The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-05
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 Tu-
mutt of Applause--The Defendant
Weeps 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 stepnothcr. 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 q fearful day in court, @ day OF
keen suffering for everybody for the heat
was intense. For the prisoner 1t was the
most trying OF ali her Ordeais. 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 in promptly at 9 O'Clock {; the
jury was polled and the District Attorney
picked up the thread of his argument where
he had dropped it. He consratulatec the
Jury upon the near approach of the end.
L ~
defence had said that motive was part of
the governments case. This was not so. al
though the motive has moved in eiucidating
the facts. The address OF District Attorney
Knowlton was masterpiece in its line.
From first to last he sustained the interest
which he had created in the beginning. Tho
whole matter was 80 cleverly handled, the
little points were 80 woven together in
complete structure, that a deer impression
l. tr, &Hnn ~
When he had finished the Bordens and their
friends looked gloomy and Ex-Governor
Robinson tried to cheer them up. Lizzie
cried little just before court took a recess.
When court reconvened at Il quarter to 2
o'clock Chief Justice Mason said. solamnly;
"Lizzie Andrew Borden, although you have
now been heard by your lawyers the oppor-
tunity is given you. rs customary in such
cases. to address the jury in your own be-
hall, and if you desire to say anything to
them you may now avail yourself OF the op-
portunity to do So
In reply the prisoner rose and, resting her
hand on the railing Of the desk, said in q low
voice: Il am innocent. Ileave my counsel
to speak for me-"
Then she sank back wearilv into her place
and without more ceremony the jury were
directed to rise. Justice Dewey, rising also,
and resting one hand on a volume on the
corner of the bench began to read his charge.
He charged the jury to weigh the evidence
50 rs to see whether defendants permanent
state Of mind showed 4 motive for the
crimes. Every material allegation In the in
dictmert 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 TACT might not be. Lizzie's state
ments about tho note were discussed ut
length and he said they must be satisfied
they we're false. Every fact proved must
bn 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
mit.sd il. The jury must reason as to the
effect o: defendants conduct and statements.
They were not 60 conclude by expert testi-
mony. but were to apply to it reasonable
Judgment. They might convict if satisfied
the net was done by another party, but that
defendant was present. aiding and abctting.
The fact that defendant did not testify
should not influence them against her.
After 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 ont from the
grsly collection OF relies Of tho tragedy arti-
cles the jury might desire to examine. They
might we'll have spared themselves the
trouble. When this matter had been settled
the Justices left tho bench, and Justices
Dewey and DlodSett took little stroll down
the street, leaving the Chief Justice to await
any communication the jury might desire to
make.
II 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 fled into the
box. When silence had been proclaimed the
Chief Justice said
Lizzie Andrew Borden, hold upyour right
hand and 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 ont into tumultous applause. The
District Attorney rose and. after moving for
tho discharge of the Indictment said: Il
now congratulate the defendant and her
COUNSEL"
As soou as practicable Miss Borden was re-
MUred to the Judges room. where she was
embraced by hcr sister and many OF the
iricm'ls who have steadfastly stood by her.
When congratulated on her acquittal she
S.i'IGu, duu III tSpIS ~ iuluiico oOout Iva
lrtUrr plans rcfcrrcd all H. eX-GoXcruor
Robinson. who said that Hiss Borden had
made no plans, and only desired to escape IA
completely as possible lrom the puolic no.
tice.
After the greater part ofthe crowd had dis
persed, Miss Borden, accompanied by her
sister and several friends, entered carriage
and was driven to the depot, where she took
the train for. Fall River. where she became
the guest Of Banker c. J. Holmes. On the
way she was repeatedly recognized and
loudly cheered. Members of the jury say
that an agreement was practically reached
az the close OF the defence and that 1t was
only at the suggestion OF the foreman that
they went through the form Of retiring.