In 1892, a terrible crime occurred in the sleepy town of Fall River, MA, that shook the nation’s true crime history and forever changed the quiet town. Two local affluent businessmen and their wives were murdered in their home, which triggered a shock across the country. At the center of this storm was a 32-year-old Sunday school teacher who would be a name to be remembered for generations: Lizzie Borden! One hundred years later, the mystery of Lizzie Borden and what went on inside that gloomy, black-and-white house on Second Street still lingers in pop culture, history books, and ghost stories. The infamous Lizzie Borden murders are still one of the most talked about, unsolved legal mysteries in legal history.
Who was Lizzie Borden? Early Life and Family Background
In order to fully appreciate the Lizzie Borden story, the reader should take a closer look at the family life at home. Lizzie Andrew Borden was born in 1860 to Andrew Jackson Borden and Sarah Anthony Morse. Her father remarried when she was a young child, after his wife died. Lizzie was living at 92 Second Street in Fall River with her older sister, Emma, their father and their stepmother. They seemed to be a decent, religious Christian family to the outside eye. Lizzie was involved in church groups, Christian endeavour societies and local charities.
But there were simmering conflicts under the surface, however:
- Financial Frustrations: Andrew’s worth was about $300,000 (millions in today’s dollars) but he was a very frugal person! The house did not have modern indoor plumbing, which was unusual for a family of their wealth.
- Stepmother Animosity: Both Lizzie and Emma were extremely resentful of their stepmother, Abby Borden murder victim Abby. There was a lot of conflict regarding the transfer of land to the side of the family that owned it.
- Living Arrangements: The house was partitioned into locked areas and secured compartments, suggesting a sense of mistrust between the people living in the home.
The Fall River Axe Murder of 1892: What happened on August 4?
The events of 4th August 1892 were very alarming. On the morning of that day (between 9:00 AM and 11:10 AM), the double homicide occurred in the open daylight with the maid Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan and Lizzie around the property. Around 9:00 AM, Abby Borden went upstairs to make the bed in the guest room and was brutally attacked. Later, about 10:30 AM, Andrew Borden came home from his morning stroll in town and napped on the couch in the parlor. At 11:10 AM, Lizzie called the maid to her and said that her father had been killed.
The police arrived and found a gruesome scene. Abby was struck 19 times with a hatchet in the head and Andrew had a total of 10 to 11 blows across his face and head while asleep on the couch. The popular rhyme about Lizzie Borden taking an axe, and giving her mother forty whacks, is the popular version, but it’s about half the number of blows that actually took place, and not for less gruesome reasons.
The case of Lizzie Borden is the subject of this episode of the Investigation.
Immediately suspicion fell on Lizzie. Forced entry was not discovered and no money and valuables had been taken, nor was there any evidence of an external suspect running away. Her arrest and the landmark Lizzie Borden trial was brought about by a number of factors:
- Inconsistent Statements: Lizzie reported to the police being in the barn at the time of the attacks to check on lead sinkers for a fishing trip, but also told them that she heard screams coming from the barn.
- The Dress Burning: Lizzie burned a blue dress in the kitchen stove, stating that it came into contact with fresh paint. Prosecutors claimed that it was smeared with blood.
- Attempted Poison Purchase: On the day before the murders, witnesses reported that Lizzie visited a local pharmacist in an attempt to purchase prussic acid (cyanide). This evidence was not allowed at trial.
In June 1893, the trial started in New Bedford, Massachusetts, making headlines around the world.
Why did Lizzie Borden get acquitted?
The jury took less than an hour to reach its verdict of “not guilty” despite strong evidence and arguments. With so many people pointing a finger at Lizzie Borden, why was she acquitted?
- Victorian Gender Expectations: In 1892, there were strict expectations placed on women. It was hard to imagine that a cultured, upper class Sunday school teacher could do such a thing.
- No Blood on Clothing or Direct Physical Evidence: No blood on her clothes, no direct physical evidence that connected her to the weapon. The hatchet with the broken handle (used to kill the victim) did not have any blood-testing functions at this time.
- Excluded Inquest Testimony: Inaccuracies and contradictions in Lizzie’s first police interviews were excluded as she had been given a dose of the drug morphine to calm her nerves.
Is Lizzie Borden Guilty? Major Theories and Suspects
Historians and criminologists are divided in their opinion when asked whether Lizzie Borden murdered her parents. The Fall River murders of 1892 have never been solved due to the acquittal of Lizzie Borden. Throughout the years, four main theories have arisen as to what Lizzie Borden did or who else may have been to blame:
- Theory 1: Lizzie was alone. Stepmother’s resentments and jealousy of her inheritance, coupled with a desire for independence, caused her to kill both of them when no one was around.
