The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-26
LIZZIE BORDEN ON TRIAL
Preliminary Hearing of the Girl Who
Is Charged with Killing Her Parents.
Testimony of the Doctor Who Exemined the
Stained Hatchet and Closhing-The Ac-
cussds Demeauor During the Day.

FALL RIVER, Mass. Aug. 25.-The Sec
ond District Courtroom never before held
such a crowd as that which Greeted Judge
Blaisdel this morning. 1t was the second
date agreed upon for the hearing of Miss
Lizzie A. Borden on the charge of killing
her father with an AK. Clergymen. lay
men. lawyers, physicians, and more than
$50 women. who wcre'not directly connect
ed with the case, were seated and standing
in ell parts of the room. while inside the
rail was an extraordinary number of report
ers Women occupied more than two.thirds
of the seats usually occupied by the curious
people who usually frequent the lower
courts. At 1890 Mr.. Charles j. Holmes ap-
peared with Miss Emma Borden on his arm.
Miss Lizzie Borden came in last with
Marshal Hilliard. She was handed to
seat between her two legal advisers and
near settee on which her sister was
seated. The two women sat elbow to
elbow. Miss Lizzie was at her SISTERS right
hand. Not q word passed between them.
Eve are ready to proceed your honor"
said District. attorney Knowlton. At 1880
Medical Examiner Dolan was called to the
stand. The witness testified to the posi-
tion of the murdered couple when found.
and to sending their stomachs to Professor
Wood, of Harvard College, for analysis
Surveyor Herman was the next witness.
He thought from the appearance OF spot
of blood on the decreasing that 1t was
throw from the sitting room toward the
ki tchen.
DR.. Doian was called back to the stand.
What caused Mr.. Borden's deathW was
asked.
Witness-He died from shock, and the
body was still warm whom witness arrived
at the house.
A question as to the force required was
objected to, but the objection was over-f
ruled. Witness said the wounds could be
made by any person of ordinary strength
using moderate force. In the witnesses
opinion Mrs. Borden had been dead sbout
an hour and q half when he saw her. Sne
died of shock: Witness saw four axes in
the cellar of the house. He examined one
and found 1t had been scraped and washed.
Under the glass it showed stains which
looked like blood. There was some hair on
it. also. He took some dress-skirts and un-
derskirts from the house. the property Of
Miss Borden, the defendant.
DIR. Dolan's examination lasted all day.
The principal things developed by attorney
Adams was tho oxpOsnre of the slip-sh0d
methods of the police force and medical ex-
aminer. ono of the results of which was she
imprisonment of Miss Lizzie Borden. Mr.
Adams wanted to know If Dr.. Dolan
thought that the hatchet with the pecnliar
clay head waa the identical one which pro-
duced the crushed wound in Mrs. Bor-
den's head. He thought it could have done
it. Continuing his testimony. the medical
examiner told of examining the clothing
of the Borden girls and described the STAINS
Mr.. Borden's assailant stood behind the
head of MIR. Borden and the dining-r00m
door, perhaps midway OF the opening.
From the position Of the assailant and Mr.
received more blood about the waist than
below. He thought the person doing the
deed could have not more than ten spots of
blood on his clothing.
All through this exhaustive and tedious
examination District Attorney knowlJon
hardly raised an objection. Miss Lizzie
Borden did not bctray any noticeable feel
ing during the whole Cay, except, possibly,
in three or four instances. One was when
Mr.. Dolan described the ghastly wounds on
her father. Then she flushed and tears
come into her eyes. She closed her eyes and
hid her face behind q fan, ana leaned
toward her sister Emma, " no also remained
with closed eyesun the dreadful tale was
ended. When Mr. Adams asked If the re-
port of the autopsy was in the dootor's
handwriting, and received q negative
answer, he followed 1t with another, which
was met with the smart answer that 1t was
writer. Lizzie joined in the smiles that
went around the courtroom. When the
wood was passed around showing blood
spots attorney Jennings made q joking
remark. and again Miss Lizzie smiled
About o'clock, when Miss Emma spoke
to her for the first time during tho day, she
turned smilinRly toward her and answered
something at which both girls laughed
cheerfully. Miss Lizzie and her attorneys
are we'll pleased with tho result of the first
days proceedings. They sec nothing
which attaches the crime to the house, but
see great deal to show careless and even
shiftless methods on the part of the prose-
cution. Tho hearing will be resumed to-
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock. In case
Mr.. KnOwlton is not on hand witnesses
was the morning previous to the murder.
Mr.. jennings. counsel for the defense.
has given. ous q letter for publication
which tells in rambling way of The
writer's interview with bloody stranger
Il was signed Samuel Rob,nsky:- ped
dler OF that name is known at Waltham.
but he cannot be found now. Tho writer.
who claims to be peddler says: When
the fatal murder in Fall River oc-
CURED l was only few miles
with blood. He told me- that he worked
on a farm and that he never could get his
wages, 80 he had fight with the farmer.
He bought from me four handkerchiefs.
one necktie. collar and shoe blacking. His
boots were covered with blood and he put
lots of blacking on. / am dead sure |
will know him again. ! only heard about
the murder At or z O'clock last night. l
kept quiet, as / had no license and feared
to be arrested. If ! had known about the
would have been different as l would have
followed him up and perhaps got the re-
ward. thought It was Door farm hand,
and so took pity on him, as / know as q
rule farmers seldom pay their han is during
the summer"