The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-08

| New BEDFORD, Mass, June when
Lizzie Borden was held at Fall River
last August to await the action of the
grand jury it was limited that the
prosecution had barely sufficient testi.
mony to effect the commitment OF the
prisoner, and that it had deliberately
held in reserve the essential evidence
in which it relied to secured capital
verdict. That this was 80 was shown
today when Assistant District Attorney
| Moody, in the presentation Of the case
for the government, exhibited the
weapon with which it is claimed the
butchery OF Andrew J.. Borden and his
wife was committed, and declared that
| he would produce a witness in the
| person Of Miss Alice NJ Russell, Lizzie
Borden's bosom friend, who would swear
! that three days after the tragedy she
saw the prisoner burn the dress she had
worn on the morning OF the murder.
| The effect of this startling announce.
ment on the prisoner was remarkable,
| for at the close of Mr.. Moody's address
to the jury her marvellous fortitude
So"nuohou her Anu Sne sank DACk
swooning in the dock.
| In opening, Mr.. Moody said: ION
| August 4 last an old man and woman,
husband and wife, in their own home
upon frequented street in the most
populous city of this county, in the light
Of day and in the midst OF its activity.
were first one and then afeer an interval
| the other severally killed by or under
the auspices OF human agencies. To
day a woman of good social position, of
hitherto nquestioned characte men,
Der OF the Christian Church and active
in its good work, is at the bar OF this
| court &C ,used of these murders"
Then Mr.. Moody referred briefly to
the family. quarrels over property
which resulted in an estragement be-
tween Lizzie and her step mother, after
which Lizzie ceased to address her as
"mothor." That was about I've years
ago Since then, it is said, the prisoner
had frequently spoken of Mrs. Borden
In the most harsh terms. At this point
Mr.. Moody introduced new and sig
nihcant feature of the governments
case in the shape of an Interview be.
tween Lizzie and Miss Russell the day
before the murder, in which the former
had said that she felt oppressed by a
presentiment that something terrible
was about to happen to her father; that
he had had trouble with some one with
whom he had dealings and that she ex-
pected nothing but that the house
would be burned down over their heads.
The barn, she said, had been broken
into twice, and the night before she had
seen strange man lurking about the
house. She also said that the family
had been made sick and she believed
that some one was trying to poison
them.
Continuing, Mr.. Moody told how Liz.
zie's uncle, John V. Morse, had occupied
the guest chamber and had gone out
early the morning of the murder, and
how after breakfast and after Mr.. Bor-
den had also gone out Mrs. Borden gave
some directions to Bridget Sullivan
about washing the windows and went
up stairs, saying that she was going to
put fresh pillow cases in the guest
chamber. This" said Mr.. Moody,
was not far from half-past nine o'clock
and she never left that guest chamber
alive, for she was killed few minutes
later. From that moment no one saw
Mrs. Borden alive axcept her assailant."
Continuing, Mr.. Moody told how
Bridget went about washing her win
dows and how, as closely as could be
calculated, at quarter of eleven Mr..
Borden came to the front door and find
ing that, contrary to custom, it was
locked and bolted, rang and was ad-
mitted by Bridget. He told no Lizzie
laughed upstairs at an impatient excla-
nation of the servant at the door and
how she presently came down and told
her father that Mrs. Borden had gone
out and asked il she had not received
note calling her away. This" said
Mr.. Moody, twas lie conceived and
asked for the purpose of sitting any
inquiry as to Mrs. Borden's where
abouts."
Then Lizzie was traced to the kitchen,
whore she was asked whether she was
going out and began to iron some hand.
kerchiefs. She told the girl that Mrs.
Borden had received a note and had
gone out, and shortly afterward Bridget
went to her room, only to be reused a
few minutes later by Lizzie calling to
her that some one had killed her father.
This, by careful comparison OF testi.
mony, was fixed at very near quarter
past eleven o'clock. To Bridget, Lizzie
said that she was out in the yard when
she heard groans and coming in found
her father dead.
Then she sent the girl to DIR. Bowen,
and on not finding him sent her for Miss
Russell. Mrs. Churchill ran in
minute or two later. Lizzie said that
she was out in the barn to get piece OF
iron when she heard strange noise and
returned to find her father dead.
81 call your attention." said Mr..
Moody, TO the fact that when DR.. Bowen
could not be found the first person sum.
moned by the prisoner was Miss Russell.
TO whom only the night before she had
predicted that something fearful was
n ha 81 a
make any Query or attempt to alarm
thu moi N hnrhoOd IVhop MIRO Ch,.,h;l