Lizzie Borden’s name is synonymous with one of the most sensational and mysterious murder cases in American history. On 4 August 1892, the brutal murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts, shocked the nation and thrust their youngest daughter, Lizzie, into the public eye.
The Borden family
The Borden family was a prominent and affluent household in Fall River. Andrew Jackson Borden, the patriarch, was a successful businessman with substantial real estate holdings and various ventures, including banking and textile mills. Despite his wealth, Andrew was known for his frugality. This penny-pinching nature was often a source of tension within the family.
Abby Durfee Gray Borden, Andrew’s second wife, married into the family when Lizzie and her older sister, Emma, were young. The relationship between Abby and her stepdaughters was reportedly strained. Emma and Lizzie, particularly, harboured resentment towards Abby, partly due to concerns over their inheritance.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, born on 19 July 1860, was a 32-year-old unmarried woman at the time of the murders. She was active in her church and social circles, yet she was described by some as moody and distant. Her older sister, Emma, was similarly single and lived at home. The Borden household was completed by their maid, Bridget Sullivan, who played a crucial role in the events surrounding the murders.
The murders
On the morning of 4 August 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered in their home. The details of the crime are both horrifying and perplexing. Abby was the first victim, attacked in the guest bedroom sometime between 9am and 10.30 am. She suffered 19 blows to the head with a hatchet-like weapon.
Andrew Borden returned home around 10.30am after a walk downtown. He was attacked while napping on a sofa in the sitting room. His injuries were even more severe, with 11 blows to the face, leaving his features almost unrecognisable.
Lizzie was the one to alert the maid, Bridget Sullivan, and the neighbours about her father’s murder. However, her behaviour and inconsistent statements soon aroused suspicion. Lizzie claimed she had been in the barn looking for a piece of iron and had not heard anything. Yet, there were no signs of forced entry, and Lizzie’s alibi did not hold up under scrutiny.
The investigation
The investigation into the Borden murders was fraught with challenges. The crime scene was contaminated by numerous people coming and going, and forensic science at the time was in its infancy. Despite this, several pieces of circumstantial evidence pointed towards Lizzie:
- Burning of a dress: A few days after the murders, Lizzie was seen burning a dress in the kitchen stove, claiming it was stained with paint. This act raised suspicions that the dress might have been stained with blood.
- Inconsistent statements: Lizzie’s accounts of her whereabouts and activities on the morning of the murders were inconsistent and changed over time.
- Purchase of prussic acid: Lizzie had attempted to purchase prussic acid, a deadly poison, shortly before the murders, but the sale was refused. This suggested premeditation.
Despite these suspicious behaviours, there was no direct evidence linking Lizzie to the murders. The murder weapon was never conclusively identified, and there were no witnesses to the crime.
The trial
Lizzie Borden’s trial began on 5 June 1893, and it quickly became a media sensation. The courtroom was packed with spectators, and the press coverage was extensive, reflecting the public’s fascination with the case. The defence team, led by former Massachusetts Governor George D. Robinson, presented a strong case in Lizzie’s favour.
Several key points emerged during the trial:
- Lack of physical evidence: The prosecution struggled to present concrete physical evidence tying Lizzie to the murders. The alleged murder weapon, a hatchet, had no definitive link to Lizzie.
- Character witnesses: Numerous character witnesses testified to Lizzie’s good nature and her active involvement in church and charitable activities.
- Alibi: Lizzie’s defence argued that she could not have committed the murders within the timeframe presented by the prosecution.
The jury, consisting entirely of men, deliberated for just 90 minutes before delivering a verdict of “not guilty.” The lack of direct evidence and the defence’s persuasive arguments played a significant role in Lizzie’s acquittal.
Was class a factor?
It has been suggested that class, gender stereotypes and nativism played significant roles in Lizzie Borden’s acquittal. Lizzie’s upper-class status afforded her access to top legal representation and societal support, which many believe influenced the trial’s outcome. Her background as a well-bred Victorian woman who was active in her church and social circles contrasted sharply with the image of a violent criminal.
This societal bias was compounded by nativist sentiments, as Lizzie, a native-born American, received sympathy and support that might not have been extended to an immigrant under similar circumstances.
Gender stereotypes of the time painted women as morally pure and physically delicate, making it difficult for the jury to reconcile the idea of a woman committing such brutal acts. These factors collectively contributed to the perception of Lizzie’s innocence, leading to her acquittal despite the circumstantial evidence against her.
Aftermath
Following her acquittal, Lizzie Borden returned to Fall River, where she lived a relatively reclusive life. She and her sister Emma inherited their father’s estate, affording them financial security. However, Lizzie was ostracised by the community, and rumours and suspicions continued to surround her until her death on 1 June 1927.
The Borden house, now a museum and bed-and-breakfast, continues to attract visitors fascinated by the unsolved mystery. The case remains a subject of speculation and debate, with various theories proposed over the years, including the involvement of Bridget Sullivan or an unknown assailant. Yet, no conclusive evidence has ever emerged to solve the case definitively.
Cultural impact
The Lizzie Borden case has left an enduring legacy in American culture. It has inspired numerous books, movies, TV shows, and even a popular skipping-rope rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
This macabre rhyme, while factually inaccurate, underscores the lasting fascination with the case. The trial highlighted issues of gender, class, and media influence, and it remains a significant event in the annals of American legal history.
Theories and speculations
Over the years, several theories have emerged to explain the Borden murders. Some suggest that Lizzie’s motive was financial, fearing that her stepmother would inherit her father’s wealth. Others propose that Lizzie may have been suffering from a mental illness, leading her to commit the murders in a fit of rage.
Another theory implicates Bridget Sullivan, the maid, suggesting that she may have acted alone or in collusion with Lizzie. Bridget was reportedly unhappy in her position and may have had her own grievances against the Borden family. However, like many aspects of the case, these theories remain speculative.
Despite the passage of more than a century, the case continues to captivate the public imagination, reflecting the enduring human fascination with crime and the complexities of the human psyche.
Lizzie’s acquittal, the sensational nature of the trial, and the unanswered questions surrounding the murders ensure that the Borden case remains one of the most enduring and enigmatic chapters in American history.
Good read: The History and Haunting of Lizzie Borden
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