The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-08
THE BORDEN CASE.

Though the Massachusetts, grand Jury
has indicted Miss Lizzie Borden for the
murder Of her father and step-mother
but very little more is known by the
public concerning the probability Of her
guilt.
There are great many wild and inn
probable stories printed, but none of
them are worthy of credence and some
of them are discredited almost before
| the ink they Are printed with rs dry.
There has been no authentic informa-
ton given to the public relative TO the
nature of the evidence offered to the
grand jury, and the story that the de-
fence offered testimony was at once
denied by authority.
About the only reasonabley sure thing
regarding the matter that was devel-
oped by the grand jury hearing was
that an indictment was found against
the unfortunate young woman. and
another against Boston reporter for
attempting To suborh government
witness. The reporter has been killed
by railroad accident since he was
indicted, and it will probably never be
known whether or not he deserved the
severe treatment accorded him by the |
grand jury.
The improbable yarn he wrote, alleg-
ing to have received it from the erst-
while Providence detective, McHenry.
was only somewhat exaggerated spec
linen of all the so-called revelations"
that Were printed before, and have been
printed since, the grand jury's meeting.
There has been nothing in them more
than more or less shrewd
yuesses, and they have done more 70
iiscredit the papers originating and
publishing them than they have TO
,hrow light on this most dark and
'omber mystery.
While the action of the grand jury
must be held to show that the govern
nent has stronger case against Miss {
Borden than the public generally be- ,
ieved, and hoped, it is not safe TO con.
lnde that her guilt is established. The
efence is yet TO be heard, and IL has
iven no hint of its strength or its /,
The best defence the accused ii
roman can possibly have is the extreme a
eluctance of the people 10 believe that y
ich fiendish crime as she is charged
nth could possibly have been commit.
ID by her. 1t will require evidence z
lat admits of not the slightest doubt m
} convict the Fall River girl, and il is !,
ltirely plain that the government is 90
)t yet in possession Of such evidence CO
The chief point upon which the gov.
seems as yet TO be satisfied is
lat ii cannot conceive who could have be
the murder if Lizzie Borden ~ ~
d not. Appearances are against her. Sc
here is certain amount of circum- an
antial evidence against her-evidence m
at is extremely damaging, no doubt
n there is as yet not the slightest in. "a
cation that the government has a en
red of direct evidence that places the fe'
ood Of her parents upon Lizzie Ror- 30
MS head.
But it must not be hastily inferred
at IL is necessary to produce witness
10 saw the act 10 establish that IL as
tually transpired as the government lis
'umes it did. Circumstantial evi. et Of
nee is not always the least important. Co
often 80 clearly leads 20 the inference
at certain facts exist that IT is impos- I
lie to imagine that such was not the Cl,
lth. IL has been held by eminent an'
fists that circumstantial evidence is ~, ~,
tually Of more value i'm determining
iden facts than direct evidence, be- y
use Il offers less opportunity for son
rely human error TO have play. The fire.
estion Of fact is matter of inference sul