Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-22
here on snsnicion and on parrot-lilc police

blTl lell rs IL she was Snpt. " was more |
than anything an actor would |
have dared to do. If her legs had been
moved from under her She could not buve
dropped more suddenly. As she fell tears
gushcd from hundreds of eyes After that
there was rude reaking up ot the court
room dceorum. Wells and cheers burst
from the multitude rs if it werc a political
meeting. If the absurd, COmiC.opera sheriff
raped for order. no one knew or lGeled
il. In all probability he did no such thing
for there was only one otiicialuf that court
who did not feel iikecheerng and that was
the district attorney. Tho upruar ceased
and as order began to be restored it was
whispered that two Of the three judges
had cried like the prisoner That was the
end of one Uf the create st of modern Crin-
nal trials, and il left the people where they
began-asking one another who killed Mr..
and Mrs Borden
Lizzie Borden had cut u great figure in
the court room before her acqllttal. She
had come in showing every bit Of the strain
OF ten months in the custody OF the
witch burners. Her eyes were swollen
and her head was kept down as ii her
spirits were very low. In the middle of
the proceedings according to MAssaChu-
satts custom, she was called upon to stand
up and plead TO the indictments against
her. As she rose from her chair every one
noticed that she added to her extraordinary
gracetuness q surprising dignity. Erect,
with her head held brayciy up and with
eyes that luuked tendcrly aud yet firmly
into the faces of her lawyers, she spoke a
few words III "a clear tone.
Gentlemen, am innocent" said she.
~ leave my counsel to speak for me
Then she reSumcd her seat, and the read.
ing of the remarkable charge Of the Judges
to the jury was the next proceeding. 1t
was after that was over anu after the Jury
had presently come back that the climax
in the dreadful role she has been playing
ELECTRIFIED the people. The II jurors filed
into their box, and this correspondent
noticed that every man of them sought
ont Lizzie Borden with his eyes and looked
ut her steadily. Had they been gong To
announce her guilty they would not have
done 81. She aid not look at them. Per-
haps she heard the exclamation of Mr..
Jennings; ."uosh, old man, we've got
them Perhaps she was under too much
strain TO bear or recognize anything.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, said the clerk
Of the court, stand up She arose un-
steadily, with face as white as marble.
',Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
verdict ~ said the clerk to the jury.
1t was SO still in the court that the tluttcr
Of two fans made a great noise.
I'VE have, said Foreman Richards,
boldly.
The prisoner was gripping the rail in
front OF the dock as il her standing up de-
pended upon its keeping its place.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, said the clerk,
hold up your right hand
Jurors, look upon the prisoner. Pris-
Oner, look upon the foreman.
Every iuryman stood at right t'about-fa face,
staring at the women. There was such a
gentle, kindly light beaming in every eve
that no one questioned the verdict that
was to Dc uttered. But God save every
woman from the feelings that Lizzie
Borden showed in the return look she cast
upon that jury. 1t was what is pictured rs
the rolling gaze of Il dying person. She
seemed not to have the power TO move her
eyes directly where she was told TO, and
they swung all around in her head. They
looked at the ceiling; they looked at every
thing, but they saw nothing. 1t was u
horrible, pititul sight to see her then.
What say you, Mr.. Foreman said the
gentle old clerk.
Not guilty" shouted Mr.. Richards.
At the words the wretched woman fell
quicker than ever all OK fell in the stock
purds of Chicago. Her forehead crashed
against the heavy walnut rail Ot the dock
50 rs to shake the reporter who sat next to
her II feet away, leaning on the rail. 1t
seem Cd that she must lie stunned but She
was not. Quickly, with an unconscious
movement, she flung up both arms and
threw them over the rail and pressed them
under her face so that it rested on them.
What followed was mere mockery, but
it was the well-goverued order OF the court
and had to gone through with.
"Gou on your oath, say, )" the old clerk
ratified ON amid the tumult, that Lizzie
ANDREW Borden is not guilty."
I'VE DO said the foreman.
80 say you, Mr.. Foreman -
81 do, said he.
so say you, gentlemen ~
We DO, said they all.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, SAID the clerk,
| looking III VAIN at the empty space where
once her face had been. tile court orders
that you be discharged of your indictment
and 50 thereof without bail.
Mr.. Jennings, overcome rs few men are
ever seen to be, and trembling like an
aspen, pushed his way TO tue rail Of the
dock, thrust one hand between lizzie
! liordGn'S left arm and her face and tried
to raise her head. II was more than lie
could do. 1t was like trying TO lift SO
| much lead. lSut She released d hand and
head It OFT to him and he grasped il and
made It red with squeezing. \ iluttcr oi
excitement ran among all thu women, for
! the glove was OIL the wOman's hand and
Those who had waited a fortnight to see
I her hand were at last to be gratiiicd. Mir.
| knuWitun arose and addressed the court.
There are two indictments" lie said.
against the dCtendant, charging the same
crimes in other forms. In WOW OF the
! vGrdIct.a the Casr Just returned | desire
4 to now enter mol, pros in the other
counts. lnGn turning Ia the counsel for
thC defence he said II desire to sincerely
/ congratulate you Oh The result OF your
| iaboEs.n
Inc stern old roundhead went over and
! shook hands with cX-tiovcrnur ltubiEsOu,
| but paid no attention to the woman he
| had worked su hard to convict in the zeal
Gus discharge vi his duty, MIR. Robinson
/ dodged under the rail Of the bar and
pushed Dy the NOW Useless deputy who
! guarded the prisoner. He stopped down
and put his lace against hers. Presently
/ his lett arm slipped around her waist and,
| like the father he has been to her, he
/ raised her up.
This went on when the chiel justice was
/ formally thanking the Jury. This Is what
| the chief Justice said
The court desires to express its gratiti-
cation at the fdithlulneSs with which you
| have attended to the arduuus duties which
/ have befallen yOu. We appreciate the
| hardships which you have Undergone and
the dliscomfurts OF this long trial in such
/ oppressive weather. But we hope you will
recognize the fact that under UiIr forms of
Law all this WAS necessary and that you
will 20 to your homes with the assurance
that your action will be approved. You
are now excused from further attendance" "
Every one listened for a quaver in the
chief Justices voice, but he spoke only a
little unsteadily, rhe people looked for
emotion, because at the words not guilty"
every one had seen tears flood Judge
Dewey's eyes. and every one had also seen
Judge Bludgett's face contorted with the
violence OF his effort to repress his strong
emotion.
Thus ended the famous Borden trial.