The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-08-12
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY
ANDREW BORDEN AND HIS WIFE
HACKED TO PIECES.

Heads of the Aged Couple Split wids
Open-The CHASTITY Discovery Made by
Daughter--No Clue as to Who the
Assassin is or What Was His Motive
FALL RIVER, Mass, Aug. 5-A double
murder, with the perpetrator undiscov-
cred, is the sensation in this city. Moth
ing equaling this crime has ever created
SO much excitement in Fall River.
Andrew j. Borden, who was one of the
prominent. wealthy and most respected
citizens of Fall Eiver, Yith his wife, Abby
Borden, were buUchered in their home, 81
Second street, shortly after IL o'clock yes
terday.
Mr.. Borden was reclining upon sofa
in the sitting room of his residence. Some
one armed with an axe or a weapon of
similar character came into the room and
deliberately struck him on the head with
the blade. To make his work complete he
chopped away with fiendish fury until the
Head Was Cut Almost in Twain.
The first blow killed the old man. The
murderer, it would seem, was inspired
with intense hatred or was wonderfully
cool, Judging from the way he hacked at
the defenseless old man.
Not satisfied with that, the murderer
went up stairs, found Mrs. Borden, and
kiSd her the same way.
He sunk the blade of his hatchet or axe
deep into her skull no less than thirteen
times. A person could not have killed a
dog in more brutal fashion. After com
mitting these fearful crimes, and without
stopping to secure money or papers, the
murderer disappeared as mysteriously as
he came The whole thing was
Done in Fifteen or Twenty Minutes
From the testimony of those who knew
the old people, it would appear that pre-
vious attempt had been made upon their
lives the day before by the use of poison.
Everybody in the house, save one man,
was taken violently sick after eating or
drinking, and it does not appear whether
the man in question drank of the milk or
ate the food.
There is no doubt but what an attempt
70 kill the Bordens was first made by the
use of poison; that not being successful,
the murderer, who must have been per-
son of decidedly dsssrmined charneter,
concluded TO do the job in fashion that
would not admit of failure
The Discovery of the Remains
of Andrew j. Borden and his wife was
rather dramatic one. 1t was made by
the daughter Lizzie, who was the younger
sister and the special pet of the old folks.
The woman is in state almost verging
upon insanity. She is confined to her room
in the upper part of the house. but has
the company of her sister, who arrived
here late yesterday afternoon from Fair
Haven, IN answer to telegram from DR..
Bowen, the family physician.
Lizzie had been ironing out in the
kitchen. The servant girl, Bridget Sulli-
van, was up stairs washing windows. AS
nearly as can be ascertained, the time was
close on to IL o'clock. There was no one
in the house beside those mentioned, ex-
cept her father, Mr.. Borden and her step
mother.
Lizzie stopped work to go to the barn,
which is just in the rear and very close to
the house-unusually near, OH account of
the limited extent of the yard. She was
gone, as she says, not over fifteen or
twenty minutes. Lizzie went into the sit
ting room, where here father always spent
his time when in the house. She was al
most petrified by the sight which lay be-
fore her eyes. There lay the body of her
beloved father with the left side of his
face chopped in. 1t was like lightning
from a clear sky to her. How such
thing could occur in such short time
was incomprehensible.
W 18th scream the daughter summoned
the servant girl, Bridget, and told her to
run across the street to Dr. Bowen and
have him come at once. Bridget did as
she was told.
Lizzie staggered upstairs in a 6azed, be-
wildered way, trying to find her room.
Then she
Thought OF Her Stepmother,
and sought her with the idea of breaking
the news to her. She received another
terrible shock when she discovered the re-
mains of Mrs. Borden lying on the floor
of the guests chamber. This was the eli
max, and she sank to the floor uncon-
scious, and did not revive until DIR. Bowen
arrived.
Marshal Hilliard and State Detective
Seavey tried hard to get some information
from the daughter, but she was in state
where it was impossible to do so. All they
could learn was that she knows nothing
and could think of nothing.
About John Morse.
John Morse, middle-aged mana WIS.,
itor in the family. who had slept the night
before in this spare room where Mrs. Bor-
denis body was found, stepped to the side
door of the house shortly after the muir
der, and was admitted, and has since fig
ured in the incidents about the house and
the story of the day
Inquest Has Begun
FALL RIVER, Mass, Aug. 10-Lizzie A.
Borden rested last night in the old house
at 90 Second street, her home Bridget
Sullivan reposed in the house at 95 Divi-
sion street, the residence of her relatives.
Both were guarded by officers, the same
same as in the past. one policeman keep
ing watch over Bridget Sullivan. two look
ing after the Borden girls and John
Morse.
Lizzie Borden will probably be sum-
moned to the district court today to con-
tinue the testimony she began at the in
quest yesterday. From the fact that she
Nua in aff ~.