The sun., 1893-06-21
LIzzIE BORDEN FREE.
A Verdict of ACquiitaI Received
TunluItuousIy in Court.
INDICATED, SHE BREAKS DOWN.
An Extraordinary Scene in the New
Bedford Court Room.

| ~ Spcccucs =" cre bouNcrco buo
Even Before the Defence Began - Co.'S
| eratuIations Follow the Tears. aud The.
| the Formerly Accused Woman Starts for
Fal River 10 spend tho Night with
| Frieuds-The Part Gov. Robinson Played
I'm the Case aud tho Way He Came TO PIsy
f-Llnzie TO Go to Her Old IHome-The
Judges Charge Favorable TO tho 40
cuscd-Lawyer knowiton's Argument.
New BEDFORD June 2O.-"Tho Court order7
that you be discharged and 60"
That is the summary Of the last words the OLD
State OF Massachusetts, said to Lizzie Borden
this afternoon. The suspected witch was in
the dock. the iugots had been piled all around
her, the cords that were to tie her to the stake
were the same that had cut into her flesh and
her spirits for ten months, and only an hour
Sbcforc she was set scot free the hard-headed
District Attorney was flourishing IN unlighted
torch before the audience. But it took only an
hour for tho jury to decide that witches are out
Of fashion in Massachusetts and that no one ID
to be exccutod there on suspicion and on par
rot-like police testimony.
When the Jury said Not guilty" the girl
foil as II she was shot 1t was more dramatic
than anything an actor would have dared to
do. II her legs had been moved from under
her. sho could not have dropped more sud-
denly. AS she fell tears gushed from hum
dreds OF eyes. After that there was o rude
breaking up OF Tho court room decorum. Yells
and cheers burst from the multitude as II it
were political meeting. II the absurd.
com.c-opera Sheriff raped for order. no ono
know or heeded it. In oil probability he did
no such thing. for there was only one official
OF that court who did not feel like cheering
and that was the District Attorney. The up
roar ceased. and as order began to be re-
stored it was whispered TINT two OF tho three
judges had cried like the prisoner. That was
the end OF one Of tho greatest OF modern
criminal trials. and it left the people where
they beGan-askinG ono another who killed
Mr. and Mrs. Borden.
Lizzie Borden mad cut great figure in tho
court room before her acauittal She had
como 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 rs II her spirits were worry low. In the
middle OF the proceedings. according to Mas
sachusetts custom. she was called upon to
stand up and plead to the indictments against
her. AS she rose from hor chair every one mo-
tced that she added to hor extraordinary
cracefulnoss surp passinG dignity. Erect,
with hor head held bravely up and with eyes
that looked tenderly and yet firmly into the
faces of her lawyers. she spoke few words In
q clear tone.
Gentlemen. am innocent" said she. II
leave my counsel to speak for me-" Then she
resumed her seat. and the reading OF the re-
markable charge OF the Judges to tho jury
was the next proceeding. 1t was after that
was over and after the jury had presently
come back that the climax in the dreadful
role she has been playing electrified the poo
Ile. Tho twelve Jurors filed into their box.
and this correspondent noticed that every man
of fhnp, nj i1zi Rprdan with hfa
eyes and looked at her steadily. Had they
been going to announce her guilty they would
not have doae SO. She did not look at them.
Perhaps she heard the exclamation OF ME.
jennings Gosh. 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 unsteadily.
with face as white as marble.
Gentlemen. have you agreed upon q YER
dicti" said the Clerk to the Jury
1t was so still in tho court that the futter Of
two fans made n great noise.
"We have" said Foreman Richards boldly.
The prisoner WAS gripping tho rail In front
OF the dock as II her standing UP depended
upon It's keeping its place.
Lizzie Andrew Borden" said the Clerk.
hold up your right hand"
Jurors look upon tho prisoner. Prisoner.
look upon the foreman"
Every juryman stood at right about -fnce.
staring at tho woman. There was such gem
tie. kindly light beamne in every eye that no
one questioned the verdict that was to be
uttered. But God save every woman from the
feelings that Lizze Borden showed In the
return look she cast upon that jury. 1t was
what 10 pictured as the rolling gaze OF dying
person. She seemed not to have the power to
move her eyes directly whore she was told tn.
and thoy swung all around in her head. Thsy
looked at the ceiling: they looked at every
thing. but they saw nothing. 1t was horrt-
BILE. p.tiful sight to see her then.
What say YOU. Mr.. lboreman?" said th0
gentle old clerk
mot guilty" shouted Mr. Richards.
At tho words tho wretched woman feu
Quicker than over an OK fell in the stock yar6o
OF Chicago. Her forehead crashed against the
heavy walnut rail OF the dock so as to skaks
the reporter OF The Sun who sat next to her.
twelve feet away. leaning on the rail It
seemed that she must be 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 il rested on them.
What followed was mere mockery. but 1t was
the woll- governed order OF tho court and had
to lie Gone through with.
on amid the tumuIt, that Lizzie Andrew
borden Is not guilty"
I'VE do" said the foreman.
80 say you. Mr. Foreman p
lido" said he
SO say you. gentlemen"
"Wo do" said they all
Lizzie Andrew Bordcn." said tho clerk, look.
ing In vain at the empty space where once her
face had been. "the Court orders that you be
discharged OF your indictment and 60 thereof
without bail"
Mr.. Jennings. overcome as few men are ever
seon TO be. and trembling like an aspen.
pushed his way TO tho rail OF tho dock. thrust
ono hand between Lizzie Borden's left arm
and her face and tried to raise her head. It
was more than he could do. II was like trying
TO lIft SO much lead. But she released o hand
and held 1t out to him and he Rrasped It and
made 1t red with squeezing. A dutter OF ex-