The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-09
IT KILLED THE BORDENS.
Little Doubt the Axe Used Is the
One in Court.
THE SENSATION OF THE DAY IN
THE TRIAL AT NEW BEDFORD.

The Axe Was Found in the Cellar on the
Day Of the Murder and the Cellar Was
Found Locked--Miss RusselTs Story of
the Burning of the Dress-Bridget
Sullivan Contradicts Herself.
New BEDFORD, Mass, June s.-The
Court House was opened before the
regular time this morning, and at the
main entrance the inquisitive females
who had swallowed their breakfasts
hurriedly or dispensed with them entire
ly, made one of the prettiest rushes ever
seen outside of college premises. The
two blue-coated representatives of the
local police were carried off their feet
and whirled along with the resistless
petticoated surge from below, until sew
eral deputy sheriffs jumped down to
their rescue and turned the tide. The
result was that the pushers were kept
out entirely, while those who acted in a
fairly decent manner were allowed the
coveted privilege of fighting for seats in
side.
Miss Borden was in her seat 15ss min
utes before the court came in, and sea-
gerly looked over the contents OF ast,ip1
icial-looking envelope, which she af-
terward passed to Gov. Robinson. All
her counsel were early on hand, and the
jury were in their seats before counsel
for the prosecution showed up at all.
just as the Court came in and the Crier
was making his proclamation Miss Bor-
den was passing from her seat in the
dock to a seat within the bar enclosure
beside her counsel. She was obliged to
stand almost beside Judge Blodgett
while the crier was talking, and stood
the ordeal well.
Today's sensation was Assistant Mar
shal Fleets story regarding the axe
found in the Borden home and supposed
to have been used in the Borden MUIR
der. During all the long ten months
that have passed he has scrupulously
kept the secret that the weapon was
found the day the famous butcheries
were discovered. His description of the
weapon is SO exact and his reputation
for veracity and honorable dealing so
well known here that two-thirds of the
population believe he really found the
weapon with which the deeds were COM
mitted. Many of Lizzie Borden's friends
feel very much exercised over the testi-
mony. The story is not yet finished and
when it is there will be surprise for the
defense because it will indicate collusion
in favor of the defense not of a gratifying
nature.
DIR. Bowen's Story.
The first witness called for was Mrs.
Churchill, the previous call for DIR.
Bowen having been rescinded, but she
not being present, DR.. Bowen was put
on. He said:
II have lived at my present residence
81 years, which is diagonally opposite
the Borden house. I have been the
family physician nearly all that time. I
recall the day August 4, 1892. I saw Mr..
Borden the day before, about 6 o'clock,
going down the street. testified at the
inquest, but do not recall that said
then | saw him going up the street on
Wednesday. (The notes showed he did
say so, but witness said it was miRtake.)
think it was after II and before II. 80
that returned to my house in the fore
noon of Wednesday; when / returned
Mrs. Bowen spoke to me, and IN con-
sequence of that I went to the Borden
hOucOs cnW 1ulco dlLAt0 DUISltu ana
Mrs. Churchill there; they were In the
side hall just at the end of it, near the
kitchen door; I said Lizzie, what's the
matter?' She said, Father has been
killed or stabbed I asked, Where is
your father? She said, In the sitting
room That was all that was said in
that connection at that time. In con-
sequence of what she said I went into
the dining room and then to the sit
ting room; saw the form of Mr.. Borden
lying on the sofa at the left of the sitting
room door; I found, upon inspection,
that his face was badly cut apparently
with sharp instrument; felt of his
pulse and was satisfied he was dead: I
glanced labout the room and saw that
nothing was disturbed. He was lying on
his right side, with his face toward the
south. The face was hardly recogniza-
BILE. photograph shown and identified.) }
Witness continued: 81 don't think the
photograph shows the case of person
asleep: in this the form has sunk down
from where first saw it; by sinking
mean the general collapse" During the
showing Of the picture, Lizzie kept her
eyes riveted on the floor, never once
ing the picture to the jury: 'The head is
AZ WI SiANeAA ~ Wco3 oA1o 0SAes AAt3o 0CVA
moved; it was, when saw it, even with
the door. With reference to the back Of
the sofa the head is substantially as
when l saw it"
The picture was marked ''17," and put
in evidence.
Witness continuing, said: "As I went
to the sitting room Lizzie followed me
part way, and as I turned to go out after
finding he was dead, / asked her if she
had seen any one and she said no. 1
asked her where she had been, and she
said, in the barn to get some iron.' She
said she was afraid her father had had
trouble with some Of his tenants. Then
asked her to get something to cover Mr..
Borden, and Bridget brought me sheet.
The sheet was brought from Mr.. Bor-
denis room and the key was taken from
the mantel, 1 believe, where it was usual
ly kept. After the sheet was used Lizzie
asked if would telegraph to Emma. and
in consequence of that request l did so.
Up to that time nothing had been said of
Mrs. Borden, but just before went to
| the telegraph office somebody asked
where Mrs. Borden was, and Lizzie said
she had received note to visit a sick
| friend and had gone out. AS was going