Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-06-12
BORDEN MURDER TRIAL.
The Accused Gives Evidence of En-
joying Ludicrous Incident.

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alton of that boundless curiosity and
morbid desire on the part of the pub
lie, especially the feminine portion OF
it, to see and hear every detail of the
grusome crime as the same Is develop
ed by the opposing counsel in the trial
of the case. Court opened at the ac-
customed hour on both Friday and
Saturday mornings and the trial was
resumed without delay. On Friday
morning the crowd was found equally
as large and curious as at any previous
time since the trial began. More than
half the number of spectators were
women and their struggle for forward
seats was characterized by the same
eager unconyentionality of previous
days.
The prisoner, Miss Lizzie Borden,
entered the court room under the
usual escort of officers, looking some
what less pale and distraught than
upon the previous day. She was
quietly conducted to the prisoners
dock and took her accustomed chair
without directing her usually search
ing gaze over the assemblage. In the
few moments conversation had by the
accused with those about her, prior to
the commencement of the days pro-
ceedings, she gave evident apprecia-
tion of the situation, remarking to
Deputy Sheriff Kirby, one of the
guards in the dock, as she glanced
about and saw the swarm, that in
some of the homes of the city the
homework must be neglected. She
conversed with Governor Robinson
until court opened and appeared very
much in earnest about something.
The first witness called was Assist
ant Marshal Fleet. Governor Robin
son made skillful and long examina-
tion and discovered that other hatch
cts than the handless one were found
in the box by the chimney, and that
there were piles of ashes in the room.
The handless hatchet was found by
the witness ON the second visit to the
cellar on the day, of the murder. Wit
ness admitted that the search of the
house on that day was not very
thorough.
Robinson led Fleet into contradic-
ton of Thursdays testimony that the
broken part of the hatchet handle was
covered with ashes, like the blade.
He also said he put the handless hatch
ct back where he found it, that it was
not produced at the preliminary hear
ing, and that he did not testify about
it at that time because he did not
think it was used for the murder. He
said he reached the Borden house
at 11.45 q, m. on the day of the mur-
der.
Officer O'Harrington was next call
ed. During his testimony into the
of the bodies the prisoner
looked down and nervously fingered
her black fan.
He testified that the prisoner said
she left her father reading a paper,
and after twenty minutes found him
dead; and that she said the motive was
not robbery, as everything was right
about the house.
Officer OH'arrington also testified
that the prisoner was not in tears
during the interview ON the day of
the murder, and that she was very
positive as to the exact time she was
in the barn. He described very fully
the prisoner dress at that time. On
CT discrimination Harrington contra
dicted his former testimony as to an
inquiry Of Lizzie, but afterwards ad-
mitted that the former testimony was
correct. He repeated detailed de-
scription of the prisoners dress, and
the prisoner leaned her head on her
arm and laughed heartily for the first
time in the trial.
Robinson also involved this witness
in contradiction of former testimony
as to the condition Of the barn door
and window. Witness contradicted
Fleet as to the place where one hatch
ct was found.
Officer Doherty was put on at noon
and described his experience at the
Borden house on the day Of the mur-
der.
Officer Mullaly's direct testimony as
to the condition of the premises on
the day Of the murder developed
new, except u corroboration
or Fleets testimony as to finding the
handless hatchet. The broken handle
was clean, but The blade was covered
with ashes.
The only matter of Importance
brought out at the afternoon session