Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-21
THE BORDEN CASE.

modern times has at length come to an
end. 1t has been fraught with interest
from the beginning and there is hardly a
home throughout the length and breadth
of this land into which some knowledge
of this trial has not come. Lizzie Borden
has been tried by jury OF her peers and
has been declared not guilty OF the horri-
BILE and atrocious crime of which for so
many long and weary months she
had been accused. No one
has any right now to doubt
the verdict or to cast suspicion
upon her. She has a right to hold up her
head and walk the streets OF her native
city as innocent OF that crime ~ when her
aged father and mother were living. 1t
was no Scotch verdict that was rendered
in this case-no declaration that the
case was "not proven" The ver-
dict OF not guilty means more than that.
1t means that the prisoner at the bar is
Innocent OF the crime OF which she stands
accused-and innocence means even
= .blameless Of suspicion.
From the beginning, this trial has been
conducted with a fairness and business
worthy OF all the traditions OF the Com
monwealth OF Massac achusetts. Courtesy
and consideration have always been pre-
sent on both sides. The brilliant Dis
trict Attorney has only fought for what
his duty demanded the master genius
OF the defence for what he owed his
client and what he considered the rights
OF injured and oppressed innocence.
II would be impossible to analyze the
testimony that has been presented In this
case, but perusal OF II has failed to
bring to the legal mind or to the mind of
the twelve jurymen any proof Of guilt.
The most that could be said WIS that 1t
was pregnant with suspicion. The force
OF the governments case was shaken by
the masterly ross-exsmination OF that
prince OF lawyers, Mr.. Robinson, and 1t
was only after the wonderful effort of the
District Attorney in his address to the
jury that any weight was put on 1t what.
ever.
As trial, this must always stand on a
par with the celebrated White trial In
which Daniel Webster was engaged, and
the trial OF DR.. Webster for the murder of
DR.. Parkman, In which Gov. CASTOR con-
Quoted the prosecution. Both of these
trials were celebrated In their day and the
traditions surrounding them have been
handed down to the present time. Be-
cause the District Attorney was not as
successful as his distinguished predeces-
sors is no fault OF his. At least his efforts
and his plea must stand on par with
both.
The summing up Of the counsel for the
defence has been declared fiat and COM
monplsce. But Gov. Robinson knew his
case; he knew his men, and he knew his
duty. Itisa bit OF legal gossip that when
Mr.. Webster and Rufus Choate were en-
gagged In the same case that Mr.. Webster
would never attempt to vie with bis legal
friend in orstorical efforts but would
adopt the simplest and plsinest way In
which 70 address the Jury.
The effect must have been startling,
but ], brought conviction to the minds OF
The jury.
So II was with Gov. Robinson. He
adopted a means to reach an end; that end
bss justified the meaos. His client IL
discharged and smother victory has been
added to an already long array. He is
indeed the leader In his profession.