Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-07
THE BORDEN TRIAL.
Opening Argument for Govern
ment by Mr.. Moody.
Miss Borden Completely Exhausted
Over Story Of the Murders.
Jhe jusy Taken 10 Fail River b vieu the Scene
Of the IrsseAy.

NEW BEpIoRp, Mas, June 6.--At SIS
Miss Borden and the jury were in their
seats and the counsel were on hand. hu.ily
arranging their papers. Doors were opened
to spectators NJ about that time and at least
third of those that entered were females.
The jury heard the indictments against
Miss Borden read as soon As court was for
malIy opened and were charged as Good
men and true, stand together and hearkeR
to the evidence
Mr.. Moody then stepped to the railing
and opened the governments case.
He reviewed the facts Of the murder of
Andrew Borden and his wife on the fourth
of August last. dwelt upon the relations
that existed between Lizzie Borden and her
stepmother. and the unkindly feeling that
the division of property caused between
them.
Moody described the sudden illness of
Andrew Borden, his wife and Lizzie on the
Tuesday night preceding the fatal Thurs
day, while Bridget Sullivan, servant, was
not affected in any way u
He cited the statement Of Miss Borden
made to friend on the evening before the
murders were committed, to the effect that
she, Miss Borden. felt greatly depressed
and feared something was going To
happen. He also said that there was
no doubt that the person who called at the
drug store on the day before the murders
and asked for prussic acid was Miss Bor-
den. Moody then produced the plans of
the Borden house and the locality and de-
scribed them minutely to the jury.
He described the location of the rooms
occupied by MIR. and Mrs. Borden. by Liz
zie and by Emma, her sister. MIR. Morse
stopped at the Borden house one night pre-
eeding the tragedy.
1t is important, Moody said, to show who
occupied the house that night lie said it
would be proved that on the night preced-
ing the murder, the front door, back door
and cellar door were all properly fastened.
and that when the only occupants of the
house that night. Mr.. and Mrs. Borden
Lizzie, Emma, Bridget Sullivan and Mr.
Morse had retired, every exterior approach
was closed.
lie detailed the movement of those in the
Borden household on the following morn
ing. Mrs Borden, about . O'Clock, had
spoken to Bridget about cleaning some win
dows. Mrs Borden then went upstairs to
put some pillow cases on the bed in the
spare room. She never left her room alive
dkalus LUZ bo IrieoH -" hei ah'e
again, except the assassin. When Prepar-
ing to wash the windows, Bridget went to
the back door aud saw the prisoner there.
The prisoner went into the house. In
washing the windows, Bridget saw neither
Mrs. Borden nor the prisoner during all the
time she was at work While at work she
heard Mrs. Borden at the front door. II
was about lO.i5.
{. A. - L.,
and bolted contrary to custom in tina,
house. She came in and made the remark
about the door, whereupon the prisoner
from the hall above made some laughing
exclamation.
At that time Mrs. Borden's body lay
above, dead, probably more than an hour.
The prisoner asked her father for the mail,
saving at the same time Mrs. Borden i,
gone out she had note and has gone in
answer to it,"
That was lie to stifle inquiry. The
prisoner got an ironing board and went ."
work, and then told Bridget, who was
again washing the windows, the falsehood
about the note She told Bridget to be
careful about the doors as she might gn
out.
Bridget later went upstairs and there wa.
nothir. more until the alarm. The p'is
oner VAS the last person left with her father
alivr
Moody here described Lizzie's move
ments and statements when Mr.. and Mrs.
Borien's bodies were discovered.
She went to her own room without once
going to look at the murdered woman ami
changed her dress. She told different
stories as to her finding of the body of her
father.
No blood was found on the clothing said
t. be worn by -thc prisoner that morning.
except one minute spot on the skirt. The
dress worn when Mrs. Churchill arrived at
the house was not the one the prisoner had
on early that morning.
An officer, it will be proven, soon after
the alarm. saw DIR. Bowen doing something
at the stove. The officer looked in and saw
what appeared to be a large roll of burned
paper. DIR. Bowen, MIR. Moody said, hsi
expressed the belief at the time that Mrs.
Borden had died of fright.
On Sunday morning Lizzie burned q
dress in the stove which she said was all
covered with paint. Next day Emma saii
to Lizzie; sim afraid the burning of thai
dgess was the worst thing you could have
done. aud Lizzie replied, ''Ob why did you
let me do it,
Moody allnded to the hatchets held by
the government, the blade Of one of which
was ) l-2 inches wide, the exact measure
ment of either of the wounds Of Andrew
Borden.
The court has adjourneduntil tomorrow
to allow the jury to go to Fall River ami
view the scene of the tragedy.
| At the close of the opening argument
Miss Borden had fallen back in her seat
completely exhausted. Her counsel. Mr..
Jennings, and one of her clerical friends,
administered relief in the form of smelling
salts and water.