Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-06
LIZZIE BORDEN S CASE.
The Trial Begun Before the superior
Court at New Bedford, Massachusetts'
Testerday

Court at New bedioru, DAssoS'-'
Yesterday.
New BEDFORD, MASS, June 5.-To-
day Lizzie Borden took her seat in the
prisoners dock Of the Superior Court
here, and battle regal between the
most eminent criminal lawyers In the
State, with a womon's life and honor ct
stake, began.
On the fourth day of August, 1892, be-
tween 9:30 and 1880 a. m, Andrew
jackson Borden and Abby Duffee Bor-
den were murdered at their home In
Fall River. This much is known. and
the horrible brutality Of the affair has
excited national interest, but just when
and by whom these deeds were CON-
mitted, are questions which the court
and Jury and eminent counsels will try
TO solve and for which they assembled
here to to-day. Briefly put, the case
stands as follows:
Lizzie Aberdeen, daughter OF An
drew Jackson Borden, woman ABOUT
thirty-three years old, her step-mother,
Abby Duriee Borden, and Bridget sui
Ilvan, q servant, were the only NOM
bers of the family abont the house
when Mr.. Borden came home at ABOUT
10:45 that morning. Bridget let him In
at the front door and in few moments
WELT to her room up stairs. She had
been engaged good part OF the morn
ing out of doors washing windows. In
the absence OF proof to the contrary,
Lizzies story must be ac-
cepted for the time, relati1e to
the acts Of herself and Esther
until she discovered his dead body.
After she came In she assisted him TO
get in a comfortable position on the
lounge in the sitting room. she says,
taking off his boots and putting on his
slippers. "a photograph OF the body
taken after discovery shows this state
ment to have been incorrect; the boots
we're on the feet.) Then she went into
the yard, stopped a few moments to
gather and eat some pears, passed on
into the barn and spent ten or 'hfteen
minutes hunting lead to make fishing
line sinkers. Going into the house she
found her father had been murdered.
and called the servant, sending her at
once for DR.. Bowen, who lived near oy.
Then she sat down on the outside steps,
and was thus seen by Mrs. Addie
Churchill, a neighbor, who asked what
the matter was. She told Mrs. Churchill
OF the murder of her father. Mrs.
Churchill came to the house at once.
and asked for Mrs. Borden. Lizzie
knew nothing OF her whereabouts, but
called to mind the fact thather step
mother had told her previously that
IL IoI
friend and In response was intending TO
call on that friend. However, Bridget
was requested to look for her mistress,
but she objected to going alone and Mrs.
Churchill went with her. AS the two
women approached the top Of the stairs
leading to the second floor they saw on
the floor of the guest chamber the body
of Mrs. Borden. 1t was soon learned
that she too had been murdered In aeont
the same manner as her husband had
been, viz: with heavy blows from
sharp instrument, probably an axe or
hatchet. 1t was definitely determined
at an autopsy subsequently held that
Mrs. Borden had been killed sometime
before her husband.
Sheriff Wright had made AL the pre-
pnrations he co1ld TO handle the crowd,
which he knew would get about the
court house and struggle to get In. All
the available policemen and deputy
sheriffs were pressed into service Inside
and outside the building. They had
their hands full no matter where they
happened to be stationed.
During the present trial Chief Justice
Mason will preside. His associates will
be Justices Blodgett and Dewey.
1t was just IL o'clock when closed
carriage drew up at the rear OF the
court house. A deputy sheriff stepped
out of it and held out his hand to assist
Lizzie Borden.
The crowd which had increased to
large numbers pressed forward In a sort
OF a frenzy to catch glimpse OF the
woman, but she slipped quietly into the
building before they were able to do so,
and walked quietly to her place In the
prisoners dock.
The court having been duly opened
the task Of securing jury was begun,
the prisoner, as is the law OF Massa-
chusetts. challenged in person wheney-
er prompted by her counsel.
At 4:45 p. m. the jury was completed
and the court adjourned until morning.
<D