The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-13

How Lizzie Borden Received the Judges
Decision and What IL Meant.

Decision and What 1t Meant
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS.
NEW BEDFORD, June 13 --"Aud the
evidence is excluded" Such were the
few words uttered by Chief Justice Ma
son, as he read the decision of the court
that Lizzie Borden's testimony at the in
quest would not be admitted at the trial.
Never was the word OF law given or
juiist more nobly horfored than by the
breathless expectancy that greeted the
decision of these three judges this after
noon. The silence was profound; 1t WAS
solemn; 1t was awful. Perhaps upon
those words depended human life.
Who could tellp III they were for the
accused her liberty was more than half
won. IL for the state they were almost
the warning OF impending doom.
1t was the supreme moment In the life
OF Lizzie Borden. For months she had
waited Each day, each hour Of her life
has been weighed down the conviction
that her guilt, IL proved, must be proved
out Of her own mouth. Her words, con
fused and contradictory, wrung from he r
under mental excitement due to q poison
Gus drug, under physical exhaustion due
to tirelcss days and sleepless nights.
under weight of sorrow which no one
can measure Her words wrung from
her by "a merciless inquisition of three
long days for the sole purpose OF provin e
RuhC-tueso Worus Nere uer oulS
accusers.
What wonder that the woman sat rigid
as in death Z What wonder that she
shuddered q every word OF that deci-
sionf What wonder that IA tue fnal
sound fell upon her ear that her thank
ful heart found relief in a stuffed sobp
The court had decided. It's edict had
gone forth. She was not to b. CO lvicted
upon her own perverted testimony. The
shackles OF prison were falling from her
limbs. The stain of accusation upon her
reputation was fading in the clear light
Of justice She wept.
ss her hSs doubt Isolation asr Womn to those %
stincts She Is indeed womanly.g RShe
is human; strangely so, perhaps, but still
human, with the feelings and tho ughts
of her sex. Day by day her character
has been unfolding. Every act has had
it's motive and its value. Each act has
disclosed it's picture OF a nature that is
not ext raordinar, except in the marvel
Gus will power that rs its supreme guide.
Nowhere has that self controlled
thoughtfulness shown more clearly than
In the court room during this trial.
Fighting For Her Life.
This woman is fighting for her life.
She is fighting ceaselessly; fighting des-
perately. 1t is not time for sensation.
IL is not a time for dramatic effects.
Both are avoided. 1t is not time for
sympathy. She does not need IL. Al
heart Iretting under this pitiless strain,
she In outwardly calm and quiet. No
opportu ,ity escapes her notice.
No chance is lost. frequently she sits
with the written testimony open before
her. Her eye follows the lines as her ear
foil ows the witness. At times a vulner-
able point il unnoticei by her counsel.
She leans forward aud Whispers a few
words. The lawyers attention IL at
tracted To- the point at issue. Tae ques.
tion goes forth. The shaft strikes home
"a al the witnps s. Is eau lhs ia the tolls OF
his own cons radictio IS.
Prompting here. suggesting there, she
sits in judgment on every word OF the
evidence, and her Judgment is AS quick
as IL Is unerriug. IL leaves no flaw un-
noticed; IL leaves no suggestion unidl-
proved. Whei Miss Russell sees her pre-
pairing To burn her dress aud ihe act ap-
pears to De evid nee Of guilt 10 wants 20
know IL the courage OF that uncoDcealed
act is not rather the courage of Thought
less virtue thau cunning guilt. When
the police officer describes her nightly
visits TO the cellar, Dotn with Miss Rus
sell aud alone, fsw words are
whispered, aud her counsel asks
III the presence of the bright lignt
II the absence OF any attempt at conceal
ment are not eviaences of conscious in.
nocence SO she sits aud reviews the
scene II her daily life over and over
again patient and brave. The most
trivial event Is OF Importance and It,,
importanc, is duly weIgheI. liz she "
..ot tie ,eadiug spirit OF her lawyers acts.
aud fortunately they ned her aivice but
little size is nevertheless In full accord