The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-09-14

The suspicion against Lizzie Borden
was rendered stronger by q statement
made to the police by Eli Bence, clerk
at ID. II. Smiths drug store, to the effect
that Miss Borden had been in his store
two days before the murders inquiring
for prussic acid or hydrocyanic acid.
She failed to secure either. The drug
clerk made a partial Identification of
Miss Borden, but later the accuracy of
his Identification was denied. Miss Bor-
den denied that she had bought or tried
to buy either poison. Hydrocyanic acid
leaves no outward trace on the body, and
it was the conjecture of the physicians
for the prosecution that this was the
drug that had been used.
Miss Borden was put under police sur.
veillauce two days after the murders.
but was not arrested until some days
later. In addition to the police there
was Pinkerton detective early on tne
scene. The detective worked in the in.
terest Of the Borden family and iidiculed
the police theory. His idea was that the
murders were the work of lunatic.
The movements of Mr.. Borden on the
day of his death were investigated, with
the result that the police were able to
trace him u, to within half hour of his
death. Thirty minutes after he was seen
to enter the house his body was found on
the sofa. 1t was between 1850 and
1852 a. m. when Borden entered the
house. At IL :13 the news of the mur.
der was on the street.
In the case of Mrs. Borden the police
were utterly unable to locate her outside
the house on that fearful moruing. not
withstanding the statement of Lizzie
Borden that Mrs. Borden had been sum-
moned to sick neighbor. According
to Miss Borden the note was delivered to
Ms. Borden by messenger boy, but she
could not describe the boy. She did not
know the neighbor and diligent search
failed to reveal the slightest trace of
either. The note which MR.. Borden is
said to have received could not be found.
1t was regarded as singular by the
police that neither Miss Borden nor
Bridget Sullivan had heard the noise of
the fall OF Mrs. Boriens body. Mrs.
Borden weighed 200 pounds, and it was
clear that she had tumbled headlong and
at full length to the door.
DR.. Bowen, the family physician, who
was called to the Borden house few
minutes after the discovery of the bodies,
told the police that Mr.. Borden was, ia
his judgment, asleep when attacked.
He thought that an ak was used, las there
were several cuts on the head four aud a
bali inches long.
Miss Borden told the police that she
was in the barn when the murders oc-
Cured. A policeman visited the barn
on the day after the tragedy and exam.
ined the floor, which was covered with
thick layer OF dust. There were no foot
prints in this dust except those made by
the officer in his investigation.
Hiram Harrington, brother-in- law of
Borden, had an interview with Miss
Borden the evening OF the day of the
murders. She told him that she was in
the kitchen when tho father came home
at $3.50 o'clock. Mr.. Borden sat down
on the lounge in the next room, and she
went in there and helped him to remove
his coat, inquired solicitously as to his
condition, put on his dressing gown, as
sisted him to a reclining position, and
withdrew on finding him comfortable.
She lett the house and went to the barn
about 1914 o'clock, aud stated there
twenty to thirty minutes. On returning
she found Mr.. Borden's body. Miss
Borden told Harrington that she thought
the murders had been committed by
strangers.
The police were clear on the question
Of motive. They alleged that it was
the purpose of Lizzie Borden, by killing
Borden and his wife, to inherit one-half
Of his estate.
Before the tragedy Lizzie Borden lived
the humdrum life of small place. She
ouce taught Sunday school class and
was bright but ssdate. She made an
extended tour of Europe year or two
ago, since which she has devoted her.
self largely to novels and has resumed
her Sunday school teaching. Through.
out her surveillance and arrest she acted
with wonderful cslmnsas. s.-Wsshington
Star.