In My Opinion, the Inquest Hearing of Lizzie Andrew Borden: Volume 1

By Keith A Buchanan

In the year 1892 on the fourth day of August, an infamous crime was committed during the late morning hours in the city of Fall River. It was during a time when the cotton mill industry was thriving, and the population within the city was growing. The heart of the city was busy with many people working on and tending to their daily affairs as being nothing more than the norm. Then, suddenly without warning, evil had taken its revenge upon two prominent people within this community. Such an event had sent waves of fear and dismay throughout the city. People gathered by the hundreds, standing at the front gate of house number 92 on Second Street. What such evil act had taken place within this wonderful home and darkened this great city of prosperity and goodwill?

As the people waited so desperately to hear of the news that could shed some light upon this situation, it was finally revealed. The lifeless bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Borden lay inside the home on Second Street, sustaining blunt force wounds by means of a hatchet or an axe. Both bodies were severely traumatized and mutilated, and according to Dr. Seabury W. Bowen, Mr. Bordens face was so brutally cut that one could not even recognize him. This darkened cloud has only begun its fury, and as time moves forward, much greater evil will come about. This infamous crime will make this city a place for all to remember that throughout the days ahead, many will come in defense of the victims, but then, it will be those who seek justice that requires no law or boundaries to a society that is governed by such.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543421231

Keith A Buchanan

Au doesn't want to put ATA

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Copyright © 2017 by Keith A. Buchanan.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017907179

ISBN:      Hardcover             978-1-5434-2125-5

                Softcover                978-1-5434-2124-8

                eBook                     978-1-5434-2123-1

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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Rev. date: 06/07/2017

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Contents

Acknowledgments

The Prelude

Introduction

Chapter 1 Family Background

Chapter 2 The Eyewitness Reports

Chapter 3 The Inquest Hearing

Chapter 4 Confronting The Facts

Chapter 5 Inquest Hearing, Tuesday, August 9, 1892

Chapter 6 Words Of Retort

Chapter 7 The Summation

Chapter 8 In My Opinion/The Commentary

Chapter 9 In My Opinion/The Accounts

Chapter 10 In My Opinion/The Inference

Bibliography

The Unknown Alien Who Are Those Among Us?

Acknowledgments

I give thanks and praise to my Lord Jesus Christ for the gift of salvation and creative writing!

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalms 104:33 King James Bible)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 King James Bible)

W hen I first became involved in this cold case, the immense time in research, organization, and publication would soon become realized of what would be required in writing this book. The many hours dedicated to such an old case, I should say, was a bit overwhelming in the beginning. But as time passed, I began to gather the necessary information that would enable me to fulfill such a task in the completion of this book.

With that being said, I would like to give special thanks to Faye Musselman and Stefani Koorey, PhD, for all their support, generosity, time, courtesy, and encouragement in allowing me to obtain the pertinent information, photographs, and transcripts that contributed to the success in completing this book. Their decision to allow me to have access to their own personal research of many years has made my research efforts much easier and my journey less daunting. Again, I extend my personal thanks to both of them.

I would also like to give special thanks to the Fall River Public Library Staff for all their assistance and time, the Fall River Herald News publisher Sean Burke and publisher Lisa Strattan for their support and assistance permitting me access to their newspaper archives, WPRI 12 News chief meteorologist Tony Petrarca and meteorologist Michelle Muscatello for all their efforts in researching weather records, Paul Ferreira and Elizabeth Buchanan for their help through the editing process, and finally, my best friend, Sammy Macedo, for his words of encouragement and, through the many conversations entailing this case, has brought to light multiple theories and overlooked points. Such information has given me the opportunity and pleasure to express portions of these dialogues to the reader.

In closing, I dedicate this book with all of my love to my beautiful wife, Gail; my daughters, Elizabeth and Katelyn; and my son, Joshua, for their patience, encouragement, and tolerance that they endured throughout the past years of research, talk, and sacrifice that I have pledged in bringing this book to publication. If it were not for their support, this book would not have been possible. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement.

