The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-15
The Hatchet With Which the Bloody
Deed Was Done.
SOME POINTS IN THE ARGUMENTS
FOR THE DEFENSE.
The Ridiculous Story About the Jefferson
Borden Disproved-Famfly Relations
of the Bordens-Property Given to the
Girls

BosToN, August 14.-The story that
Borden was murdered by men whom he
was instrumental in sending to prison
for mutiny on the schooner Jefferson
Borden, was shown to Mr.. Kinsman,
commission merchant at 10 Doane street,
who said: Eyes, I do know all about
the matter. Captain Patterson claimed
that the men rose against him and mur-
dered the second mate and one other, ,and
tried to kill him .and his wife and the
steward.
"Andrew S. Borden wasn't on the yes
sci at all. The only people in her cabin
were Captain Patterson, his wife, two
mates and the steward.
''These sailors are all in Thomaston
Jail. None were discharged after trial
The Men Are Still In Prison.
THoMAsToN, August 13.-George Mill
er and William Clark, the Jefferson Bor-
den mutineers. were sent to the Maine
State prison October d, 1875, and have
never been pardoncd. They are still
here for life.
The Bloody Ratchet.
FALL RIVER, August 14.-Now comes
the report of the analyst and establish
es beyond any question the fact that An
drew j. Borden was, killed with the sharp
hatchet found in the cellar of the house.
The doctors stated that in their opin-
ion it was the same hatchet--it is now
known to be the same. The blood stains
found on the carpet near where he was
killed were compared with those on the
hatchet and found identical in every
way. The comparison shows conclu-
sively that the stains on the hatchet were
caused by the same blood as those on
the carpet.
That leaves no room whatever for
doubt in regard to the hatchet found in
the cellar. 1t was the murderous weapon
certainly one of them, if not the only
one.
Argument for the Defense.
The entire absence of blood on Miss
Borden's garments is something the de-
fense will argue in favor of her inno-
eence. If she killed her mother, it was
done with Bridget Sullivan on the prem
ises, and she must not only do the deed,
but conceal all evidences of the crime at
the risk of being discovered at any stage
by this servant who was running all
about the house that morning, first in
the kitchen after water, then out to wash
the windows on the first floor, which
commanded, one after another, every
room on that floor; and, on occasion,
out into the front hall to admit Mr.. Bor-
den.
If during those two hours Bridget had
chanced to wonder what Mrs. Borden
was doing up stairs so long, or had had
any question to ask her, the first crime
must have been revealed at once and the
second frustrated.
1t is claimed that Bridget's presence
in the house during the whole morning
made any attempt at murder, with any
rational prospect of escaping discovery,
impossible. If either victim had not
been surprised, and had made a resist
ance, or If in either case the first blow
had not proved fatal, and an outcry had
followed, detection would have been in
vitable.
If to dOsuch murder and escape de-
lection once in a morning was remarka-
BILE, to do it twice in succession was
nothing short of miraculous. The old
proverb, that lightning never strikes
twice in the same place, falls fiat before
such an overthrow of the laws of chance
The defense is waiting with good
deal of interest for the developments at
the hearing week from Monday. The
state, it is said, must show its hand then.
If the case comes to trial, what is termed
the star chamber inquest, at which Liz
zie A. Borden was examined, will be
sharply criticised by the defense.
1t is shown from authoritative sources
that Miss Borden herself holds that her
arrest is an outrage, and that the color
noted on her cheeks is often the flush of
Indignation. Her self control is marvel
lous, and her determination to meet her
accusers face to face as soon as may be
is as firm as steel.
It transpires that Mr.. Borden had given
his daughters $4,000 each-$2500 each
within few weeks, in exchange for the
old house that he had decided to them.
The current number of the Banker and
Tradesman records the transfer of the
house back to the father. The $4,000 di-
vided between the girls was in the form
of bank stock.
The Fall River News says: $50 many
conflicting stories have been told con-
cerning the relations between members
OF the Borden family that the testimony
of Mrs. Charles j. Holmes upon this
point will be of much interest. Mrs.
Holmes has been one of the most intimate
friends of the family. Her statement
connot help having weight.
tShe admits that the family relations
have not been SO pleasant as they are in
many families in years past. They were
decidedly unpleasant at times, but all
talk of open ruptures between Lizzie
and her father and stepmother is foolish
ness. As matter OF fact, Lizzie had
been on much more friendly terms with
her father and Mrs. Borden during the
past year or two than she had been pre-
viously for long time-probably more
than she had ever been before"
The Behring Sea Seizures.
VICTORIA, B. c.. August 14.-Seizures