The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-14
THE BORDEN MURDER CASE.


Possibility that the Double Crime May Have
been Committed by Sailors.
LYNN, Mass, Aug. 13.-The Lynn Item.
to-day, publishes a story stating that An
drew j. Borden. of Fall River, gave the
principal testimony that convicted ring
leaders In the mutiny on the schooner Rich
ard j. Borden while on the voyage from a
foreign port to this country, that he and
his wife were on the vessel; that his testi-
mony in the courts was declared by sailors
to be false and exaggerated, and that the
men who suffered by it owed vengeance
against HIM. Most, if not all of them. have
been released, and 1T is submitted that sew
eral of them were in Fall River at the time
of tho murder.
Less than q dozen years ago the ship
Jefferson Borden, bound from foreign
port to this country, was seized by mutt
neers, who claimed to have been cruelty
treated by the officers, and in the general
struggle and confusion the captain was
struck with q marlin spike and killed.
The ringleaders of the mutiny. five in
number. were overpowcred and placed in
irons. and when the vessel arrived in port
they were brought before the courts for
trial. Two of them were AmerI-
cans, two were British subjects and
one o Portuguese, who claimed to
be q subject of Queen Victoria. In
the courts the men told q fearful and pit
iablo story of inhuman treatment that
forced the IN TO the widest desperation.
until they organized q mutiny and at
tempted to get control of the ship. Every
man swOre that In the general tight which
occurred it was absolutely impossible to
have located the murderer. BY the aid of
the English government the three foreign
ers were either released or escaped with
light terms of imprisonment. Not so with
the Americans. They were declared guilty
by the courts and sentenced to death, but
later President Cleveland committed their
sentences to imprisonment for life in the
State prison at ThOmaston, Me.
The principal testimony which the courts
took under consideration, and acted upon,
was given by gentleman who was on
board with his wife at the time, and who
was principal owner of the ship. Against
this man the prisoners long ago sworo they
would have revenge. That man was An
drew j. Borden, of Fall River, who, with his
wife, has gone down to death by an assas-
sins hand. The daughters story of the two
strah gers about the house on the day of the
murder seems to have no weight with the
police, although it may have later on if 1t
should be learned that they were two Of
the five men who were engaged In
the mutipy. Up to year ago q
most strenuous effort was made by q
man named Sullivan. prominent In the At
lantic Coast Seamen's Union, TO secure the
release of the two men confined In Thomas
ton prison. Petitions tor pardon were
signed by all the trade and labor organiza-
tions of the country and presented to Pres
ldent Harrison, and 1t is believed the men
were pardoned about eight months ago.
can be established that they, or any OF
their comrades.ip the mutiny, were in or
about Fall River the day of the murder, it
may mean the release of Lizzie A. Borden.
the victim of circumsrantial evidence.
A dispatch from Taunton says: Sheriff
Wright declined to ask Lizzie A. Borden
or her sister, who Is visiting her at the jail.
whether their parents were on the schooner
Jefferson Borden, or whether either of them
knew any thing about tho Lynn story. He
lays this down as law: No que lions to pc
asked of persons In jail. whether visitors or
not. Miss Borden passed comfortable
night, and this morning was cheerful. Mr..
Jennings and Miss Emma Borden came up
this morning, and the former. after q brief
conversation, went away. leaving Emma in
the cell with her sister. The two conversed
in low tones for some time. but there were
no tears, no compiainings, and the whole
affair had the appearance OF simple, ordi-
nary everyday visit between friends. Dur;
ing part OF the sime Lizzie was occupied
with some sewing which she had brought
with her. 1t is understood that under no
circumstances Will she open her mouth,
and Mr.. jennings. her counsel. will do all
the talking necessary"
A dispatch from Boston says: "Mr. Wal
ter. of Walter. Friend & Co.. ship brokers
of this city. says. III relation to the trial of
the Jefferson Borden mutineers: Yes,
remember the trial. 1t was away back in
1876 Captain Patterson had killed two of
his sailors. and the rest of the crew were
up for an attempt to murder. Two were
discharged, and the others got life sem
tences, and are still in jail at Thomaston.
Their friends tried to have them released
some time ago, but Captain Patterson got
up q petition to keep them in, and they
were kept in. But you'd better see Mr..
KInsman. around on Doane street.
Mr.. Kinsman, commission merchant
SAID: Yes, / do know all about the ma ter
Captain Patterson claimed that tho men
rose against him. and murdered the second
mate and q sailor, and tried to kill him, his
wife and the steward. Andrew j. Borden
was not on the vessel at nil. The only peo-
pie in her cabin were Captain Patterson
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