Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-06-30
LIZZIE BORDEN SET FREE.
THE JURY SPEEDILY DE-
CLARE HER NOT GUILTY.
The Verdict in the Great Fall River
Murder Case Received in the New
Bedford Court House With a Tu-
multi of Applause-The Defendant
Weeps for Joy Her Future.

Wecps for Joy Her Future.
After an ordeal lasting thirteen days Lizzie
Borden was acquitted by the jury which tried
her at New Bedford, Mass. on the charge of
numbering her father and stepmother She
was almost overcome when the verdict was
read. and men and women cheered the find
ing. Miss Borden returned to Fall River.
where she became the guest of Banker
Holmes
1t had been fearful day in court. a day Of
keen suffering for everybody. for the heat
was intense. For the prisoner it was the
most trying of all her Ordeals, for she was
forced to sit and listen for more than three
hours while Mr.. knowlton with all the power
of his elOquence sought to forge tight upon
her the rivets of the governments chain of
circumstantial evidence.
Court came ID promptly at O'clock the
jury was polled and the District Attorney
picked up the thread of his argument where
he had dropped it He congratulated the
jury upon the near approach OF the end.
The counsel who opened the cause for the
defence had said that motive was a part of
the governments case. This was not so, al
though the motive has moved IN calculating
the facts The address OF District Attorney
KnowltOn was a masterpiece il its line.
From first to last he sustained the interest
which he had created in the beginning. The
whole matter was cleverly 5:-udled, the
little points were so woven together in
complete structure. that deep impression
was made on every one in the court room.
When he had finished the Bordens and their
friends locked gloomy and Ex-Governor
Robinson tried to cheer them up Lizzie
cried little just before court took a recess.
When court recOnvened at a quarter to 2
o'clock Chief Justice Mason said solemnly.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, although you have
now been heard by your lawyers the Oppor-
tunity is given you, as customary in such
cases, to address the jury in your own be-
half. and if you desire to say anything to
them you may now avail yourself OF the OPP
pOrtunity to do So"
In reply the prisoner rose and, resting her
hand on the railing of the desk, said in a low
voice Il am innocent. Ileave my counsel
to speak for me-
Then she sank back YEARLY into her place
and without more ceremony the jury were
directed to rise. Justice Dewey. rising also,
and resting one hand on Il volume on the
corner of the bench began to read his charge.
He charged the jury to weigh the evidence
so as to see whether defendants permanent
state of mind showed a motive for the
crimes. Every material allegation in the IN
dictment must be proved beyond reasonable
doubt-that Is. to- moral certainty. He
compared direct and circumstantial evidence.
and said that failure to prove an essential
fact would be fatal, but failure to prove
helpful fact might not be- Lizzies state
ments about the note were discussed at
length and he said they must be satisfied
they were false. Every fact proved must
be reasonably consistent with guilt.
The government need not show that nobody
else had the opportunity TO commit the
crime, but must prove that defendant com
mltted it, The jury must reason as to the,
effect Of defendants conduct and statements.
They were not to conclude by expert testi-
mOny, but were to apply to it a reasonable
judgment. They might convict if satisfied
the act was done by apother party, but that
defendant was present, aiding and abetting.
The fact that defendant did not testify
should not influence them against her.
Alter the charge, which was considered
very favorable to the prisoner, the case was
given to the jury. The jury retired at half
past three clock, and the opposing lawyers
busted themselves in picking out from the
grisly collection of relics of the tragedy arti-
Giles the jury might desire to examine. They
might we'll have spared themselves the
trouble. When this matter had been settled
the Justices left the BENCH and Justices
Dewey and BlOdgett took little stroll down
the street. leaving the Chief Justice to await
any communication the jury might desire to
make.
1t had been rumored at twenty-five min
utes past four o'clock that an agreement had
been reached, and within five minutes the
judges returned and the jury filed into the
box. When silence had been proclaimed the
Chief Justice said
Lizzie Andrew Borden, hold up your right
nand ana look upon the foreman. Foreman,
look upon the prisoner. What is your YER
dict?'
Not guilty.
At the words Lizzie Borden fell forward in
an attitude of prayer and the asSemblage
broke out into tumultOus applause. The
District Attorney rose and, after moving for
the discharge Of the Indictment said: 4
now congratulate the defendant and her
counsel"
AS soon as practicable Miss Borden was re-
moved TO the Judges room. where she was
embraced by her sister and many of the
friends who have steadfastly stood by her.
When congratulated on her acQuittal she
smiled, and in reply to inquiries about her
future plans referred all to Ex-Governor
Robinson, who said that Miss Borden had
made no plans. and only desired to escape as
comps Lely as POSSIBLE 4iO-A lac Puu44o
tice.
After the greater part ofthe crowd had dis
perSed, Miss Borden, accompanied by her
sister and several friends. entered d carriage
and was driven to the depot. where she took
the train for Fall River, where she became
the guest of Banker G. J. Holmes. On the
way she was repeatedly recognized and
loudly cheered. Members of the jury say
that an agreement was practically reached
at the close of the defence. and that it was
only at the suggestion of the foreman that
they went through the form Of retiring.
uhWATDS NATIONAL, FLAG