF the
City Hall The victims were Andrew j. Borden
and his wife, Abbic both rich, well connected and
highly esteemed The affair caused a profound
sensation and for three or four hours business
among mill men and others was practically sus-
pended Andrew j. Borden was more than seventy
years old lie went to the bank OF which hc ls
president about 0 80 this morning ana returned
an hour later. His wife, who ms peen ILL., was
called away from home by postal card asking
her 10 attend some sick friend. servant girl
passed through Mr.. B)rdcns room at ii o'clock,
and after accosting him. she asked hun how he
was, as he had been i'll a few hours previous
He said he was very well"; that was the last
time he was seen alive by any member oi
his family
The girl went into an upper portion Ol 'hc
house to do some cleaning, ana meanwuie HIS
daughter went into a barn at the rear oi the
house 10 do some chores or get something oi
groans. and running into the house she found
her father stretched sofa dead ms mead
mass of bleeding cuts. She shrieked until the
servant girl and neghbors appeared hasty
examination was made but there no trace
Of a nurderous instrument Some Of the ncighhors
asked what had become OF Mrs. Borden, ana
were told that she had gone out. An eNainha-
ton Of the upper rooms was made, anu 10 INC
horror OF all, Mrs Borden was found lying dead,
face downward, in a spare Dedchamoer on ue
floor above where her husband lay bleeding Dr.
Bowers was summoned, but he could no dothhg
but summon the police When the police ar
rived anotLcr search made, and 1t was iohnd
that Mrs Borden had been beaten to death with
an axe or other instrument
In twenty minutes the news spread about town,
and police surrounded the house. By an un-
fortunate circumstance the policemen OF the to"h
held their annual excursion to-day, and II was
an hour or more before the city was properly
picketed Suspicion at first rested OIL dls-
charged Portuguese, farrnhand who said to
have been in consultation with Mr.. Borden Tor a
day or two. Later it WIS said that tenant Of
Mr.. BOrdcn's had quarrellcd with HIM, ana had
rcvcnged himself in the atrocious manner related.
But tonight the police changed all their theories
and plans, and think that the mysterious murder
was committed hy some member OF the family
for PURPOSES Of gain Only yesterday morning the
father and mother arose from sleep feeling very
i'll they had been drinking milk before retiring.
They had been entertaining a visitor in the per-
son of John w. Morse, of Fairhavcn, brother
in-law Of the murdered man by his first marriage.
lie slept in the house last night and left ii about
o:3O this morning. He was in the house again
AZ Has o'clock, just after the murder was
discovered.
II is a singular fact in connection with the
ahsir, that little blopd wps spattcred, although
Tie wounds are revolving 10 look N, and also
that not a particle of the furniture was displaced,
ns though no struggle had occurred IL was
evident tha. the murderer had no Thought of
robbery, as Mr Borlcns watch remains IN his
wai.tcont pocEet and some silver money in his
trousers pocket. His associates say that he was
not in the habit of carrying much money with
him. I'm the pockct of the coat that he hal
thrown of were found seven letters and a note
book Nothlnc WIS taken from the bedroom or
fr,,n any other mart OF the house. That Mrs.
por-en wo- 10 be murdered evidently had not
entered into the plans Of the murderer. ana ms
killing her was only an incident III connection
with the execution Of his real object. Mcdlcai
Examiner Dolan was called Immediately hiirr ulc
discovery of the tragedy, ana WIN " bp"vi'
and other physicians present, nldur an cN"'n ~
tion OF the wounds. They decided that ha'chct
was the most probable weapon; thnc aAee ana
hatchete were found in the cellar, but they haS
not been used rs the murderer.
Mr. Borden was a typical New-tnglander' oi
the old school-upright, severe, honest, conN'rYa-
tive and universally respected lie managed d
1JentiaI adviser Of many people. Mr. Borden
Was also Interested, t. a considerable extent, IN
manufacturing Industries and banks. lie was
prr. drnt of the Union Savings Bank, ana il'lI-
Ter of its board Of investment, director of the
T. McDurgcc Safe Deposit and Trust Company, a
director OF the Merchants and Troy mills. ana,
until its change Of ownership, director OF th'
1,n,b,. Street Railway Company. Mr.. Borden
was twice married his first wife being Sarah a.
Morse daughter of the late Anthony Morse. lhcy
had three, daughters, two ol whom are hNinG,
Tmma t.. the elder, being away from home
on a visit and the younger, Lizzie d. being at
home His second wife was Abblc ID. Gray Mr
Borden was seventy and Mrs. Borden SiAty-seV2n
oil