The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-06-08

Both Were Butchered by Some Cruel Hand
and The Prosecution Says 1T
Was Lizzis's.

Borden and Abbie Durfee Borden
were murdered at their home,
in Fall River. This much is known
and the horrible brutality of the
affair excited national interest, but
just when and by whom these deeds
were committed are questions which
the court and jury and eminent
counsel will try to solve, and for
which they are assembled here to-
day. Briefly put the case stands as
follows:
Lizzie A. Borden, daughter or
Andrew jackson Borden, woman
about 33 years old, her step -monther,
Abbie Durlee Borden, and Bridget
Sullivan, servant, were the only
members Of the family about the
house when Mr.. Borden came home,
about 10 0:45 that morning. Bridget
let him in at the front door and in
a few moments went to her room
upstairs. She had been engaged a
good part of the morning out doors
washing windows. In the absence Of
proof to the contrary Lizzie's story
must be accepted as to the acts of
herself and father until she discov-
cred his dead body. After he came
in she assisted him to get in COM
Portable position on lounge in the
sitting room, sne says, taking off his
boots and putting Oh his slippers Ga
photograph Of the body taken after
discovery shows this statement to be
incorrect-the boots were on his
fset), then she went into the yard,
stopped few moments to gather
and eat some pears, passed on into
the barn and spent ten or fifteen
minutes hunting for 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, then she
sat down on the outside steps and
was thus seen by Mrs. Addie
Churchill, neighbor. and 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 that her step
mother told her previously she had
received note from friend, and,
in response, was intending to call
on that friend. However, Bridget
was requested to look for her mis-
tress, but she objected to going
alone, and Mrs. Churchill went with
her. As the two women ap-
preached the top stairs leading to the
second floor they saw on the aoor
of the guest chamber the body of
Mrs. Borden. 1t was learned she,
too, had been murdered in about tie
Same manner her husband had been,
viz: With several blows from some
heavy sharp instrument, probably
an axe or hatchet. 1t was definite
| ly determined at the autopsy sub
sequently held that Mrs. Borden
had been killed some time before
her husband. 1t appears to have
been shown there was no one about
the house all the morning, but the
members of the family at intervals.
1t is claimed about the time Mrs.
Borden met her death in the guest
chamber on the north side of the
house the servant was washing win
dows out doors on the south side OF
the house. 1t has been demonstrated
conclusively that the death of Mr..
Borden occurred within very short
time after he entered the house,
and if Lizzie's story is correct
some one did it while she was in the
barn, while Bridget was in the attic
and while Mrs. Borden's lifeless
body was lying in the room above
her husband. Nobody was seen to
enter the house, no instrument had
been discovered WHICH fits the case,
| but the government claims and viii
attempt to prove circumstantiaI
evidence points to Lizzie A. Borden
AS the murderess and evidence suf-
fciently strong to convict. Miss
Borden was arrested two
weeks after the murder and
and has since been held in the raun-
ton jail, excepting few days during
the preliminary hearing before Judge
Blaisdell, at the close of which she
was held for action by the grand
jury. On November Is, the grand
| jury met at Taunton and large
number Of witnesses were examined
On the 18th the jury went to Fall
River and viewed the premises, and
were dismissed the following Mon
day to sit again December /. Or
Friday, December 2, indictments
were found against Miss Borden
charging her with the murders, anc
an indictment was also found agains
Others who are charged with con
spiracy to defeat the ends of justice
This latter Indictment was drawn vi
by Taunton lawyer and also b.
Assistant District Attorney Hurd
On the 9Th Of May Miss Borden wa
brought to New Bedford and formal.
arraigned. She plead not guilty t.
the indictments. She was taker
back to Taunton Jail, where she be