A Note to the Reader:

It is to be known to the reader that the Inquest Hearing was conducted upstairs inside a room housed in the Second District Court at Court Square. The Fall River Central Police Headquarters also operated inside the same building, but only one floor below. The hearing was completed in a private setting, allowing only persons of authority to be present and not permitting any defense attorneys, news reporters, or citizens to attend.

The disappearance of volume 1 of the Inquest Hearing transcripts, which included the testimony of Bridget Sullivan, is nothing more than an enigma. The transcripts, which had been mysteriously lost, may have contained pertinent information that could possibly solve the case. But be as it may, could such testimony by Bridget be a threat to the assailant(s)? Could such disappearance of her testimony send an intimidating message as to frighten her to either alter or change her original statement? One will never know the answers to such questions, but all hope is not lost! Remember, we still have multiple police and eyewitness reports that can and may reveal the truth.

With that being said, I will like to inform the reader also that this book was designed to allow familiarity with that era of time and to permit one to experience the impact of such a case in a most realistic manner. Yes, the setting invites one to share in the experience of attending a public Inquest Hearing being conducted within the walls of the Second District Courthouse in Fall River. A curator has also been created in allowing such an environment to prevail and to keep the reader abreast to the events unfolding within this case. But it was with all due intentions of sanctioning the reader to be encapsulated, intrigued, provoked to thinking and to developing an opinion or some form of judgement as to the facts of this most infamous cold case.

I do hope that I have been successful in capturing such emotions and thought patterns. As I close, it gives me great honor to be able to write about such a high profile case entailing such a prominent and well-respected family in hopes that I have shed some light on this notorious crime. Of course, this does not go without saying that such a case prohibits compassion for those victimized for that would be mendacious, to say the very least.

Those who were directly affected by such a hideous crime should receive much empathy, compassion, and support from the public. The injustice that was served upon those who lost lives—I speak of the inhumane act that was brought against Mr. and Mrs. Borden—needs to be fully recognized as such and not by any means taken in a frivolous or derided manner as to give creditability to the perpetrator(s). Sometimes we do become insensitive, although unintentionally, due to years passing and, of course, having no direct impact in relation to such an event. But nevertheless, we must still hold strong to our human attributes of compassion, love, sensitivity, and kindness toward others as this crime perpetrates a contradictive result, which ended in two innocent lives being taken prematurely and unjustly.

But I must conclude with the realization that many members of this family who were directly affected by such an event are no longer among us. But even so, sympathy and compassion still needs to be heralded to the surviving family members who have darkened memories of which continues to plague their family for many years past, present, and future. The mere thought of past family members being subjected and succumbing to such rage and mutilation placed upon a loved one is beyond anyone’s own comprehension. This type of crime is most disturbing, an atrocity that is most incomprehensible and so infamous and inhumane, that such actions fall nothing short of a nefarious and evil-hearted person(s). The victims within this case need to be recognized, being as they were murdered by the demeanor of hate, greed, selfishness of which a hardening heart of vanity imploded. Only a deranged, psychotic mind could be capable of performing such a hideous deed, but then again, maybe not.

Thank you and enjoy,

Keith A Buchanan

Author

The Prelude

Such a Time of Yesteryears

I t has given me great joy and pleasure to be able to travel back in time, a time when people had integrity, respect, and were hardworking. This era in past time has become part of Fall River’s footprint in history. I have spent a great many days researching and, one could almost say, reliving to some degree, this fascinating, challenging, and rewarding society. Such a community has revealed a city that gave insight into unity, prosperity through hard work, honesty, respect, and courage. It was a time of the industrial revolution that gave Fall River recognition globally. This was a populated community amassing the heart of the city, creating an affluent downtown area, and building services for all to enjoy, enabling one the liberty to acquire vast amounts of perishable and nonperishable goods. These products and services were readily available at a cost most could afford in small increments or by means of credit and offering benefits in the form of quality as well as quan tity.

