The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-16
DEFENSE OF LIZZIE.
It Is Outlined BY Counsel in
Borden Murder Case.
FLOWERS FOR THE ACCUSED.
The Peisoo 1eseiasoy Il 1als1 Out
Finding Of 1ssty HateAss NssR
the Boeaea RSsmiooa.

INV BEoYoRp, Mass. June l5.-The
tenth day Of the Borden murder trial
opened with . big crowd. The prisoner
was overwhelmed with aorai offerings and
appeared in excellent spirits despite the
seeming disheartening proceedings OF
yesterday. The witnesses today were
druggists, who testified as 70 the use OF
prussic acid. The defense vigorously con-
tested every point in tbs prosecutor
testimony which went to show that the
acid vas not used for other than medicinal
purposes and Was unsuitable for cleaning
furs, the purpose for which Miss Borden
said she wanted it. Finally the court ex-
Guided all testimony in regard to the pur-
chase Of prussic acid. The common wealth
then rested its case here.
After recess Mr.. Jennings opened the
case for the defense. He said they would
show the previous spotless character OF the
prisoner and the absence OF intent, pur-
pose or opportunity. The defense would
show that the relations between the
father and daughter excluded a motive for
killing him and q motive TO kill the step
mother alone not enough, tor the prosecu-
tons claim was that the same person
killed both. He said the evidence against
the prisoner contained no particle OF direct
testimony, but was wholly and absolutely
circumssansiai. Continuing. he said:
We shall show you tina. there were others about
tie house the day OF the murder ana that
people were in the barn aud all over 1t before IL
was examined. We shall show YOU that the
dress was soicd with paint early in May and
was burned withou; any decel ton OF the oficers
aud otaer witnesses about. The prisoner had on
the very dress she said she wore ana We snail
ask you TO consider that no blood was found
upon it or her.
During the opening address the prisoner
sat with her face buried in handkerchief,
crying
Martha Chagnon testified that about IL
O'Clock on the night preceding the MUIR
ders she heard noise like pounding on
Borden's fence. Charles N. Clifford and
Uriah Kirby both swore to having seen q
strange man near the Borden residence at
the same hour. Mark Chase swore that he
saw buggy standing in front of the Bor-
den house at IL o'clock on the morning of
the murder, and in it was man whom he
never saw before nor since. DR.. Handy
testified that on the morning of the MUIR
der he saw in the neighborhood medium
sized young man, who was pale and acting
strangely. Mrs. Hart testified to the same
effect. Waiter P. Stevens swors that he
went into the barn on the morning of the
murder and heard people walking about in
the upper part. This contradicts Officer
Medley's testimony. Herman Robinski
testified that he saw woman come out Of
the barn on the morning the murder was
committed and 60 up the stairs at the
north side of the house. After some other
testimony, the jury retired while the coun-
sci argued on the admissbility Of the evil
dence Of Joseph L. May. who found man
covered with blood near Steepbrook on
August 10 who talked about the Borden
murder. A decision on the question was
reserved until morning and the court ad.
journed.
FALL RIVER, Mass, June f5.-Last night
the son OF G. c. Potter, while looking for a
ball, found . Ratchet on top Of John
Groves barn, which was located just in
the rear Of the Borden property. Potter
this morning reported the lind to the po-
lice. He still has the Ratchet in his pos
session and describes il as an ordinary
implement, with a hammer head, the
hsnde weather-beaten and the blade COW
cred with rust