The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-01
IT'S EVIDENCE Is WEAK.
The Government Has Proved Littl
Against Lizzie Borden
Tuy Aaso,yArrn pRvssl

IFS ENlDENSE lS WEAhs
The Government Has Proved Little
Against Lizzie Borden
tDY Associated PREss.l
FALL RIVER, Sept. 1.-Court came In at
10 o'clock yesterday and 10 minutes later
LIZZIE Borden was In her place, having
been escorted there by Rev. Mr.. Jubb.
The first witness was City Marshal Hill
lard. He told Of the manner In which
he received information OF the murders
and what he did in the line OF investiga-
tion. He searched the barn thoroughly
and then returned to the house and ex-
amined the bodies, their location and
the blood spots around them.
On the day after the murders he re-
ceived two axes and two hatchets, the
latter being the ones shown in court
Tuesday. He did not make an immediate
examination OF them, but later on DR..
with glass. Officer Edison discovered
hair on one OF the hatchets.
The search OF the house on the day OF
the murders was not thorough one.
Miss Emma Borden said she wanted the
officers to search diligently and their
work was done without lie. or hindrance.
Lizzie showed witness where to ind the
KEY OF a locked trunk.
State Detective Seaver testified that he
saw no blood stains on any OF the dresses
which hung in large store. room.
John O'Donnell, a hackman, testified to
going into the Borden barn on the day
OF the crime and finding in the hay an
could not say. 1t looked as though
somebody had lain there. DR.. Draper,
medical exam iner OF Suffolk county, who
was present at tho autopsy, was called.
He described the injuries to Mr.. Bor-
den and said that, in his opinion they
considerable weight, probably hatchet.
DR.. Draper had never seen the Borden
house, and photograph No. 5 (of Mr.. Bor-
den on the sofa) was shown. He was
shown where, in his opinion, the asssil-
ant stood when the blows were given,
but declined 20 answer, because he was
not sufficiently familiar with the facts at
this time.
He was asked IL he thought the wounds
might have been made by person stand
ing behind or over Mr.. Borden, but he
declined TO go into that matter. Wit
ness said all the wounds when he saw
them were distinct and separate, not to-
gether; the wounds must have been made
with some sharp instrument; not so
sharp as a razor, nor yet as dull as hoe.
The fact that the injuries penetrated the
skull and were quite close together would
not indicate that the instrument was
thin one, particularly; he had no ex-
perience to determine whether q blow
had been given by the right or left hand.
Asked IL he could form an opinion as to
time OF death from the coagulation OF
blood coming from q body and found
near IL, witness said IL would be unsafe
to state after Is minutes had elapsed.
Witness said he saw no evidence at the
autopsy OF an artery be.Ng cut, but
thought the temporal artery or one OF It's
branches would be in the way OF the in
strument which made those wounds. IL
the artery was cut blood would spurt up
ward at n distance OF two feet, and no
had seen blood from an artery spurt as
much as Ave feet; that was from an adult
In a surgical operation.
Witness said he had taken notes on the
condition OF Mrs. Borden, and said the
wound in the back was made by the same
weapon that was used on the head; IL
might have been a mis- blow, one not In
tended for that spot, but for the head.
The defense showed plainly it's line OF
argument and there are great many
people in this city who believe now tnat
IL Is based on fairly sound reasoning.
There are many moro persons talking
about the weakness of the governments
case than have been heard for some time.
IL has been shown by reputable wit
nesses, such as Mrs. Chagnor. and her
daughter, that n strange noise was beard
In their yard at II o'clock the night pre-
cedipg the day OF the murder, that might
have been made by man cl mbing the
fence and moving about the buildings In
the rear Of their house. They were
frightened by the unusual sounds to such
an extent that Miss Mart aa, the daugh-
ter, declined to 20 into the cellar even TO
look out.
n'her witnesses. among them DIR. Han