- Theory 2: Lizzie and the Maid Colluded. Maid Bridget Sullivan and Lizzie shared the job because they both had complaints about the hard working household.
- Theory 3: Uncle John Morse or an Intruder. John Morse, Lizzie’s uncle who visited the night before, or an unknown person had a vendetta against Andrew’s severe dealing.
- Theory 4: Out of Control Fugue State. Some scientists theorize that Lizzie experienced complex partial seizures or psychological breaks, that is, why she was calm and detached after.
Passage of the torch, the next generation and the passing of the deceased.
After her acquittal, Lizzie inherited a huge inheritance from her father. Lizzie Borden was set on her own after the settlement, and that left her two sisters with a life of financial freedom. In the popular “Hill” area of Fall River she bought a large Victorian home, which she called Maplecroft. Lizzie continued to live her remaining days quietly, enjoying theatre, animals and books but still being a social outcast in her hometown. On June 1, 1927 she died at age 66 from pneumonia. What is Lizzie Borden buried in? She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts, next to her father and stepmother.
Today the Lizzie Borden House Fall River Massachusetts
The Fall River Massachusetts original Lizzie Borden house at 92 Second Street is still standing and a major tourist attraction. Do spirits haunt the Lizzie Borden house? The house is now a bed and breakfast and museum, and is visited every year by thousands of ghost hunters, paranormal enthusiasts and history buffs. Rooms can be booked, tours of the parlor where Andrew passed away, and the upstairs bedroom where Abby was struck can be enjoyed by guests. It is often used in all the big Lizzie Borden documentaries and horror shows.
Affected by the events of 1892, the Deep Dive series explores the forensics that are hindered.
To understand the reasons for the prosecution’s failure to secure a conviction in the Fall River axe murder case of 1892, it’s essential to understand the state of forensic science in the late 19th century. DNA extraction, bloodstain pattern analysis, fingerprinting, and other scientific methods used to investigate crime scenes were not available. When police officers walked through 92 Second Street, they unwittingly tainted the scene at the time. Dozens of curious on-lookers, neighborly callers and inexperienced investigators walked across the floors, handled potential evidence and touched furniture before proper notes were taken.
In addition, toxicology was only just beginning to be developed. The prosecution tried to present evidence that Lizzie spent the day before the killings trying to buy prussic acid but was unsuccessful, but this was dismissed on procedural grounds. In the absence of modern chemical testing to establish a presence of poisons and blood on her clothing; the prosecution had to make almost all of its arguments circumstantially.
The case against the man who is alleged to have fatally struck a woman with a hatchet on her head in the home basement was also tainted by modern standards that included the way the alleged murder weapon, a hatchet without a handle, was handled. Police were unable to determine if the ash and dust on the blade was added on purpose to cover up the blood or if it had sat undisturbed for months. Without any conclusive physical evidence, there was some doubt in the all-male jury’s minds that this should have led to his conviction, and that doubt ultimately led to his exoneration.
The Media Circus and the Early True Crime Sensationalism
Lizzie Borden’s trial was one of the true crime media circuses that occurred in American history. Even before the era of television or Internet news, newspapers throughout the nation saw that they sold in record numbers when they covered the horrific acts of violence and high-traffic, high-demand drama. Every aspect of Lizzie, from her facial expression in court to the quality of her black mourning dresses was reported on in the press each day.
Fall River was besieged by reporters from New York, Boston, and other places, making it a sensational hotspot of public opinion. There was a sharp division in the coverage; some newspapers described her as a cold-blooded killer who murdered her family, others as a helpless and innocent victim of the police. This public attention made the double murder of a local woman a national myth, and no matter what happened in court, Lizzie Borden’s murder case would never be forgotten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Was Lizzie Borden ever to confess the murders?
A1. Throughout her life, Lizzie Borden denied any guilt for the murders and never admitted to the crime.
Q2. How much money was left to Lizzie Borden?
A2. In 1892, Lizzie and her sister Emma inherited Andrew Borden’s estate, worth more than $300,000 (or more than $9 million today).
Q3. Are you able to spend the night in the Lizzie Borden house?
A3. Yes. It is a Bed and Breakfast/Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts and guests can stay overnight in the original rooms.
Explore Dubai Key Insights: More Historical insights.
The Lizzie Borden case provides a timeless lesson on the power of forensic science, public opinion, and media sensationalism in the pursuit of justice. From the mystery of the past to the cultural history to the legal precedents, the true history behind the legend reveals more about the past than any fictional account.
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