The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-11
A DAY OF EXPECTATION.
Before Tonight, 1t L. Thought, Arrests
May he Made.


FALL RIVER, Mass, Aug. 11.-To-day
will probably tell whether the dark
Borden mystery is to ever have an ade-
quate solution. Nearly all the witnesses
who can by any possibility know any thing
alb out the murders have been examined
The thing can't be drawn out much
longer. II anybody is to be charged with
the murders, 1t is quite plain the direc-
tion which the accusation will have to
take. All the other theories, vast in
number and ingenious in construction.
have been blown upon. IL anything is to
be made out Of the case it will have to be
made to-day.
What the police would like to do, no
doubt, Is TO end all the suspense, the the
orizing aud surmising by making an ar
rest. They are not much troubled about
the sufficiency of their evidence, but the
square-headed, imperturbabe District
Attorney will move but slowly, and, be-
sides, local sentiment Is against the obvi-
pus theory of the police.
In a place like Fall River local senti-
ment is a formidable stone wall. But
people do not know half the testimony
Chief billiard has collected.
There is general feeling that an active
movement on the part of the authorities
may be expected this afternoon.
The reason for this condition OF public
opinion is the widely circulated story
that at the conclusion of the inquest some
official action may be looked for.
The police have not said this because they
still retain to the greatest degree their
policy OF declining to discuss the matter
and only when the newspaper statements
absolutely compel them to defend them
selves before the people, do they come
from their shells OF secrecy and reserve
and deuy some OF the theories and an-
r. IL l.. IL.
correspondents Of the metropolitan news
papers.
Such an occurrence happened this morn
ing when Marshal Hilliard became evil
IDENTIFY indignant at the criticisms which
were being heaped upon the Fall River
police force by numerous papers through
out the country.
into his Office and announced that he de-
sired 1t understood that the depart
ment was not confining all its
abors to the following of clues
and theories in this city, and
the residents of the city were not receiv-
and detectives. Every clue of every sort
has been Investigated and will be inves-
tigated.
The police are constantly receiving let
ters from people, mostly cranks in all
parts of the country, offering sug sestions
and giving clues Some Of the writers
have seen the murderer, others nave
found the bloody axe and others proffer
their services In unravelling the mystery
for n consideration.
Clairvoyants aud dream-book experts
have written scores OF letters. and there
are at least dozen from seventh daugh-
ters Of seventh daughters. No attention
whatever Is paid TO these communica.
| tions, and though there are some rather
ingenious hints made by anonymous let
ter writers, these. too, are discarded.
IL is an odd little fact that Mrs. Brig
ham, who accompanied Lizzie Borden 10
the cours room yesterday aud tue day be-
fore, Is n detective in the employ of the
police. IL was given out that she was a
friend OF the family aud she has Ion &
been acquainted with them, but as a
matter OF fact she Is watching Lizzie
Borden. There has not been n night
since the murder when there has
not been woman In the house for this
purpose.
ilFirst It was Mrs. Holmes, another
police agent She sat up there every
night until Mrs. Brigham was sent to re
lieve her These women have been swuru
I'm as special members Of the force aud are
armed with extraordinary instructions.
Wherever Lizzie Borden goes ole or the
other must 20 with her. When Mrs.
brigham gets tired Mrs. Holmes Is to
relieve her.
The police are not explaining the rea-
son for these extraordinary precautions,
but there Is a surmise not hard to arrive
at.
Bridget Sullivan, the servant girl, is