The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-06-28
NOT GUILTY.
Lizzie Borden Acquitted Of the
Charge of Murder.
The Mystery OF the Decd Remains Unsolr.d
+ Tho Closing Argument and tho
Judges Charge Quick Work of
the Jury Closing Scenes
In the Case,

the opening OF court yesterday there
was as many people in the room as at
any time during the session.
The district attorney picked up the
thread of his argument where he
dropped it Monday night He con-
graduated the jury upon the near ap-
proach of the end. The counsel who
opened the case for the defense said
that the motive was part of the gov
ernment's case, but the speaker said
this was not SO, although the consider
alton of the motive has weight in elu-
cidating the facts in the case. It does
afford satisfaction to our reasoning to
have discovered that there were un-
fortunate conditions in that family
from which we can suspect even the
malice existing. | have called your
attention to the way in which they
lived under the same roof. 1t impresses
me deeply as am sure it did you.
Because the lips of those who do
know are sealed in death we do not
know but that some new phase had
come up in the family life, adding to
the feeling Of malice and jealousy ex-
isting in this woman. No suggestion
could be made by that poor man as in
favor of his wife, but would fan the
flames into unquenchable fire. There
may be that in this case which shows
Lizzie Borden did not plan to kill her
father, and hope SO. But it was not
Lizzie Borden who came down those
stairs to meet her father, but a muir
deress, transformed from the ties of
affection TO the most consummate
cruelty ever known. She came down
to meet that stern old man who loved
wife, and the one man above all who
would know who killed his wife, and
when she came down stairs, she came
to meet her nemesis. He knew too
much of the family relations, and she
did not dare to let him live. When she
came down stairs, it was her father
she met, but it was also the husband of
the stepmother she hated. There was
no escape from the crime but to CON-
plete the bloody work. The second
murder was not planned, but was done
as a wicked and fearful necessity.
Mr.. Knowlton reviewed at length the
evidence as to the handleless hatchet
and discussed its bearing on the case.
The prisoner watched him fxedly dur
ing his argument.
The prosecutor briefly but powerful
ly summarized his entire argument;
claimed that the defense amounted to
nothing and closed at 1905 with an elo-
quent appeal to the jury to decide as
their conscience should direct. The
court then took a recess until 1:45.
When the court resumed its session
the defendant was given an opportun-
ity to speak. She said: 81 am innocent;
but will leave my case in your hands
and with my counsel"
Judge Dewey then charged the jury.
He told them to disregard the previous
hearings and defined the different de-
grees of murder. He stated the pre-
sumption of innocence, which was in
creased by the defendants character.
There must be real and operative
motive.
Every fact proved must be reason
ably consistent with guilt. The gov
ernment did not show that anybody
else had the opportunity to commit the
crime, but must prove defendant com
mitted it. The jury must reason as TO
the effect Of defendants conduct and
statements. They were not to con-
clude by expert testimony, but were to
apply to IL a reasonable judgment.
They might convict If satisfied that it
was done by another party, but that
defendant was present aiding and abet-
ting. The fact that defendant did not
testify ought not to influence them
against her. The justice concluded his
charge to the jury at 1915.
The jury filed into their seats at 4:3O
and were polled, Miss Borden was asked
to stand up and the foreman was asked
TO return the verdict, upon which he
announced: Not guilty"
After the verdict had been received
the district attorney moved that the
other cases against Miss Borden be
plOoSSuf anu bliO VI bnC
court was to that effect Chief Justice
Mason then gracefully thanked the
jurors in appreciation Of their work
and faithful service.
The closing scenes in the trial were
in direct contrast with those which had
proceeded it, Heretofore all had been
decorum and in keeping with the dig
nifty of the most dignifed court in the
country, but when the verdict of "Not
guilty" was returned, n cheer went up
which might have been heard half q
mile away through the open windows,
and there was no attempt to check 1t.
The stately judges looked straight
ahead at the bare walls
Miss Borden's head went down upon
the rail in front OF her and tears came
whore they had refused to come for
many long day, as she heard the
sweetest words ever poured into her
willing ears-the words mot guilty.
At the expiration of an hour she was
placed in carriage and driven 70 the
station, where she took train for Fall
River, her home no longer probably,
but still the only objective point for
the immediate present.
Destructive Fire.
-. a. e0NN