Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-20
THE ARGUMENTS.
Last Words in the Borden Case
Being Uttered.
ex-Gos. Robinson Makes Strong and
Eloquent Plea for Miss Lizzie.
oaslriet Aalssasy kaswl.sa osss Me ~ ~
tAs essssaasat's Csc.

NEw ReproRp, June i9.-Ex.CsOvepnos
Rohinsons argument far the defence In the
Bor,len trial today occupied Ave honrs. He
made little attemps At oratorical effect, but
in simple, foreible language, much Of h
spoken in conversational tone, he ana
lyscd the evidence and showed the weak
points in the governments case.
After chAraeterising the crime ~ one Of
the most diaholical in Massaehusetts' HE
tory. and spcaking briefly Of the proscca.
ton and preliminary proceedings. he 70
ferred pleasantly to the conduct Of the dis
,rict attorney and the prisoners treatment
by the sheriff, sharply criticized the action
jury of their position with reference 10 the
defendant, whom they had in charge.
He commented upon the presumption Of
innocence and the prisoners privilege not
10 testify. spoke of the various points which
the government opened, but failed 10 prove,
particularly the preparation OF the danger
Gus weapon. the purchase of prussic accid,
and contradictory statements in the inquest
testimony.
Proceeding To analyxe the evidence, he
sali there eas no blood on the weapon
connecting the defendant directly with the
crime.
The proposition tina, she must have seen
Mrs, Borien's body when at the head Of
the stairs was untenahle. because she could
sec tia, from only one stair, aud would not
have stopped there to look II she suspected
nothing rnng,
In her statements about the note she Ia
supported h, Bridget, aud to believe them
fal,e the, mast btievc Bti iget lied.
i.ixaie's statements about her whrreA-
bouts when the crime was committed were
recoIoiliablr, ami l.uhinsky actually saw
her come from the barn.
The government was lamentably weak
in shown ilI-feeliug against the stepmoth-
or. Iitzle's appearance and show Of emo-
tion after the discovery of the crime mega
tivei her guilt
THE burning of the dress was explained
as n habit in many fimhes, and the theory
that she committed the crimcs wearing il,
involves her changing it twice or wearing n
second dress at the commission Of The Sc
cond crime.
Tho Reagan story was disproycd by the
witnesses. The hatcbets were
none of them connected with the crime,
and Lizzie directed Bridget TO show them
to the officers. The exclusive opportunity
was not proved.
After dwelling upon the difficulty Of the
defendants committing the crime. and get
ting rid Of all evidences of guilt, he closed
with an eloquent appeal for verdict Of not
guilty, claiming not only had the govern
ment failed to prove the defendants guilt,
hut that she had actually been proven in
nocent.
District Attorney knowltoa began his
argument for the commonwealth AT 3.05.
lie spoke with much feeling and force,
even eloquently at times, as he described
operation OF the motive which led to the
murder of Mrs. Borden, to which he con-
fined himself today. No age, sex, or pre-
vious reputation or position In society was
proof of innocence, he said.
lie spoke Of the Borden family life and
the defendants hatred toward the step.
mother The defendant was her only
enemy and the blows which killed her were
the weak and Intellectual blows of n woman.
and blows of hatred rather than Of strength.
lie described the locked condition of the
house, and argued that before the first
crime was committed no one could have
gotten in.
Further the murder could not have been
without gfoan or "a jar OF
falling body that Lizzie must have heard.
The story OF the note was lie aud
Bridget did not corroboratc Lizzie, but only
repeated the story AS Lizzie toll 1t to her.
No one was found who wrote the note.
and had there been a writer he would have
come forward aid eieare II up.
lie closed for the after AooD with sum
mary OF bis argument to this point.