Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-20
IN lZz|E'S BEHALF
Mrs. Brigham Talks on
the Borden Mystery.
Mr.. BORDEN LOVED LIZZIE.
And The Stories Of Unpleasantness at
Home are Stoutly Denied.


Borden's closest friend In Fall River L.
Mrs Brigham, who lives on Lincoln
9yenue-a handsome residence In the
North End, the fashionable end Of the
town. Mrs. Brigham has been tho COM
panion Of Lizzie Borden through every
period of her liza They went 10 the old
Conal street primary school together, they
were playmates as children, companions
as young girls and close friends as grown
vome0L
Next 10 Lizzie Borden speaking for her
self, therefore, MIRA Brigham can best OF
ell Others now living, speak for her. Thus
far she has remained silent-has spoken
to NO one for publication; bat yesterday,
moved. as che said, by desire 10 set beg
friend right 9s against the calumnics that
have been uttered against her. she
Granted an Interview.
II will tell you all that Iknow," she
began. concerning the incidents of Liz
sizes recent life that bears upon this
frightful tragedy. But first l wish you
would atamp as lie the allegation that
Lizzie was not happy with her father and
mother-her stepmother mean. She has
told me many times that these latter
years OF beg life have been her happiest
Tho story that she would not sit nc the
table with her father IA falsehood Of tho
blackest sort 1t has long been under
stood and accepted In the house that she
could take her breakfast when sho wished,
and the family did not wait for her II she
was not mp. She would come down
when she wos ready, and either prepare
her own breakfast or Bridget would make
her some toast l know Of many other
women who do the same, and IL was never
thought remarkable until this happened.
1T has been said that Mr.. Borden was
angry with and did not speak to Lizzie
upon her return from Europe. That. too,
10 falsehood, distorted out of facts that
were as contrary to the statement as
could be.
"Mr Borden was. as they say, not
demonstrative man, but
Ho Loved His Daughters
end showed IL at such times when they
cano back after being away. He did not
like them TO be away from home. I
could give you very many illustrations of
this showing Lzzies kind consideration
for her fother and be for her.
"Now as to Mrs. Borden While she was
very good woman. sho was not at all
affectionate or calculated to draw the
children To her. Sho was simply mild and
goo and SO long as things went smoothly
she would havo very little TO say about
the house. SO that this should not be
taken as proof Of any bitterness OF feeling
between them. for there was mono.
Lizzie Borden was kind and generous
girl-very generous--who would do any
thing In the world for anyone she thought
much o[ Whenever there were subscrip-
ttons TO DO made up she contributed liber-
ally, and have seen her assume debts at
tho church all herself
These stories OF her being skimped for
money arc equally false with the others
While her income was scarcely In keeping
with tie wealth Of her father, she had
more money than she needed She had the
best Of clothes, her room was fitted
luxuriously as parlor and bedroom, and
sho bought books by the set rather than
by tho volume
And az to insanity"
"There has never been trace Of IL
about her. She wns
A Giri OF Very Even Tempor.
She never became excited. She had ideas,
spoke them quietly and clearly. She could
not be insane for the instant Of commit
ting the murder, and then return To her
own normal self instantly-and after each
Of the two murders, for think Mrs. Bor-
den was murdered FIRST rs do the others.
"IIer conduct since the murder has been
just what anyone who knew her would
expect. They speak OF her dry eyes Is
It not all too awful TO cry aboutf We
might weop,as all Of US have. for the death
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Borden, but this, this is
too terrible; even cannot weep 10 face OF
It. Her pride was touched at the first
sign OF suspicion being directed against
her, and the horror Of 1t has kept her rs
aAa In