The Trial of Lizzie Borden
Cara Robertson
For Mom and Dad
It is many a year since a criminal case in this country has excited such universal interest and been the subject of so much discussion as the Borden murder. It has all the fascination of a mystery about which there may be a thousand theories and upon which opinions may differ as variously as the idiosyncrasies of those who form them. There is so little absolute evidence that everybody can interpret the probabilities and circumstantial indications to suit himself, and much will depend upon his general view of human nature and its capabilities. There seems to be little prospect that the mystery will be cleared up by the trial . . . The verdict, if there shall be a verdict, will make little difference.
“Will It Remain a Mystery?”
New York Times, June 17, 1893
List of Illustrations
Frontispiece: Lizzie A. Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 1: View of Fall River block, including D. R. Smith’s drugstore, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 2: Lizzie Andrew Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 3: Andrew Jackson Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 4: A. J. Borden building, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 5: Borden house on Second Street, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 6: Abby Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 7: Emma Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 8: Front of Borden house on Second Street, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 9: Side steps of Borden house, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 10: Plan of Borden house and yard, E. H. Porter, Fall River Tragedy, 1893, collection of the author Image 11: Marshal Rufus Hilliard, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society
Image 12: Body of Andrew Borden on sofa, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 13: Bridget Sullivan, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 14: Body of Abby Borden in guest bedroom, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 15: Fall River as seen from Mt. Hope Bay, circa 1891, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 16: View of Second Street looking south, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 17: View of Second Street looking north, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 18: John V. Morse, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 19: Dr. Seabury Bowen, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 20: Second Street neighborhood, Boston Globe Image 21: City Marshal Hilliard standing in front of the Central Police Station, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 22: Hosea M. Knowlton, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 23: Andrew Jennings, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 24: Taunton Jail, showing the garden, circa 1892, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 25: Melvin O. Adams, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 26: Dr. William Dolan, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 27: Governor George D. Robinson, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 28: William H. Moody, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 29: Exterior of Bristol County courthouse, New Bedford, Massachusetts, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 30: Interior courtroom, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 31: Julian Ralph, public domain, from Google Books scan of Frank M. O’Brien, The Story of the Sun (New York: George H. Doran Company, 1918) Image 32: Joe Howard, Jr., Boston Globe Image 33: Elizabeth Jordan, public domain, from Google Books scan of Elizabeth Garver Jordan, Tales of the Cloister, vol. 4 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1901) Image 34: Chief Judge Albert Mason, Judge Caleb Blodgett, and Judge Justin Dewey, 1892, Boston Globe Image 35: Selecting a jury, Boston Globe Image 36: Plan of cellar, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 37: Plan of first floor, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 38: Plan of second floor, 1893, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 39: Lizzie Borden swoons, Boston Globe Image 40: Jury touring crime scene, Boston Globe Image 41: Backyard of Chagnon residence, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 42: A bird’s-eye view of the neighborhood, Boston Globe Image 43: Makeshift gate in front of courthouse, Boston Globe Image 44: Adelaide Churchill, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 45: Alice Russell, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 46: Courtroom scene during Alice Russell’s testimony, Boston Globe Image 47: Assistant Marshal John Fleet, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 48: Captain Phillip Harrington, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 49: Handleless or “hoodoo” hatchet, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 50: The jury in its favorite position, Boston Globe Image 51: Juggling with a woman’s life, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 52: Andrew Borden, August 4, 1892, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 53: Abby Borden, August 4, 1892, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society
Image 54: Professor Edward S. Wood, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 55: Skull of Andrew Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 56: Skull of Abby Borden, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 57: Dr. Draper fits hatchet into skull, Boston Globe Image 58: Interesting incidents in the Borden trial, Boston Globe Image 59: Witnesses waiting to testify, Boston Globe Image 60: Robinson’s favorite poses, Boston Globe Image 61: Ladies’ corner, Boston Globe Image 62: Yard with Crowe’s barn, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 63: Early-morning scene about the New Bedford courthouse, Boston Globe Image 64: Ex-governor Robinson delivering his argument, Boston Globe Image 65: District Attorney Knowlton for the government, Boston Globe Image 66: Last scene in the Great Borden Trial, Boston Globe Image 67: Lizzie Borden on piazza in Newport, circa 1893, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 68: The Borden jury, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 69: Maplecroft, Lizzie Borden’s house on French Street, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 70: Nance O’Neil as Judith of Bethulia, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 71: Lizzie Borden on piazza with dog Laddie, circa 1926, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 72: Borden monument, Oak Grove Cemetery, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society Image 73: Lizzie Borden’s grave, Oak Grove Cemetery, courtesy of Fall River Historical Society