The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-23
LIzzIE BoRDENs ACoUITTAL.


her father and stepmother must have
been foregone conclusion in the minds
of all who have intelligently studied the
evidence, o. lack of evidence, in the
case. The prosecution had to stand or
fall on the theory of exclusion-that is,
the theory that no one else than Lizzie
Borden had an opportunity to commit
the crimes-aud that theory the govern
tnent utterly failed to establish. 1t was
evident to common sense that murder
er entering the house, whether he en-
tered on that fatal morning or the night
before, did not advertise his entry, and
it needs no argument to demonstrate
how little the average man or woman
knows of the going and coming at their
neighbours dwellings. Doubtless If the
neighbors of the Borden household had
known in advance that something ex-
traordinary was to occur in that fated
dwelling they would have posted them
selves at stoop and window, and have
been able to furnish proof of some con-
sequence for or against the exclusion
argument As it was they went about
their home duties as usual, and, short of
an occasional and casual glance in the
direction of the Borden premises, they
probably knew nothing whatever of the
situation. Exclusion out of the way,
there was practically nothing to the case.
1t seems that Lizzie Borden had, on one
occasion, said that her stepmother was
"a mean old thing" but if such re-
mark implies murderous design, then
potential assassins must be alarmingly
common. She had also, for some time,
called her stepmother MRS. Borden,
instead of mother" but as the elderly
stepmother was trim and well-pre-
I ic
very young woman, it is quite possible
that Mrs. Borden was well enough salts
fed to be addressed by term that did
not imply the maternal relation to her
stepdaughters. At least this point is as
good as most of the arguments for the
n prosecution. The burning of the dress
may have been an entirely innocent act
on the part of Lizzie Borden, conscious
of the suspicious against her, and fear
full that even paint stained dress might,
in the hands of government analyst, be
transformed into blood stained gar
ment. Lizzie Borden's statement that
she went to the barn to get lead for sink
ers, when she might have bought the
sinkers for few pennies, is perfectly
credible. The Bordens were not penny
wasting family.
To mind not made up in advance all
the circumstances mentioned seem per-
fectly compatible with the presumption
of Lizzie Borden's innocence, and it only
injuerd the governments case for the
prosecution to attempt to distort the
most natural and commonplace incidents
into proof of deep and devillish designs.
District Attorney Knowlton's argument
was not merely strength was altogether
too strong. Mr.. Knowlton no doubt be-
lieved conscientiously. in his theory of
Lizzie Borden's guilt. But he over
stepped the bounds of judicious reason
ing when he summoned imagination to
the aid of evidence, and argued what
Lizzie Borden might have done or what
Mr. Borden might have told if he had
not been dead. Mr.. Knowlton also went
too far in his disparagement of the value
of a good character when a heinous
crime is alleged. A good character
ought to have weight, and great weight
in such case, and if the saying of the
Roman writer to the effect that no one
ever became suddenly most wicked is
sometimes negatived, it is pretty sure
guide as to the lives of nearly all men
and women. The fact of an unblem-
ished Christian life is potent argument
in favor of any defendant. However,
Mr.. Knowlton had desperate cause,
and to this fact may probably be attrib-
uted bis efforts TO make up by an
imaginary picture, painted with extraor-
binary, skill, the lack of genuine evil
dence on the side of the government
But it must be acknowledged that Liz
zie Borden owes debt to her able and
faithful legal representatives which
money cannot repay. To Mr.. Melyin o.
Adams, who had the crucial task of sift-
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support and in rebuttal of the prosecu-
zion, is due no small share of credit for
the victory in this celebrated case. Ex-
Governor Robinson has confirmed his
high repute as leader of the Massachu-
sets bar and has proved that he under
stood an intelligent Now England jury
much better than some of his critics.
He addressed his arguments to their
common sense; he treated them as men
of understanding, like himself he pre-
sented the facts in their plain, everyday,
homely, intelligent meaning, stripped of
the hideous garniture with which the
prosecution had endeavored to disfgure
every petty incident in Lizzie Borden's
conduct; and the result has proved that
Ex-Governor Robinson had graspsd the
case and handled it with an ability that
not Only deserved but commanded sue
cess. Mr.. Jennings, too, the Borden
family lawyer, faithful to the daughter
as to the father, merits no small share of
commentator for the signal victory
which crowned the defense of Lizzie
Borden.
The case takes its place among the
unraveled mysteries of crime. The law
has decided Lizzie Borden innocent of
the deed and all who respect the law will
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business of Lizzie Borden's defenders to
suggest who the murderer might be.
The future may develop the truth or it
may only deepen the mystery. The YER
dict of yesterday has brought to ter
mination one of the most famous trials
of the present or any other age, and it is
sufficient to know that the jury's decis-
ion is in accordance with calm, unprej-
udiced ana enlightened public opinion.
IN. Y. Press.