Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-05

'TWlVE1gIs
LIZZIE d. BORDEN.
when Andrew ]. Borden and his wife wer,
murdered. Emma Borden not at home
She was away in New Bedford a visit, ant
hence is entirely eliminated from all considera
ton in the discussion of the crime. She is th,
older Of the two sisters, and Mr.. Borden had NJ
other children living.
Andrew Borden was known as n hard-fisted
close-bargaining business man. fond of money
TO the degree of being counted penurious. III,
had no very warm friends and in his grasping
rnrelenting way of doing business had made
quite the number of enemies which such r1er
usually raise. There were MANY men who had
had their moments of hating him, although
beyond certain unsatisfactory statements none
of this had developed during the time immedi-
aIely preceding the tragedy. In Fall River
Bor1enwas counted one If the wealthy men OF
the place. His property variously esti-
mated at from ESQ. 900 to $500. 900. He owned
aibusiness block still known as the Borden
block, farms, several houses, had manufact-
uring and bank stock and was the president OF
The Union Savings Bank
THE BoRpESs' MODE OF LIVING.
Beyond the owning of things Bordens inter
est In life was moderate. All else was secon-
dairy to the mere satisfaction of feeling that be
Little Of his money. however, went into the
hitter direction, unless the things he bough,
were permanent things, which he put into them.
While he practced an economy in his house
hold that was absurd for q man Of wealth. he
was niggardly with his family. They had
enough to eat, the girls had good clothes, the
house was comfortably furnished Yielding to
the pressure Of the girls, the old man was con-
templating purchasing house up on .'the hill, -
which is the swell part Of Fall River. As for
the girls, thew both had money in the bank
about 81, 800 each Their father had gwen
them house and then bought it back from
them, paying them separately. Their money
IN the bank represented the result of this trans
action. with such additions as each might have
made from time to time.
Leaving Emma out of the question. the
general verdict on Lizzie among those who
knew her is not unfayorable. She had been
brought up under the hard, narrow lines of her
father s character. and the making Of money
was the most solemn and imposing thing in
life which her father had done ever Stree she
could remember. While this had had its effect
upon rihabit of mind she was vet capable of
doing generous things and of taking an interest
In the affairs of others, even to the extent of
dipping into her purse In the religious and
charitable enterprises with which she liked to
identify herself she quite maintained her share
OF the expense. and III case of deficiencies or
extra expenditures il was very FREQUENTLY she
strong-minced. resolute girl. however. not
winning or gentle of manner. and in features
and physique rather heavy and coarse
SUCH was the Lizzie Borden of Fall River
before the circumstances came which have
made some people believe she is an inhuman
monster and caused others to think on her as a
woman more cruelty wronged by legal perse-
eution than any woman living
LIzzIE's RELATIONS TO HER sTEPMorHER.
As to the exact state of affairs in the Borden
household there is a conflict of evidence, but
that Lizzie and her stepmother were not on
Cordial terms there is no question. Lizzie al
ways addressed her and referred to her az Mrs
Borden. and in former years had hot words
with her not infrequentiy. Between Lizzie and
her father. on the other hand. there were as
MANY demonstrations Of affection as wou,d he
expected Of two such people. The house was a
cold and cherries one even under the most IA
vorable circumstances, with the atmosphere of
severe economy all-pervsding. and all things
moving in narrow. sordid grooves Borden
and his wife lived happily enough, and between
Lizzie and her father there were always kindly
relations
With these facts in mind respecting the Bor-.
dens and their household and counting in one
Bridget Sullivan q servant girl who worked for
the family for nearly three years and whose
tee ;imony will be an important feature of the
trial, let US come down to the morning of Au-
gust 4. the morning Of the murders. There
we're IN the house that morning five persons
Borden and his wife. Lizzie Borden and the
servant. Bridget. and John V. Morse. John V.
Morse is brother to the late Mrs. Borden
brother-in-law. therefore. to Andrew Borden
and uncle to Lizzie
Morse homo, until within two years prior to
the murders, had been in Iowa During the
two years he had been at his old Massachusetts,
home making visit. He was a frequent guest
at the Borden house, and on the morning Of
August was there in that capacity. He left
the house early, however. and did not return
until the murder had been discovered He ac-
counted fully and satisfactorily to the author
tiles for his movements during the interval
and has been left as completely out of all
speculations concerningth the crime as has Emma
Borden herself, who was awaF on a visit to
New Bedford He will be a witness at the
trial. but his testimony will bear solely upon
the movements of the household during the
early morning and before anything happened
mat was out Of the usual routine.
JUST BEFORE THE MURDER.
With Morse away we have the house stripped
Of every body except those who were there. or.
rather. those who are known to have been there
AT the time OF the double crime. Of these four
persons thus left just two survive-Lizzie Bor-
den and Bridget Sullivan.
Now, barring out the testimony of Lizzie we
have that of Bridget and of other persons
showing the movements OF Mr.. and Mrs. Bor-
den up to within twenty minutes, at least, Of
the death of Borden.
AT about 10 o'clock Borden, according to his
usual custom, went down town. Morse having
been gone from the house something like an
houi. Borden went to the post Office and to
the Union Savings Bank. of which he was the
president. and there talked to the cashier. He
STAYED but very few moments and then
started FOR the house. At The time no got back
Bridget Sullivan washing windows She
testIncs that few minutes before that she went
and looked at the clock to see if it was time to
oeGin getting dinner The Bordens had their
dinner At midday.