The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-20
Closing Arguments Of Counsel in the
Sensational Borden Murder Case.
Ex-Governor Robinson Reviews the Testi.
mony. Talks Plainly to the Jury and
Makes Simple Plea for the Defendant
His Speech Disappointing to Those Who
Expected Fire and ElOquence.
District Attorney Knowlton Begins for the
State and Presents His Side of the Case
in Strong Light-A Mob Of Women
MIR. RoBINsONs ARGUMENT.

MR. RoBINsONs ARGUMENT
The Ex-Governor Speaks Nearly Five Hours
In Behalf Of Miss Borden.
NEW BEDFORD. Mass. June 19.-The day
of the arguments in the Borden murdei
case brought a crowd to the courthouse.
and. over ON hour before the time of open.
ing. the doors were besieged BY people,
mostly ladies. in holiday attire. all hoping
for seats But there were too few seats for
the accommodation of q tenth part of tho
crowd, and there was much grumbling IN
consequence. When the court was ready
for opening there were many ladies stand
ing in the aisles. but they were
quickly ushered to the anterooma
and corridors. and obliged to view the
battle from afar. The inciosure was
packed with legal lights from all over the
country. In fact, SO closely was il packed
that the counsel for the prosecution were
obliged TO pass behind the justices and
thus get to their seats. When Sheriff
Wright came In .be aisles were cleared in
q second and every body was obliged to st
down. The jurors took their seats at SIS
A. NJ. and a few minutes later Miss Borden
q contented smile on her face. Tie jury
was polled promptly on the opening OF
court and almost Immediately Governor
Robinson began his argument. He said:
May it please your Honors Mr. Foreman and
gentlemen. one OF the most dastardly and dia-
bolical crimes ever committed in Massachusetts
was perpetrated In August, 1892, in Fall River.
The enormity OF ft startled everybody Every
feels that the wrong should be righted and
the wicked brought to Justice Here a crime
full OF horrors. and who could have done such
an actf says every pody. In the quiet of home,
in the broad daylight, on the streets OF popu-
lous city, who could have done III Inspection
showed Mrs. Bordrn had been slain by the use OF
Bordens mutilated body The terrors OF
those scenes no language can por
outset to ind who was equal to the enormity;
whose whole heart is blackened with crime. A
attic, q devil They were well direcIed blows
which caused those deaths-not directed by
biunder, none going amiss. surely We can say
at the outset this was not the careless. unframed
doing OF one unfamiliar with such work. Now
suspicion begins to fail here and every where.
They surround this and that one, and follow out
clews everywhere No decent man complains
OF investigating, and everything ought TO be
done, but We say everything Was not done and
the proper methods not taken.
Tracing the course of all suspected per-
sons from the preliminary hearing 80 this
trial. the speaker said:
In all those proceedings the prisoner had
voice; the government said If we can't prove It
against her she shall 90 free, but it was one
sided and you to draw inference what
ever from those proceedings of the preliminary
hearing We would not be safe IL In those great
crimes our lives hinge on the words OF a single
man. We came here to seek freedom and right
through you. gentlemen. As yon begin 10 con-
template this crime you must say that such acts
are physically and morally impossible for this
young woman. 1t is wreck of human morals
say this OF her. The defense complains OF no
persecution the part OF the district attorney.
he has only one duty to do, and with his we'll
earned fame at the bar he has no need TO
search for fame, and he will be the last man
attempt such. He stands above such things
and says, "All have is the case as It is aud
it was brought me by the police OF Fall River
He is not here for Blood neither is he helped for
that purpose by our friend from Essex county.
SO you see no small play: mean tactics on the
OF what has been proved here, and only that
HOUNDED BY THE POLICE.
Here the speaker referred TO the kindly
manner In which the sheriff b ad used Miss
Borden. and said:
She came into this court, presided over by our
eblest Justices who want the Common wealth's
case tried fairly, and now you are only TO deal
with the facts. 1 said the was brought
here by the Fall River police. / have not time
10 go into sarcasm and denunciation. the blue
coat and brass buttons cover up what Is inside,
the otflcer is always magnifying this and MIMI
mizing that and looking for the one who COM
mitted the deed upon which they are at work.
The witness stand brings out their weakness
when they knock their own heads together, but
after all, they show themselves 10 be only men
fendant comes before you perfectly satisfied
that the jury is the most refreshing aspect that
the eye OF human beings ever feasted upon. You
are men. Bristol county men, with hearts, heads,
souls and right minds and you come here In
obedience to the laws because. in answer 10 their
demands, you must render this great service.
You are loyal 20 the State and 10 the common
humanity. Bring your hearts. your homes and
your intellect here and let US talk you men.
Lizzie A Borden has been in your charge from
the day we opened this oase and now comes the
time when not alone her lawyers are TO speak
Tor her and the Justices 70 speak, but you twelve
men take her soey IN charge. She is not the
property OF anybody. but free, intelligent in
never been alone in this courtroom, but has been
watched over carefully. You trying this
woman for her life and you are bound TO say:
Il VIII critically consider this question. and
will make no mistake" for IL yoa do power on
earth can right il. The man 1 want 10 in
the jury Dox Is ne who says, as you have said,
that he has read and had opinions. but you were
capable OF using common sense. The man !
don't like to see is the one who is like piece OF
putty that takes the impression OF the last one
who comes in contact with him. Every man OF
you is man enough TO say when presents
an Idea In your juryroom that is not
your business to unravel the mys-
terry. but simply to say is the man
shall never be found, better that than you should
find wrong verdict. Not who did IL, nor how it
must not think for a moment that it is the duty
OF this defendant 70 find out who did H. She ia
not detective, ana she has been In Jail for nine
months. under constant restraint from the very
day almost OF the murder. Don't ask her 10 do
impossible things-to DO what she can't do. The
Commonwealth does want any victims,
either; in old days sacrifices were offered. butin
these days we don't even burn the witches in
Massachusetts ask only that you be true to
yourselves. There always goes with any person
the presumption OF innocence OF criIae: that Is
your bulwark, and it started with her from the
day she was taken In charge, and IL never leaves
her until that presumption Is overcome and she
Is declared guilty. Bear In mind that the pre-
sumption is always I'm the scale, and the scale is
always tipped In the prisoners favor until Tipped
the other way.
MUST BE CERTAIN OF HER GUILT.
The court will explain the difference between
direct and circumstantial evidence, and there IL
no need for me TO go into il fully, because deem
| 1t unnecessary. IL you asked TO convict upon
any evidence you will look to II Il fits In and
| whether it is all In. whether the chain Is COM
| plete before you make up your minds. The court
will tell you the proof must come mp In your
minds 10 a moral certainty. not mathematical
certainty. but beyond a reasonable doubt. The
| sdered. but such men you. with
| your home innences. your church asso-
Citations. Will have doubt a bout
| what you ought TO do. You are 10 say 20 this
woman's guilt or Innocence. but IL will he a duty
such as you have never done before. Under tho
| laws OF this state the defendant is permitted 10
testify the stand II she desires. but II she does
not the statutes say no inference shall be drawn
| as 10 her action. and the district attorney will
slightest degree The law holds that it In
great strain 10 nut on a defendant 10 mt him