The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-01

oy, testified 70 having seen strange look-
ing men in the eighborhood, while .
Clarkson, tho steam litter, says the hay
in the barn had been stepped In and
looked az n 10 had been laid In. Jerome
@. Borden showed how easy IL was to en-
ter the Borden house by the front door,
and the testimony OF Mrs. Brig ham shows
that IL 10 possible to enter the door today
provided one OF the inmates does not slip
the bolt or turn the key, without depend
ing ON the spring lock which does not
The record OF the butchery as given by
DIR. Draper, has again given rise to grave
doubts whether the terrible wounds could
have been inflicted by woman, more
before the tragedy, has shown not the
slightest symptoms of insanity.
Considerable nonsense Is being pub
lished about close living at the Borden's
because IL has appeared that mutton and
mutton soup were warmed over moro
than once. As matter Of fact it 10 well
known that q majority OF the older fami-
least, are thrifty In their household af-
fairs, and IL il not an uncommon thing
for them TO warm over victuals. The ro-
bust healthy forms of Miss Lizzie and
Emma Borden does not show that they
had been undergoing process of slow
starvation by penurious father and an
unloveable stepmother.
there Is heard more criticism of the way
she was treated at the inquest. 1t ID
charged that the report of t|e inquest
shows II to have been q direct examina-
tiop, followed by as severe cross-exami-
nation as was ever seen in criminal
trial, the whole effort appearing to be to
force Miss Lizzie to convict herself, and
haf ha m = w isf lad
that she had gone far enough to do this
the arrest was made.
The inquest came to an abrupt ending,
and has never came to formal end so
far as the public have been able to learn.
As the evidence at the inquest has come
to light these critics of the prosecution
do not see how the arrest was warranted
by It. The general impression seems to
be that Miss Lizzie had been kept on the
rack there.
II is commented upon that at three
different times she was called before the
inquest and each time was compelled to
60 unattended by counsel to meet off,
cials who were suspicious OF her guilt and
whose whole effort seemed to be to So
ness against herself. Questions were put
to her relating to the events connected
with ..e murders and the time the mur-
ders were discovered, which, because OF
her confused state at that time, she was
unable to answer directly and definitely.
They were repeated again and again un-
til she was forced to convict herself one
way or another, and this too after she
had stated that she could not remember.
II is also said that, had she followed
Lawyer Jennings advice and refused TO
answer any and all questions put her ex-
cept by consent and advice of counsel,
81 n
herself more open and violent condemna-
tion from the public than that which has
already been given freely In and out OF
police circles.
The general opinion is that the govern
ment has introduced evidence enough to
warrant holding the prisoner for the
Grand Jury, but that 1t cannot possibly
hope to secure q conviction before jury
In open court. The opinion that she will
be held 10 based upon the claims that
Miss L zzie has not yet been divorced
from the house during the hours OF 9.l5
and Ills O'Clock, when she was seen and
accounted for by Bridget Sullivan. No
motive nor instrument have been pro-
duced In evidence.
The talk about the relations between
Miss Borden and her stepmother Is not
considered weighty in view OF the fact
that the lady herself says they were not
cordial from childhood, more particular
ly during the past five years, while her
intimstes say they were always respect
fui; but tnat her greatest love was Law
ished on her sister, ten years older than
herself, on whom she always depended.
In the event Of the prisoner being
bound over for the Grand Jury, no weap-
on being exhibited by which the wounds
could have been made, the general opin-
ion seems to be that both the weapon
and the clothing which she wore must be
found and that 1t may be necessary TO
iemolish much of the household furni-
ture, and possibly tear down the build
ngs on the premises, TO accomplish this
result.
The government has asserted that 1t
made thorough search, yet 1t is as dif-
ficult to understand now as heretofore
now the blood stained murderer could
nave escaped from the house as well as
how he could have sneaked in there. DIR.
Draper's testimony showed that whoever
the murderer was he could not have com.
mitted the deed without bearing some oil
the victims blood az an ineffacable rec.
ord on his clothing. The important
part Of this testimony, which seemed 10
weaken the governments strongest evil
dence, was given In these words OF Bos-
toms medical examiner: "The deter
Of the food In the victims stomach could
only be approximate.
Prof. Wood Appropriated the time al
2h hours. II DR.. Draper approximate
it at from three to four hours IL II
thought the case against Lizzie Border
will never pass beyond the portals OF the
Grand Jury's room.
The essence OF the government case az
looked at by her friends Ia that she is to
be called probably guilty, because she
might have been In che house when heI
father and stepmother were killed. They
also claim that had John v. Morse been
confined in bed In the house by illness at
that same time no kind fate could save
his neck from the gallows IL the present
state of pubic feeling ruled the courts.
Attorney Andrew j. Jennings will sum
up the case for the defense today. he
will devote most OF his argument to
showing tho weakness of the Borden
night latch, the possibility OF strangers
entering and leaving the house and the
fact that there were many suspicious
persons and things seen around the house
preceding the tragedies.
The governments case has been fully
outlined. District Attorney Knowltor
will not put his greatest claim for com
mitment upon the fact that Lizzie Bor-
den made erratic statements at the in
quest. He will rely particularly or