The Donaldsonville chief., 1913-05-10

,Snurf room at New Beuloia anu hSe"Aa
a f1ry of her peers pronounce the YER
dict of acquittal-heard them declare
To all the world that she was not
guilty" of two Of the most brutal and
a+roo;nue murders that ever shocked
the country.
Today that same Lizzie Borden
lives recluse, as damned by puolic
opinion and as ostracized by former
friends and enemies alike as II that
same Jury had pronounced the one
word Guilty"
lizzie Borden still lives IN Fall
River. but as far as Fall River Is
concerned, Lizzie Borden is an out
cast an Ishmael, social pariah. her
name is uttered with contempt, ana
ever us friends anl5 relatives VINO
comforted her during the months OF
her imprisonment and througout the
ordeal of her trial have long since
ceased their visits. Today her nearest
tneighbors pass her by without noo
or sign of recognition, writes Ger
trude Stevenson in the Boston Her-
aid
Twelve jurymen found Lizzie Bor-
den guiltless. Nevertheless, she mas
been punished and prosecuted as no
other innocent woman In history. Sne
has lived to know the tragedy OF a
verdict OF acquittal. Sheg1fb,s come
to realize that AndreWeJ. Jennings,
her counsel and friend, was true
prophet when, In addressing Judge
BIaisdell at her preliminary trial ne
declared:
Don't, your honor, don't put the
stigma of guilt upon this woman
reared as she has been and with a
east character beyond reproacn. Don
let it go out in the world as the de-
cision of Just Judge that she is
probably guilty"
Murder stlli unayenged.
After 20 years, when the deaths Of
Andrew J. Borden and his wife are
still nnavenged- when the double
tragedy still heads the 1isss OF New
iEngiand,s nnso1ved murder mysteries
with Lizzie Borden banished from
society, stunned by all who were once
near and dear to her, the words OF
ANDREW ]. Jennings may well be re-
Imembered as an example Of mastery
and farsighted prophecy.
After 20 years, Lizzie Borden lives
as shut off from the world as IL she
were behind prison bars-condemned
20 hu ho ptrnn than
any prison wall could be-less tangi
bile but a hundred times more effec
tive than any bars Of iron-the silent
inexorable censure Of her fellow men
and women. AZ
This woman, who for tWsass5ecades
has maintained the silence of q
Sphinx, who has never asked foi
mercy, never pleaded to be under
stood, never by any word or sign ex
pressed indignation at the treatment
accorded her by the people of Fall
River, lives In the great silent home
she purchased with her share Of hel
murdered fathers half million, know
ing no human companionship save
that which she can hire-no friend
ehips except those of occasional
strangers who turn g cold shoulder
upon her advances when they fine
that she IL the Lizzie Borden once
tried for murder-no affection save
that OF the dumb beasts with which
she has surrounded herself now thai
human attachments are denied her.
When Lizzie Borden was acquitted
at was commonly believed that she
would soon shake the dust of Fal
River from her feet, and that under
an assumed name she would try tt
live down the accusation that hak
been made against her-that in new
places and among new people she
would attempt to find new interest:
and new pleasures.
Bought House In Home City.
But Lizzie Borden apparently nevel
contemplated such a procedure. Al
soon as the affairs OF her father.
estate were adjusted, she proceeded
Ito purchase a handsome mansion IL
the exclusive "hill section" of Fal
FRiveT-the very nefghDorhoou shs
had long and futilely tried to induct
her father to enter.
To all intents and purposes the
woman planned to live among hel
friends and acquaintances, just as shs
had always lived, continuing to at
tend the same fashionable Congrega
itional church, entertaining and being
entertained. only now she had the ad
ded advantage Of several hundred
thousands of dollars in her own right
She had her horses and carriages, tht
beautiful clothes she had always
longed for and which the thrift of hel
father and his second wife had pre-
yiously denied her. Apparently, aside
from the shadow of the tragic deaths
of her father and stepmother ovel
her life, everything that heart o.
mind could desire was Lizzie Bor
Ien's.
II was while reveling In the luxury