The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-06
TRIAL OF MISS BORDEN.
HEARING OF THE CELEBRATED
CASE BEGUN At VIEW BEDFORD.
The Prisoners Appearance In Court-His-
tory of the Horrible Butehery.
What Was the MotiveG

every available Snaly Spot OH CN~t.sy
street. near the courthouse, was pre-
empted, and patiently the sitters and
ISLANDERS waited until the bell on the
courthouse tolled, Simplifying the open
ing Of the court.
At precisely 1888 Miss Lizzie Borden,
the prisoner came slowly into the court
room and was shown TO her seat in the
dock. She was attired in very becoming
costume Il black brOcade stun. and wore
a pretty shade hat. relieved By touch
here and there Of blue. Every seat I'm
the room was occupied by taiesmen and
newspaper men, no outsiders being adj
misted UP 10 that time. and within the
box enclosure were a few Of the promi-
nent men OF the county. who had been ac-
corded seats by courtesy.
The jury was completed al 4:45 this az
ternoOn. The Quickness with which the
jury was Unparalleled was a surprise 70
everybody. even the counsel. and they
were somewhat unprepared. The hour
was 80 late that II was not known
whether Il was best 10 30 on with the
opening for the prosecution or 10 defer
the matter until morning. and 4 consul
tation took place IN regard to the matter
between counsel
II was decided that there should be no
opening tonight, and court was adjourned
until tomorrow morning az 9 o'clock.
District Attorney Knowlton is OF the
opinion that at least three weeks will be
required now to finish up the trial, pro-
vided there are no setb3cks.
Charles l. Richards. of North Attleboro,
was appointed foreman Of the jury
History of the Horrible Crime.
On August 4. 1892 Mr.. and Mrs Andrew
L. F~ree 81 n hi
home in q thlckly settled portion 81 FAN
River, Mass. by tome person unknown.
The crimes occurred between and II
O'Clock I'm the morning. The only pers ms
about the house that morning so far IS
known were the murdered couple, Lizzie
Borden and Bridget Sullivan, the servant.
BRIDGET declares that she saw Mrs soy
den for the last time al o'clock and that
later Lizzie said hec stepmothsr had
gene out. Bridget was washing windows
outside the house between and l0.20
while Lizzis was inside ironing or nov
ing about different parts Of the resiisl.e
There gems 20 be every indication that
Mrs. Borden, who was up stairs in the
spare bedroom. was murdered between
9 and 10 o'clock. About 10 Nr. Bord IN
returned 10 the house and was let IN
by Bridget. Lizzie was up stairs al the
time. and Bridget says Lizzie laughed
because she Bridget had trouble I'm
opening the door.
Mr.. Borden sat down in the sitting
room. Lizzie began ironing On the kitchen
and Bridget went up % her room on the
second door az about 1855 o'clock. Mrs.
Borden was alive then. Fifteen minutes
later Bridget says Lizzie called 10 her
20 go for q doctor. as SIR. Borden was
dead Shortly after the discovery OF Mr..
BOrden's body that OF his wife was found
in the guest chamber up stairs. Nlr.
Borden had evidently been murdered with
a Ratchet or an axe as he lay asleep on
the sitting-r0Om sofa. His wife had been
struck down from behind as she stood on
the floor Of 1he guest chamber. The
bodies We're examined about mas. and
their general appearance and the con-
tents Of the stOmachs Indicated that
Mrs. Borden had been dead az least two
hours and Mr. Borden about one-half or
three-Quarters Of an hour.
Lizzie Borden states that she last saw
her stepmother alive about Q o'clock, and
that Mrs. Borden told her she was going
out Lizzie says that after her father
came home she went out In the yard and
barn after q lead sinker she intended 90
use on a fishing excursion. She left her
father alive and awake on the sofa. hen
she returned from the barn twenty-five
or thirty minutes later ne was deau.
Both Lizzie and Bridget declare that they
saw no one about the house No weapon
was found near the bodies. but two axes
and a Ratchet we're discovered IN the
cellar. Professor Wood Of Harvard. VINO
examined the axes. the Ratchet and thr
clothing Of Lizzie Borden. that We're All
alleged 20 bear human blood stains mas
testified that there was no blood on thrHi.
Two OF the most mysterious features
Of the case are the facts that no weapon
wac found that bears evidence or ia ans
been used by the murderer, ana that
although the sitting room and me guest
chamber were literally spauersu WIN
blood none was found on the clothing Oh
Ti,zla Bordon. At drst thought he con
,fl,sion is Irresistible that either LiIIe
Borden OF Bridget Sullivan must nave
killed Mr.. and Mrs. Borden, for alLhou-.
there is some eyid snce that on uhN.o""
man was seen 20 jump the Bord % zen
during the morning this evidence - Ho'
very tangible. ,-.-t..o
The ALLEGED motive 1or the double crime
CHARGED against Lizzie Borden Is tnat ~
and her stepmOther were noi on $3.50
terms. Lizzie says that she ana H-, ,s--
,ro,her ouarreled FIVE years ago. Bei2rs
~, ,o,,,rrsI Lizzie called her 'mot1e-.
&c. tba Quarrel she called her Mrs.
I5ortar" put this theory ot a 'n'uvr
shows no good reason why Lizzie sh2uld
have also slain her father. Inc M1
-,,la who believe In LiZzle's innocence
-. - the fact that she is a well @du-
aa,e1 Gently uurturad Christian glri VINO
boe hen prominent IN church work. ana
Who could never have summoned me
,[s,1r,ior 10 deliberately hack her iatner
"a s.enr,9ther TO death in such revolt
a., manner. even II she could have felt
s',,,,cisnt enmity for them to wish them
o1t of the world. But II Lizzie borden
d,9 NOT kin the aged couple who dlhf -
= question that will be asked many
tiues during the coming trial ana ron
,'-1ss,t Indications no answer seems