The Portland daily press., 1893-06-08
UNCLE JOHNS STORY
And Bridget SulliVan's Testimony in
the Borden Case.
YESTERDAYS CHAPTER in THE
TRIAL AT NEW BEDFORD.

The Two Witnesses Told Little That Was
Not Already Known-The Prisoner.
Receives Some Consideration-Why
Her Sister Is Not By Her side-The
"Star Chamber" Examination a Point
at Issue.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, June when
it was made known today that John v.
Morse, uncle of Lizzie Borden, and
Bridget Sullivan, the servant of the Bor-
den family at the time Of the murder
were to testify, the general impression
went out that something important and
new would be given out. Many believe
that Bridget knows more than she told
at the preliminary hearings. After her
testimony today, when practically no
new facts were forthcoming from her
lips, many expressions of disappoint-
ment were heard. When Lizzie was
confronted by her old servant, her face
flushed slightly but she instantly regain
ed her composure and listened with un-
divided attention to the testimony. The
audience watched Lizzie closely. The
cross-examination of Bridget was con-
Quoted by Ex-Governor Robinson and
many of the spectators thought he rat
tied her little, when he fired question
after question at her. Tonight the gen.
eral impression is that he did not shake
her testimony any. When s'Unclel
john Morse stepped on the stand,
Lizzie was all alert and an entirely diff
ferent look came across her features as
she listened with intentness to his testi-
mony. Uncle john in his direct testi-
mony told no new facts. When he told
of seeing the bodies of his slain relatives,
he pulled out pocket handkerchief and
wiped his eyes. He answered Governor
Robinson's questions promptly. On the
cross-examinatlon, his testimony contra
dicted the governments claim that the
officers searched the Borden barn imme-
diately after the murders.
The court granted the prisoner tho
right to sit in comfortable arm chair
by Mr. Jennings's side this afternoon. It
is the intention of the court to hold long
sessions each day but the prisoner will be
given relief if necessary at any time. In
CdoO 1lALlO 6AOulu OI6dh uOWu, blc
will not be held Saturday or will make
a temporary adjournment for a day or
shorten the daily session. The reasoh
for thssabsence from the court of Emma
Borden, Lizzie's, sister, and several 9TH
er ladies is that they are government
witnesses and have been impounded
1t is understood that the defence will
endeavor to exclude the report of the
''star chamber" examination to which
Lizzie was subjected shortly after the
murder. 1t is claimed that aslshe is here
to testify, the statements she made then
when not represented by counsel, should
not be admitted.
Uncle Johns Story.
Morse testified in the forenoon.
He said he was now living at4South
Dartmouth; he is go years old; he has
lived there nearly year; he came east
three years ago last April; he was
brother of Mrs. Borden the first The
family relations having been estab-
lished, witness was asked when Mr.. Bor-
den was first married, and said it was
about Al years ago; there were three
children; one is dead; Mrs. Borden died
in 1851; the child which di ed was younger
than the others. Mr.. Borden's second
marriage he could not remember. He
said Lizzie was 33 and Emma Al years
old. On Wednesday, Aug. Sd last, he
went TO the Borden house; he had been
a visitor there several weeks before; the
last time be saw Lizzie before that visit
he could not place. He arrived at the
Borden house at 1.30 on Wednesday.
He did not see anybody that day but
Mr.. and Mrs. Borden and Bridget; he
ate dinner there that day, but ate it
alone. He went away that day between
8 and 4p. M, and went to Swansea, COM
ing back on Wednesday, arriving about
$50; that time he entered the front door,
having been let in by Mrs Borden; he
rang the bell; the door was shut after he
went in; he saw nobody there but the
family; he went first into the sitting
room and went to bed about 1890. Mrs.
Borden went to bed first, going out of
the rear door to the back stairs. While
we were sitting there somebody entered
the front door and went up stairs to
Lizzie's room. MI. Borden and went
to bed at the same time, going into the
guest room; the prisoners room door
was closed when I went into the room,
but do not know whether 1t was locked
saw or heard no person that night; arose
at about o'clock and went down stairs;
left the room door open; did not go
back to.the room; prisoners room door
was closed when went down; went into
the sitting room when I went down
stairs on Thursday morning; the day
was pretty warm. There was no
one in room when I went there;
the kitchen door was closed,
I think; the first person I saw was Mr..
Borden, who came into the sitting room.
and then came Mrs. Borden. remained
there until breakfast time, and then
went to the dining room; only those two
were with me; we had breakfast about Z;
we had some mutton, bread, coffee and
cake. The cake was of sugar; there
were bananas on the table, but do not re-
member any fried johnnycakes; we re-
manned there about half an hour, and all
arose at the same time; all ate of the
food on the table; when the meal was
completed we went to the sitting room,
Mr.. Borden and Mrs. Borden and /; both
of them were passing in and out of the
room several times, but did not know
where Mr. Borden went, but when Mrs.