Was Lizzie Borden guilty?

The defense

• Lack of physical evidence: The prosecution was unable to find any physical evidence conclusively tying Lizzie Borden to the crimes. During the trial the prosecutor dramatically pulled the head of a hatchet out of a bag and claimed that it was the murder weapon. However, it was missing a handle, and the prosecution was unable to offer any proof that it was linked to the murders. In addition, the murder of Andrew Borden took place within a relatively narrow window of time—about 15 minutes. If Lizzie had killed her father, there was little time to clean up and change clothes. When police arrived, no blood was seen on her. However, a pail of bloody fabric was discovered in the basement. Lizzie said they were menstrual rags, and the pail was not investigated.
• Favorable rulings: During the trial the judges excluded key evidence offered by the prosecution. This included a witness who claimed that Lizzie Borden had tried to buy prussic acid, a fast-acting poison containing hydrogen cyanide, the day before the murders. However, the clerk refused to sell it to her because she did not have a prescription. The judges also disallowed her inquest testimony, which had been given without an attorney present. During the proceeding Lizzie’s answers were at times contradictory and confusing. Her doctor later stated that he had given Lizzie morphine, which might have affected her testimony. In addition, in his instructions to the jury, Justice Justin Dewey downplayed the circumstantial evidence.
• Character and societal biases: Lizzie Borden was a respected member of the community. She was active in the church and various charities. Before the jury began its deliberation, Justice Dewey said that her Christian character should be taken into consideration. In addition, some later speculated that attitudes about gender and class at the time made it difficult for a jury to believe that a woman, especially one of Lizzie’s social standing, was capable of committing such brutal murders.

The prosecution

• Motive: The prosecution claimed that Lizzie Borden had a contentious relationship with her stepmother, Abby (née Gray) Borden, who married into the family when Lizzie was four years old. Witnesses gave conflicting statements about the relationship between the two women. Notably, Bridget Sullivan, the family’s maid, testified that “everything was pleasant” between Lizzie and Abby. However, a local seamstress testified that Lizzie had referred to her stepmother as a “mean good-for-nothing thing.” And it was noted that Lizzie had stopped calling Abby “Mother” and instead referred to her as “Mrs. Borden.” Money was also thought to be a motivating factor in the murders. Andrew Borden was wealthy—and frugal. Lizzie and her sister, Emma, allegedly argued with him over money, and both were angry after he transferred property to Abby.
• Opportunity: About 9:30 am Abby Borden was in the upstairs guest room when she was struck as many as 19 times with a hatchet. Lizzie Borden was in the home but claimed not to have heard anything. She was also in the house some 90 minutes later when Andrew Borden returned. Not long thereafter he was struck up to 11 times while napping. Lizzie said that she had gone out to the barn looking for fishing sinkers and returned to find her father dead. However, the barn was stifling hot, raising doubts that she would have spent 15 or more minutes inside the building.
• Circumstantial evidence: A few days after the murders, Lizzie Borden was seen burning a dress that she said was covered in paint. In addition, when the police arrived on the day of the murders, she stated that her stepmother was not at home, believing that Abby had left after receiving a letter from a sick friend. Neither the note nor its messenger was ever found.
• Ominous comments: Lizzie Borden reportedly made a series of disconcerting remarks the day before the murders. According to her friend Alice Russell, Lizzie was “afraid somebody will do something” to her father because he was “so discourteous to people.” She also told Alice that she feared her father might have an “enemy.”
• Lack of an alternate suspect: Other convincing suspects did not emerge. There were no signs of a break-in, and no items were reported stolen. In addition, Abby Borden was murdered some 90 minutes before her husband. An intruder would have had to hide or leave and come back. It is also unclear why an intruder would not have harmed Lizzie and Bridget.

Bridget Sullivan

The 26-year-old Bridget (“Maggie”) Sullivan was an Irish immigrant who had been working as a maid for the Bordens for more than two years. She was outside cleaning windows when Abby Borden was believed to have been killed—a claim confirmed by Lizzie Borden and neighbors—though she was in her attic room at the time of Andrew Borden’s murder. However, Bridget had no clear motive, and there was no direct evidence linking her with the murders.

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Emma Borden

Emma Borden was 41 years old when her father and stepmother were killed. She was reportedly devoted to her younger sister, caring for Lizzie after their mother died. Emma still lived in the family home, though on the day of the murders, she was about 15 miles (24 km) away in Fairhaven, visiting friends. While some claimed that she was concerned about her inheritance, there is no evidence that she was in Fall River at the time of the murders.

Just weeks after Lizzie was acquitted, the sisters bought a mansion called Maplecroft. They lived there until 1905, when Emma left following a disagreement. The sisters never reconciled. They died nine days apart in 1927.

John Morse

John Vinnicum Morse arrived at the Borden house a day before the murders. He was the 60-year-old brother of Lizzie and Emma’s biological mother and reportedly close to their father. On the morning of August 4, he left shortly after breakfast and walked to his nephew’s home. After discovering that his nephew was not home, John visited with his niece and left about 11:20 am. Although some questioned his surprise visit, witnesses confirmed his whereabouts during the murders.