The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-06-21
CLEARED OF The CHARGE
Lizzie Borden Acquitted Of The Accu;a-
lion OF Murder.
THE CROWD WAS ELATED
When the Verdict Was Returned
the Vast Audiences Cheered
vigorousiy-Mlss Borden
Returned to Fail River.

NEw BEDFORD. Mass, June 2o-At tho
opening of the Borden trial this morning
District Attorney kuowiton resumed his
argument on behalf of the commonwealth.
lie addressed himself To the motive for
the murder. lie pointed ont the enmity
OF Lizy.c Borden toward her stcpmother
rs a sufficient motive for her murder, and
sa nj her killing necessitated the killing OF
her father. n stern man. who knew OF tho
enmity and loved his dead wife. The
only way for Lizzie To possibly escape pun.
ishment lay in killing her father. This
theory is the only one which would con-
sistently account for the double murder
taking place over period of an hour and
q half between the acts.
The speaker continued arguing ;ha the
silk dress produced by the defendant was
not the dress worn at the time OF the mur-
der. Tue two versions of the burning OF
defendants dress were irreconcilable.
'ln all your experience have you ever
heard of an attempt TO create an alibi
which was more strained than the cir
cumstances of this one: That barn alibi
will not stand
lie then commented on the old and
dusty condition of the barn and the fact
that keen-eyed people found no traces of
a person having been there. How she
could have avoided gettin. blood ON her
clothes. the jury could not answer, because
they were neither women or mur,lerers.
I, was q singular thing that the dress.
after being kept so long. was burned on
that particular Sunday. Lizzio had been
told Saturday night that SHE was accused
of the crime and tho next morning she
| burned tile dress. The speaker said that
| Mrs. Regain never denied tho 'Sou gave
me away" story under oath. Tie prose-
cution did not clam that they introduced
| the ha;chet with which the murder was
committed. II was shown that the hatchet
was wet and rubbed in ashes and the
blade fitted almos; miraculously into the
holes IN the skulls.
| THE CHARGE.
The court then took a recess. On re-
assembling, defendant was given an OPP
! portunity to speak. She said: II am in
nocent. but will leave my case in your
hands. and with my counsel" Justice
Dewey theu che rgcd the jury and defined
the different degrees Of murder and
stated the presumption Of innocence i'm
creased by tho defendants character,
must be the real and operative motive.
Judge Dewey. continuing, said: Tho
| government claims these acts come under
the head of murder in the first degree.
| Tho law claims. in order to prove this,
| that every claim must be proved beyond
reasonable doubt. IL Is stated that tho
government presents the case on circum-
stantiai evidence. II is understood by the
court that the government claimed that
the essential fact IL embraced in the note
matter; that she made statements which
she knew were false when she was making
them. But the case conIemplates the pos
sibility of there being an assassin. Might
I L.. ,lcn ha xrafa
was at hand aud removed il rs one OF the
links in the circumstantial evidence?
Unless every link holds good. the chain Is
worthless
The jury was asked to bear in mind the
supposed facts. There was nothing y
connect the defendant with the murder as
far as outward appearces went.
THE VERDICT.
At the conclusion Of the charge, the ut.
torneys consulted few moments and
then the Iury was allowed to retire. It
was Just 4 10 O'Clock when the spectators,
who had kept the seats patiently during
the retirement of the jury, noticed move
ment indicating their return. A moment
later tho 4. mon iiled into seats and
polled.
Miss Borden Vas asked to stand up and
the foreman was asked To return the YER
dic'. winch u" announced. MOI sutitys
EEcEIvED WIN JOY.
Then all dignity and decorum of the
court room vanished. 4 cheer went up
which might have been heard half n milo
) away and there was no attempt 10 check H..
Miss Borlcn's head went down upon the
rail in front of her and the tears came
Mr.. Jennings was almost crying. while
Mr.. Adams seemed incapable of speech.
A. soon as possible. the room Was cleared
and when the spectators had finally gone,
Miss Borden was taken To the room of the
: Justices and allowed To recover her com
posurc with oniy the eyes OF her frseuds
upon her aud with the caresses of her de
yo.cl admirers. A. the expiration of an
, hour. she was placed in a carriage and
driven to the station, where she took the
train for Fall River. her home no longer,
: probably. but still the only objective poinl