The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-20
THE SUMMING UP BEGUN
GOVERNOR ROBINsOy's APPEAL FOR
LIZZIE BORDEN.
He Explains the Discrepancies I'm the De-
fendant's Side of the Case-The
Other Arguments.

| OF opening the doors were besleged by the
people mostly ladies, hoping for seats.
Ihere were not enough seats for a tenth
part Of the claimants.
when the court was ready for opening
many ladies' were standing in the aisles,
but they were quietly ushered to the
ante-rooms and corridors. The bar en-
closure was packed with legal lights.
/ The jury took their seats at $50. look
| Ing quite refreshed after two days rest.
and few minutes later Miss Borden
came In with bunch OF pinks in her
hand and contented smile on her face.
ana almost Immediately Governor Robin
son began his argument
Governor Robinson made a careful.
| logical discussion Of the crime and it's
discovery. as they appear from the evil
dence. The prisoner sat in the dock
with her face covered with a fan, while
he analyzed the evidence.
After cautionlng the jury 20 disregard
certain parts Of the district attorneys
opening, as not proved by the evidence.
the Ex-Governor proceeded to dispose Of
certain points of the prosecutors evi-
dence I'm detail. The only connection be-
tween defendant and tho crimes was the
blood spot on the stair. which was ex-
plainable as menstrual blood The pr0p0-
sition that Lizzie must have seen Mrs
Bordens body when upstairs was un-
sound, because the body could be seen
from only one stair and there she would
not stop and look, II she did not suspect
wrong. Lizzie's statement that her
mother had received note and had gone
out was plain If Mrs Borden told both
Lizzie and Bridget about Il, and that
they could not believe Lizzie lied about
it. Lizzie's varying statements that she
was I'm the yard and the barn We're recon
cilaOie. The testimony Of three men
proved that Rubinsky saw the defendant
coming 90 the house from the barn. and
therefore her statement Of her wherea-
bouts at the time was true. When Liz
zie spoke about going upstairs for Mrs.
Borden. she meant the front stairs. be-
cause all knew she could not be up the
back stair. as a sheet had been obtained
from there. Lizzie's laughter on the
stairs was immateHal, unless guilt was
assumed
The ring buried with Mr.. Borden shows
her affection for him. The custom Of
locking doors was not 10 lock daughters
from the parent. but FOR protection.
Had the defendant committed the crime
she would not have given an alarm so
soon. The Defendants emotion al the
discovery Of the crime was not assumed.
Family differences. defendants conduct
before the murders, and her visit TO the
cellar afterwards were no evidence of a
guilty mind
The burning OF the old things was
custom I'm many households. ard the
burning OF the Bedford cord dress was
thus explained The dress worn on
the morning OF the murder was not
changed until noon. The Bedford cord
dress hung until Sunday morning I'm the
closet. which the officers searched De
fendant could not have committed both
murders without changing her dress be-
tween them Matron Reagan's story was
false Experts differed as 10 which hat
should have been used. and he argued
that mono Of these produced was used.
Exclusive opportunity was improved.
Tie detailed how an outside assassin
might have committed the crime a
recess was then taken
The scenes about the courthouse this
evening were diseracefu There was
no system about the method Of seating
people. and ladies were tossed about the
walks. I'm the corridors and on the stairs
in the most reckless ana careless man
ner. When Miss Borden came I'm she
was pushed and crowded about just as
everybody was and there was just
touch of asperlty I'm her manner as She
entered the courtroom and faced the
buzzing crowd.
Governor Robinson resumed mis- argI-
ment by saving that the jury was 10
use its judgment I'm the premises. Tie
called attention TO various phases OF the
case in review in brief and said: II is
very dangerous 10 take the ground that
il she did not do it YOU can't see "ho
did A. The extraordinary LANCER Of
jumping % conclusions should be Well
understood by you. The fact that 10
was I'm the day light Is nothing Miss
Lizzie. there can be 30 question was
ironing down stairs and remember the
ironed handkerchief. were put away.
You viii see that this is genuine. and not
fiction and these little Things so 90 estab-
lish ths facts Of greater things.
III the Government fails 10 proye the
charge then n Is your duty to say she is
not guilty There is no. a showing 10y
the Government by which II woui Doe
safe TO convict her. You Will End her
not guilty for two reason-one beca ie
it has not been proven another because
if you are convinced she is not guilty
then YOU will report she IS not What Is
there 10 prove 10 you absolutely that she
is Guity?"
II was o'clock when Governor Robin-
son closed his plea, and recess or h'e
minutes was allowed before the district
attorney KnOwltou took mp his work
The district attorney had not concluded
his argument when the court adjourned
for the day He devoted himself 10 weav-
ing a web Of circumstantial evidence
against Lizzie Borden. Touching upon
her good character. he called the Jury's at
tention 10 the case in Fall River, where
a few years ago some prominent church |
members went wrong. saying that they |
were rotten 20 the core, and II was de-
rnonstrated that those who stand close 20 /
the sanctuary are not free from the taint |
Of sin. He argued that IL malice
against Mrs. Borden that inspired the |
murder II was the act of person who
spent the forenoon In that house. and |
this fact bears on this case from begin
ming 10 end.
He smoke Of the skeleton ia the Borden /
and Lizzie's refusal 10 call her
stepmother mother" Here the speaker
reviewed the movements Of the family on
the morning OF the tragedy from the
time OF their arising I'm the morning,
through the time when Mr.. and Mrs Bor-
len and Morse took breakfast together,
the time OF Morse going away and Mr..
Borden locking the screen door after him,
then Mr.. Borden goes down town; then
Bridget goes out washing windows. Mrs.
BORDEN goes into the guests chamber, and
izzie and she are above stairs. Lizzie
hen goes outdoors TO see n Bridget Is
fairly at her work. and then goes back,
ana the murderer was gone. Up to the
.ime the murder was done there was no
-oom for the assassin 20 come In. When
hat woman fell under the blows. the two
,undred-poun woman. the fall must have
,een heard by whoever was I'm the house