Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-10
BORDEN MURDER TRIAL.
The Prisoner Laughs Heartily at De-
scription of Her Dress.


New BEDFORD, Mass, June 9.-1n the
Borden trial OFFICER Harrington was called
at 1913 During his testimony as TO the
condition of the bodies the prisoner
looked down and nervously fingered her
black fan. He testified that the prisoner
sad she left her father reading paper
and after twenty minutes found him dead.
aud that she said the motive was not rob
berry. as everything was right about the
house.
Officer Harrington testified that the
prisoner was not IN tears during the inter-
view on the day of the murder and that
she was very positive as to the exact time
she was ID tho barn. He described very
fully the prisoners dress at that time,
causing laughter among the ladies, who
constituted fully half the spectators.
The prisoner watched Harrington care
fully while he testified to her conversation
with him the day of the murder. and tore
small pieces from note marked Per
sonal" which had been handed her Just
before tine recess. Witness thought the
prisoner wore light blue dress with dark
spots: not the dress delivered to the gov
eminent as the one she wore.
On cross-examination Harrington con-
tradicted his former testimony as 10 an
inquiry of LizZie's, but afterwards admit
ted that the former testimony was correct.
THE PRISONER LAUGHS.
He repeated detailed description Of
the prisoners dress. which caused amuse-
ment, and the prisoner twice leaned her
head on her arm and laughed heartily for
the first time in the trial. Governor Ko-
binson also involved the witness IN con-
tradiction Of former testimony as to tho
condition of the barn-door and window.
Witness cOntradicted Fleet as to the
place where che hatchet was found.
Governor Robinson made q skilful and
long examination Of officer Fleet and dis
closed the fact that other hatchets than
the handleless one were found III the box
by the chimney ana that there were piles
of ashes IN the room. The handleless
Ratchet was found on the witnesses second
visit to the cellar on the day OF the muir
der Witness also admitted that the search
| in the house that day was not very tho
rough.
Governor Robinson led Fleet into q
| contradiction OF Yesterdays testimony
that the broken part of the Ratchet ham
| die was covered with ashes, like the blade.
He also said that he put the handleless
| Ratchet back where he fou nd 1t, that II was
not produced ut the preliminary hearing,
| and that he did not testify about II at that
time because he did not think 1t was used
| for the murder.
| CORRECTION OF TESTIMONY.
| At the opening of court to-day the Dis
trct Attorney said he mad received a let
ter from Everett NJ. Cook, the Fall-River
Bank cashier, in which he stated that one
of his answers TO a question when he was
questioned was incorrect, and he begged
TO be allowed to change 1t. On the stand
he said Miss Borden had no account IN the
Durfee Bank, and in the letter he cor
rected this bv saying she had. and that tho
balance on August 4th was SIP. The cor
rection was allowed to stand.
The only matter of importance brought
| out at the afternoon session was the fact
that the broken part of the handle Of the
small Ratchet which was missing was seen
by Officer Mullaey. and the government
professed ignorance of the piece.
| Mullaley said Fleet found it and
put it back with the Ratchet.
During Fleets testimony he never
referred to the matter, and considerable
surprise WAS felt and expressed. Fleet
was recalled and examined. although the
government objected He said he never
saw anything there In the nature of a
| piece of handle with a fresh break in IT.
There was decided sensation as Fleet
stepped from the stand.