Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-08-05
FOUL MURDER.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew j. Bor-
den of Fall River, Mass,
Murdered in Their Home - Both
Terribly Battered and Beaten.


j. Borden and wife, two of the oldest.
wealthest and most highly respected per-
sons in this city, were bru,ally murdered
with an axe at II o'clock this morning, at
their home on Second street, within min
utes walk of CITY hall and the central
business section.
The circumstances are most surprising
as no trace of the murderer or weapon can
be found. The Borden family consisted of
father, mother, two daughters and ser
want The older daughter has been to
Fairhaven, but has been sick some days.
Dr Bowen. the attending physician, was
suspectiny an attempt at poisoning.
About ) this morning Mrs Borden re-
eeiyed n note to visit a friend who was ill.
She left the house and shortly afterwards
her husband followed and walked down the
street to one of the banks. He returned
about 10 80 and sat on the sofa.
In answer to a question from the servant
he said he was feeling very well. The
servant, Bridget Sullivan, then went outside
the house TO wash the windows. In the
meantime, Miss Lizzie Borden, the daughter,
rose from her bed and walked down the
stairs, seeing and speaking to her father as
she PASSED through the room. She supposed
her mother was out.
She went into the yard, stepped into the
barn. While there she heard cry of dis
tress. coming apparently from the house
and she ran in. She went directly TO the
sitting room leading from the main hallway
in the house. and there she saw her father
lv;np hack IN the sofa. covered with blood
and lfeIess.
She ran out shrieking. and her cries at
tracted the servant and neighbor They
made hasty search for her mother, and
found her up stairs in spare bedroom,
living dead. face downward on the floor
The women summoned DR. Bowen, who
lives opposite, who found both victims be
youd medical aid. Officer Allen arrived
early. but became so excited that he ran at
ONCE with an incohercnt story to the police
station.
The policemen's excursion occurred to-
day. and half the force was at Rocky Point
" hen the murders occurred. 4 small posse
of police surrounded the house and in
short time were busy keeping back the host
of business men and curiosity seekers who
,hronged the street, attracted by the
,r,gedy
We,iical Examiner Bolan was on the
Ia i.
Borden's head hacked to pieces in terrible
manner. seven long gashes on the face and
.kull. some an inch and half deep through
the fesb and bone.
when Mrs, Borden was first seen, her
daughter and others supposed that she died
f,on, hear, disease. to which she had been
subject. The reporter first noticed blood
in her hair and when the bed near which
She was living had been drawn away, it was
soon that she had been frigbtfully battered
,bout the face and skull.
All sorts of theories concerning the mur-
der are current. Those most generally ac-
repted are; 1t is supposed the murderer
was concealed about the house when Mr.
Borden came in and no one saw him enter.
As soon AZ il became quiet he is thought
tn hav. zone up stairs with the intention of
numbering Mr., Borden. Before he could
his purpose, Mrs. Borlens at
,cn,ion was probably attracted. In view of
the fact that Mrs, Borden made no outcry,
i, is thought she must have been killed first
and instantly.
The murderer probably followed her into
the snare room and struck her from behind.
Every thing was in perfect order in the
room and il piyes rise to the belief that she
was no, aware she was being followed.
After being sure of his work the murderer
probably went down stairs where Mr. Bor-
den had fallen asleep on the sofa and there
dealt him the awful blows that ended his
life.
Robbery was not the motive Of the crime,
A. no valuable- or money are missing
There are no blood stains on the furniture
covering or floors. and these facts show
how quietly the work was done.
Two or three suspects were arrested this
afternoon hu, none are believed to know
ANYTHING of the crime.
Andrew j. Borden was born in this city
in ls22. He was in the furniture business
~ wears with William Almy, under the
firm name of Borden 4 Amy, and aceumu.
lated large amount Of real estate, valued
a, $3.50 900. He owned two farms in
Swansea. and at first it was thought that a
disappointed farm hand was the murderer
Iafer the opinion has gained ground that
Il tenant. who was disappointed and had a
Quarrel with Mr. Borden was the assailant
Mr. Borden was president of the nior
Saving bank. director of the B. NJ. C.. Dar
fee Safe Deposit and Trust Company
director of the Troy and Merchants mill
and director of the Globe Street Railway
Company. He was twice married, his
second wife being Miss Abbie -. Gray