Posted on 08/04/2007 8:12:32 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
On This Day In History
August 4, 1892: Lizzie Borden took an axe . . .
Andrew and Abby Borden, elderly residents of Fall River, Massachusetts, are found bludgeoned to death in their home. Lying in a pool of blood on the living room couch, Andrew's face had been nearly split in two. Abby, Lizzie's stepmother, was found upstairs with her head smashed to pieces.
The Bordens, who were considerably wealthy, lived with their two unmarried daughters, Emma and Lizzie. Since Lizzie was the only other person besides the housekeeper who was present when the bodies were found, suspicion soon fell upon her. Because of the sensational nature of the murders, the trial attracted attention from around the nation.
Despite the fact that fingerprint testing was already becoming commonplace in Europe at the time, the police were wary of its reliability, and refused to test for prints on the murder weapon--a hatchet--found in the Borden's basement. The prosecution tried to prove that Lizzie had burned a dress similar to the one she was wearing on the day of the murders and had purchased a small axe the day before. But Lizzie was a sweet-looking Christian woman and the jury took only 90 minutes to decide that she could never commit such a heinous crime.
Although she was now an orphaned heiress rather than a convicted murderess, the media continued to portray Lizzie as the perpetrator. Her story is still remembered today mostly because of the infamous 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.
Ignoring the taunts, Lizzie lived the high life until her death in 1927. She was buried in the family plot next to her parents.
Do you suppose Lizzie spent the rest of her days "looking for the real killer" as O.J. continues to do today? (sarc)
A few other interesting Lizzie Borden web links:
http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/
http://www.hatchetonline.com/HatchetOnline/
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/LizzieBorden/bordenhome.html
I’ll wait for the movie..........
There is probably an elementary school in Massachusetts named after her.
Already been done. Elizabeth Montgomery slayed the critics with her portrayal.
Elizabeth Montgomery, ah, a true beauty from my childhood...........
She had that psycho look: Yes, I agree.........
Same chair?........
Lizzie had what was considered at the time a Legal Dream Team, consisting of, I believe, former state Supreme Court judge and well known politicians.
Much evidence was not permitted at the trial, like the fact that she had tried to purchase poison at a local drug store a few days prior to the murder. Also, her father had to make good to a local store owner who had bagged her shop lifting...
The house in Fall River was recently up for sale. It had been used previously as a Bed and Breakfast. Price range upwards of 1 million...
I guess no one ever told Mrs. Nation that using a hatchet to chop up bars is intemperate. :’)
http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxx/2000.10.20/news/p5weirdyale.html
Something is really scary about her eyes.
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