Connecticut western news., 1893-06-15


 When ex-Governor Robinson cross exam ined Allen he did not ask question about the bloody handkerchief.
 NEW BEDFORD, Mass, June 10.-When court opened this morning the question raised by the defense as to the propriety of admitting the evidence that Lizzie Borden gave at the inquest was taken up It is the first time that the point has been raised in this state, and it was a novel one to the lawyers. It was brought up yesterday when Anna M. White, the official stenog- rapher of the Fall River court, testified that there had been a conversation between MT. Knowlton and Miss Borden there.
 Probing the Hatchet Mystery.
 The hatchets are more mysterious than ever. This is because the witnesses for the prosecution have contradicted themselves.
 Not until Michael Mullally, another Fall River policeman, was called was this sub ject, which had been so full of mystery, fully gone into.
 Mullally first identified the hatchet with out the handle. He said the break was new when he saw it first, and that it looked different from what it did now.
 In searching about the premises he said, in answer to question, that he had seen no weapon with blood on it.
 Some of the testimony given by Mullally il few minutes later took on a curious interest. Ex- Governor Robinson was ask ing the witness about the hatchets found in the cellar. He said there had been no dust on the hatchets when he saw them. It was when the lawyer began to question him about the hatchet without handle that the interesting testimony came out. Mullally told his questioner that some thing else had been found in the cellar be sides what had been enumerated. It was nothing less than the missing part of the handle.
 ''where was it found2" asked the surprised lawyer, while everybody leaned forward anx- iously.
 Tt was found in the box with the hatchet," was the reply.
 ''Where is it now2" The question came quick and sharp.
 II don't know. Assistant Marshal Fleet 'ound it."
 Ex-Governor Robinson turned to District Att ,orney Knowlton and asked, Does the gov- 4rnment know anything of that missing part of the handle?'
 "The government has no knowledge of it." There was a great buzzing of voices in the room as Fleet was recalled to the stand. In few rapid questions he was asked about the finding of the handle. He said he had not found it, had not seen 1t and did not know of anybody who had seen 1t or knew anything of it. There was an awk- ward pause for a moment, and then he was excused. Mullally was not recalled then to clear the matter up in any way, though he had either made blunder or else the wit | nesses for the prosecution had fallen to contradicting each other woefully. NEW BEDFORD, Mass, June 12.-Argu- 1 ments were commenced this morning on | the admission of the evidence of Lizzie Bor- den as given at the inquest, and by tonight | it will be decided whether the government | shall go sailing along with free sheets or pull up close hauled for long and tedious | trip. If the court decides to admit the notes of the stenographic reports in Lizzie l Borden's testimony at the inquest, the gov ernment will feel superlatively happy. l NEW BEDFORD Mass, June 13.-It is | now definitely stated that ex-Governor Robinson will ask Lizzie Borden to take the witness stand when the inning of the | defense comes. It is said that she will be | able to explain away some of the most
 damaging statements made against her + l manner both simple and direct.
 The burning of the dress, the most dam
 aging point yet made against the prisoner | will be explained as the act of an innocent | woman, since the very openness of the ac
 itself had tendency to disprove guilt.
 For the first time in her 10 months ac
 quaintance with it the law was kind t, l her, and Lizzie Borden cried at it's kind
 ness. The tears which refused to start il
 the face of murder ran freely down he
 cheeks when Chief Justice Mason an
 nounced that it was the opinion of tn
 court, after 1N hours deliberation, tha ] the testimony wrunR from her dnrtnl