Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-22
mot GU {TY.' ! '
Twelve Men Gooa and True
Declare Z
lizzie Borden Sta Acquitted
Before the Law.
i AM INNOCENT"
Her Simple Declaration to the
Jury.
District Attorney Knowlton
Closes for Government.
A MIGHTY CHEER
Greets the Announce ment Of
the Verdict.
Able Charge to the Jury by
Judge Dewey.

New BEDFoRD, Mass, June 20.-The
court room was packed this morning at the
resumption Of the Borden case Gov. Rob
inson this morning received box, sent
from Pennsylvania, in which was small
hardleiess hatchet. The true inwsrdness q
the gift was not apparent and the box was
not removed from tue Janitors room. Miss
borden came into court at 500, and Gov.
Robinson took a seat beside her and the
two engaged in conversation until court
opened.
Immediately upon the opening OF court,
District Attorney knowlton resumed his
rrgument. lie said the motive was not es-
sential to the case, although if proved, it
satisfied the reason. He then proceeded to
discuss the murder CT Mr.. Borden, which he
argued might have been committed from
the fact tnat he the only person who
would know that Lizzie killed Mrs. Borden.
He detailed Mrs. Borden's actions on the
;nornuy Of the murder until he was left
alone with the prisoner and emphasized the
fact tha. she left her ironing unfinished
when the crime was committed Heading
her varying explanations of her conduct at
the time of the murders, he argued that
they were incredible. Rubinsky's story
was indefinite and Medey's story
Eefuted Dsiendants Attempted Alibi.
He argued that the silk dress produced by
defendant was not the dress worn at the
time of the murder, as shown by Mrs,
Churchill, Doherty and Bowen. The search
tho day of the murder be declared was in-
sufficient and put defendant on ler guard,
end Saturdays thorough search failed TO
disclose the dress, therefore he claimed 1t
was concealed. Paper would have protect
ed detendant's person and burnt paper was
found in the stove.
He said the two versions of the burning
OF detendant's dress were irreconcllable-
Emma's story and that OF Miss Russell
Tue prisoners conduct since that time was
discussed and Mrs, Reegan's store was de-
c!ared to he true. The production of a
hatctet was no part OF the government S
case, but it was part of its duty to pro
duce everything possible bearing on the
case. He reviewed at length the evidence
as TO the handleless hatchet aud dis
cussed It's bearing the case dwell
ling on the Significance of its fitting the
wounds and being broken short n:
if by design. He maintained thai
Mrs. Reagan's "g,ven away" story wa'
true, but he had no doubt that when she
found what harm she was likely to do thi,
girl, cut Of the kIudness OF hor heart, she
tried 10 shield har and took it back. II,
discussed again the matter of the note, thel
briefly but powerfully summarized his en-
tire argument,
Claimed Defense Amounted to Nothing
and closed at 12:45 with an eloquent an
peal to the jury to decide their con
sciences should direct Court then took
recess It'll l;ij.
Court came in promptly at 1:i5. Th
chief justice addressed Miss Borden, tellin,
her she might speak to the jury if she chose
She arose somewhat agitatsd, and said t.
the jury; II am innocent, but | will leav,
NY case in your hands, and in th
hands of my counsel" Judge Dewey thel
charged the jury. lie cautioned the mel
to make their decision only upon the lav
and evidence given. Nothing in prior pre-
ceedings properly Influence the jury il
this case. 1t is still further claimed that n
action OF the prisoner since her arrest car
be taken into consideration. The prisone
10 here before you on two charges, one 10
the murder OF her step mother aud one
Tor the Murder of Her Father.
Court defined the degrees of murder an
said the degree is to be determined by til
jury, but here it is claimed that these mur
ders were pr0meditated with malice afors
thought. The government claims you ougt
to fnds that these murders wsr
deliberately. .premeditated In considerin
the evidence you must needs have sever,
LEI al principles in your mind. One is ths
OF the presumption of innocence and th
presumption is TO be considered in the ligh
ct evidence aad it is principle founde
apon that tenetcent law which SAYS tbf
every man ia innocent until he ID prove
guilty. Tho character aud previous ifa {
defendant must always be taken into cor
alteration and / understand the governmer
allows there is nothing in defendants pa
lilo previous to her arrest to be doubteC
1t was not n negative but an APPARENT
positively good lie, evidence having bee
introduced TO show that she had upplensai
relations in her family. If it
shown that Mrs. Borden died fir