Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-06
AGAINST LIZZIE BORDEN.
Evidence That a Dress Was Burned Alter the
Murders.

PRovIph>cE, Dec. 5.--Fhe journal says
that one of the battling points in the inves,i-
CATION by the government in the Borden
murder case was the method used by the
murderer to destroy the garments which he
or she had worn during the commitial of
the deed, and which, according TO the me'ii-
cal experts, must have been covered with
blood from the upward squirting arteries of
the murdered couple. The mind naturally
suggested the destroying of the telltale gar
ments by fire, for that element more than
any other could effectually remove every
trace which might lead TO the apprehension
of the assassin by discovery OF the cloth
ing worn when the deed was committed.
In the evidence submitted at the prelim-
mary trial it was developed that upon the
arrival of the police officers at the scene of
the murder they lifted the covers of the
stove and discovered the dying embers of 4
fire with the presence of ashes, the latter
giving an indication that an attempt had
been made to burn something.
1t was disclosed before the grand jury by
one of Lizzie Borden's most intimate friends
that there was n bright fire
in that stove but short
time before the curious officer lifted the
cover, "A fire strong enough to have des-
troyed evidence of crime, even were those
evidences blood-stained clothing and into
that stove upon the morning when Andrew
Borden and his wife were murdered there
was thrust woman's dress and rapidly the
blazing flames destroyed the garment until
within few moments after the introduce
ton into the fire box nothing remained of
it but few ashes. Then the fire died
away.
The prisoners friends can say truthfuliy
that there is no evidence to show that the
dress which was destroyed by fire on the
morning of Aug. belonged to her. They
NAV add that the one who gave the above
informatiu0to the grand jury did not des-
cribe the texture of this garment, did not
say that it was in any way dishgured by
bloodstains or any other kind OF stains, and
failed to say that, though familiar with
Lizzie Borden's wardrobe, the witness had
ever seen anything like this dress in the
wearing apparel of the young woman. All
this is equally true, but nevertheless, the
grand jury was told that "a dress was burned.
The testimony presented in relation to
the McIIenry-Trickey episode was that dur
ing the negotiations between the two the
Fall River officers were kept acquainted
with all particulars, and that every transac-
ton between the two was witnessed by Off
GERS connected with the case. The iudict-
ment against Trickey was found on the
strength of stories to the effect that he at
tempted through Mrs. McIicnry to secure
the departure of Bridget Sullivan from the
state by the payment of sum of money.
The journal further asserts that the ten
days adjournment of the grand jury was
due solely to the desire of Attorney-Gen'
eral Pillsbury and District Attorney Know /
ton to secure unanimous vote for an in
dctment by furnishing corroborative tes'i'
mony to some already adduced, yet the vote
was not unanimous, although ii was pracii
caly So, as the dissenters rcfrained alto
gcther from voting.