The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-20
Ex-Gov. Robinson Opens for the De-
tense In the Borden Murder
Trial.
His Argument Was Something Of
q disappointment to the
Spectators.
Court Adjourns before tho Prosecuting
Ohhcer II Through Presenting His
Side OF the Case.

of argument In the Lizzie Borden trial
opened with great crowd at tho court
house, scarcely tenth OF whom could
gain admission. A large proportion of
those in attendance wore fashionable ladies
in holiday attire. The defendant appeared
fresh and smiling. Ex-Gov. Robinson
opened tho proceedings with an argument
for the defense. He began by declaring
the defendant physically unable to commit
the crime in the manner II was done. He
claimed that aside from that il was only
possible for . maniac or devil TO do IL. He
asked the jury to bring their homes. their
hearts and their intsIlects into the decision
Of the case. Gov. Robinson then re-
hearsed chronoloRically the events con-
nected with the crime. He saw no
reason to connect confederate Of tho de-
fendant with II. There was No di' oct svi-
denee whatever against Miss Borden. he
said. and no knowledge OF the use Of The
weapon had been shown. The evidence
showed that the defendant did not know
where the alleged weapon was kept. Lizzie
Borden was at home the morning the mur-
ders were committed, and If she had gone
upstairs and looked under the bed she
mother. Both Lizzie and Bridget tell about
the note which oallsi Mrs.. Borden out, aud
both we're told Of IL by Mrs. Borden. Liz
zie said she had besn in the barn twenty
inmates. An ios cream peddlsr who knew
Bridget wont by and saw the woman, but
| not Bridget, walking TO the house from the
barn.
five minutes recess WAS here taken and
the address was discussel freely by the
spectators, much disappointment being
expressed about IL. Bridget said the ex-
governor aftor the rssess. when she heard
Bot den was dead, said she would 60 10 M g..
Whitehead's and toll Mre. Borden. II she
was there. That corroborates the note
theory. Bridget Sullivan. who for two
ary one else. never heard quarrel between
Lizzie and Mrs. Borden. The speaker then
related the fact of the alleged bloodssained
dress and the burning of 10. III Lizzie
Borden killed her stspmother at 9:45. he
said. did she come down and greet her
father in the bloodstained dress9 She must
have changed her clothing aRd changed II
again after the second slaughter. Lizzie
did not try to get Bridget out Of the
house. Don't you think she would
have sent her on some errandY" The
alto, ney pointed out that the doctors diss-
greed as to what had been used to kill the
Bordsns and touched upon the claw headed
hatchet and the hatches without handle.
II those were not the implements with
which the murder was committed. whore
are they? The exclusive opportunity the.
ory was simply An anticipation that would
be realized. Anybody could have gotten
into the house by simply avoiding Bridget
The lawys. held that the young man seer
in the vicinity was an outside SPY for tht
person committing the deed, aud that the
job Was not done by one person. A dinner
reoess Was takon and the ex-governor ra-
sumed whom court rsassembled. II there
he said, those whs were bathing her fact
would have discovered IL.
II was three O'Clock when the ex- governor
closed and District Attorney Knowlt0n be-
gan to sum mp for the prosecution. knowl
ton said: However We may differ. ws Cal
agree that this 10 most bsartrsndinR case
The woman we are trying 10 Christian
II il hard to consider shis woman guilty o
such crime. but the greatest criminals Q
the world have been women and We mus
face this case as men. No ono who has tolt
Of 1t saw Lizzie Borden burn that dress
While Borden WAS down at the bank tina
morning the assassin met Mrs. Borden An,
killed her. 1t was against her the hate VA
directed. There was one woman in Sh
world who believed the old woman stoo'
between her father and herself. There va
nothing In these blows but hatred, and
Rteat strong man with one blow
! only, would have made an en-
Of it," The speaker reviewed th'
movements of the family on the morning
of the tragedy and said up to the time th
murder was committed there was no oppor
turity for the ASSASSIN to come in. Mhel
that 2O0-pound woman fell il mus
have been heard by whoever WAS in th
house, II Lizzie vas down stairs she va
in the passaReway of the mu derer; II oh
J was up stairs she could not have helpe
hearing. she was alone in she house wit
tho murdered woman and knew that b!
and by there was coming into the hous
} a stern. just man, who would have notice
in and she said to him: Mother has re
ceived q note and has gone OUT" But thsr
was no note; there never was any one sic
J and tho note story originated with LiEzi
Borden. Bridget Sullivan said she hra
I heard Of II from what Lizzie said.
Il Court adjourned with knowlton's arRu
ments not finished.
Felix Borden has been located hsra
} Young Borden says he knew Lixzie's fathe
I only BY sight and reputation and II he tol
I Mrs. Ramsey ~ Baltimore that Lizzie con-
mittsd the murders his opinion WAS folme
ON newspaper reports and nc
! from any knowledge of Lizzie
I character. He coald not remember sithe
I iuss where he was st the time of the mul
I dsrs, because he was then in the oirou
! business and it kept him travelling most G
J the time, but he had An idea that he was !
, Providence.