The Washington bee., 1893-06-10
LIZZIE BORDEN ON TRIAL,
FALL RIVERS SENSATIONAL MUIR
DER CASE NOW ON.

Accused Woman Confident-Baffiine Fea-
lures of Double Tragedy That Oc-
CURED i'm Broad Daylight-Lizzie Bor-
den Fiend or Much MaIigned Woman.
The trial of one of the most sensational
murder cases of modern times began on
Monday at Fall River. Mass. Lizzie Bor-
den, a young woman of 81 years, is
held to answer for the murder of her
father, Andrew J. Borden, 6S years of
age. and her step-mother, Mrs. Abbie
Borden, herfathers second wife. The
tragedy was inexpressibly fiendish and
bloody. Both victims were killed by
blows of a hatchet or axe, and were
terribly mutilated by repeated blows.
The bodies of both Borden and his
wife were discovered by Lizzie Borden,
who with the servant, Bridget Sullivan,
were the only persons in the house. Liz
zie said her father had left the house
about 8 o'clock for the Union Bank,
where he intended to deposit some
money. The deposit in the bank was
made at 10. 30. From the bank he re-
turned home, arriving there few min
utes before IL o'clock. At II o'clock
Lizzie Borden says she passed through
the sitting room and observed her father
was lying on the lounge reading news
paper. She was on the way to the barn
to get piece of wire to mend a flower
pot. Mrs. Borden, Lizzie said, was in
her room on the second floor over the
parlor. According to her story, Lizzie
remained in the barn Is minutes, and
then returned to the house. AS she
reached the sitting room she found her
fathers dead body lying in pool of
blood at the side of the lounge. 1t was
horribly mutilated. Overwhe med at the
sight she screamed for help.
Bridget Sullivan rushed in to see what
was the matter, and at the same time,
Lizzie says, she called loudly for her
mother, but received no response. She
then rushed upstairs to her mothers
room. As she opened the door she be-
held her mothers body, mutilated in the
same brutal manner, lying in the middle
of the floor, and tainted.
The police were hastily summoned.
They found the walls, carpets and wains-
coting of the rooms in which the mur.
ders were committed spattered with
blood. 1t was almost an impossibility
that the assassin could have escaped
without having the clothing and person
smeared. An ak was evidently the
deadly weapon, but although two were
found in the house, neither had any blood
stains on them.
Suspicion settled, after several arrests,
on Lizzie Borden, because no attempt at
robbery had been made, and no one had
been seen to leave the house by half
dozen or more. neighbors, who would
certainly have seen any one leaving there.
The examination into the murders re-
suited in Lizzie Borden being held for
trial, and she is now to have justice done
her after nearly years confinement.
There is much curiosity to learn the
States evidence against Lizzie Borden.
1t is generally admitted that no evidence
was produced at the examination that
could convict her. The States case
seemed to be based on the theory that
nobody else could have committed the
murder, and on some trifiing discrepen-
cies OF Lizzie Borden's own account of
the affair. 1t is believed, however. that
the prosecution has held important evil
dence in reserve.
The theory Of the prosecution is that
Lizzie Borden was on bad terms with
her mother-in-law, and that this enmity,
with her knowledge that her father in
tended TO change his will TO favor Mrs.
Borden melted her TO the double murder.
Perhaps something in Lizzie Borden's s
manner has melted belief in her guilt.
She had always lived quiet aud rather
reserved life, and had been active mostly
in church and Sunday School work, but
after the tragedy she showed a p henome-
nal GOODNESS and self-command in every
action. She shed no tears, exhibited no
Mysteries, and took her examination on
the dreadful charges against her almost
with indifference. Aside from this,
however, there seems to be nothing i'm
her conduct, and scarcely anything in
tue facts, TO cause her to be held guilty
of SO heinous crime. There are many
things to render the theory of her guilt
almost absurd. Yet the county and
State prosecuting officers, and a learned
Judge who was an intimate friend of
Aer family, and shed tears on commit
ting her for trial, believe her to be guilty.
The development of the evidence
will be watched with great interest.
Attorney General Pillsbury has an
Inounced that he will not appear in the
.case-his health will not permit-and
the State will be represented by District
Attorney Knowlton, of Bristol County,
and District Attorney Moody, of Essex
County. The defense will be made by
sC. E, Jennings, of Fall River, ex-Gover-
4 nor George ID. Robinson and Melvin o.
Adams, the two latter the greatest crimi-
sual lawyers in the State.
(.at eI,nr