It was a time like no other in comparison to today’s twenty-first century, where such a place no longer exists due to technological advancements, education, and geographical changes. Streets no longer show their earth, but are now covered by asphalt and, in some areas, cobblestone. Businesses are not in great abundance to the local people anymore, due to high cost of brick and mortar shops. A replacement in the manner of the internet highway has allowed one to gain access to thousands of perishable and nonperishable goods and never having to leave the home, but rather, the goods are shipped directly to the consumer’s doorstep. Such technology has put traditional shopping on notice until such a day as to when such services may become obsolete. Even the horse and carriage which thrived during those earlier years has now become another antiquated form of transportation. The automotive revolution of the early nineteenth century has revolutionized the way people now travel.

Much of today’s society cannot be compared to yesterday’s world. A double homicide has brought many back to a forgotten era, that at one time, flourished inside a city that has long been vacated and buried. Never again will one reach a world that has long been held hostage to time, only allowing fossilized footprints to escape and displaying a part of a community that was thriving and enjoying the simplistic attributes of life. The birth of a computerized society has breathed a fast-track world which surpasses in great manner, a world of yesterday. The days of leisure, peace, and tranquility almost appear to be nonexistent, and yet society has adapted and embraced such a lifestyle. Imagine what those who walked upon these city streets, living and working within the neighborhoods, enjoying the lifestyle of simplicity, would do if they were among a society of today, a society which we have designed for ourselves that differs greatly from the past. Just imagine the thought process that would be revealed from such minds of those whom worked only with manpower and horse reliance of the yesteryears in comparison with the present day and the advancements that have brought much convenience and knowledge.

In such a world as theirs, a way of life was simplistic, loyal, honest, compassionate, and respectful with integrity and so much more. It was a world that, of course, no longer exists and will never be again. But one can learn and appreciate such a world and only ponder on the thoughts and memories of those people of the past. For time has continued to march forward without hesitation, prejudice, or heed to a command to standstill. It continues forward in leaving footprints from the past for all to enjoy, learn, and give hope to the future. For the birth of today’s fast-track society only vacates the time to enjoy such amenities as those who have in yesterday’s world. For the footprints of time will always be the footprints of the days when the city flourished within the era of the industrial revolution, which gave opportunity in the advancements and prosperity in the production of cotton; those days will never perish in a memorable sense, but that era of time will never be again. For the advancements of today’s society has groomed a future that will no longer tolerate nor recognize the yesteryears, but rather, it will be steadfast in its advancements and surrender not to a time that no longer exists, a time, that has been rapidly consumed and rendered as nothing more than a relic.

Introduction

T he year is 1892, the fourth day of August, and an infamous crime has been committed. This is a day that has claimed the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Borden. There has been much confusion surrounding the circumstances of this case. The local press has indeed been extremely active on a global level in reporting the events as they have unfolded. The Fall River Police have also been vigilant in seeking out the motive and the possible assailant(s) that are connected with this case. Many questions have surfaced with very little answers. An ongoing investigation has been prevailing without delay. The District Attorney’s Office is desperately seeking out justice for these hideous crimes and are willing to go to great measures to solve this case.

Although the physical evidence appears to be unveiling at a slow pace, it will be the witnesses who are becoming much more rapid in abundance with greater influence to the details that are involved with this crime. As the investigation moves in a forward motion, the objective is to bring those individual(s) who are involved to justice. The District Attorney’s Office is confident in proving beyond a reasonable doubt that, in fact, a crime has been committed at the Borden home that is located at 92 Second Street Fall River, Massachusetts, on the morning of August 4, 1892.

An Inquest Hearing has been scheduled inside a small room on the ninth day of August 1892 at the Fall River District Courthouse with Judge Josiah C. Blaisdell presiding over the hearing. The District Attorney’s Office will appoint Mr. Hosea M. Knowlton to take charge of the examination and will be questioning all of the witnesses that are involved. As Mr. Hosea M. Knowlton performs the task of submitting many questions that will be directed to the witnesses who have been summonsed into court for this very crime, he will also be performing an investigation in hopes to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that in fact, a crime has been committed and that this case can move one step closer to an actual trial.

Mr. Knowlton’s projection within this case is to bring out the actual assailant(s) and exposing them for who they truly are. Bringing those individuals to light will hopefully have a result that will activate the wheels of justice moving them in a forward direction and ending in a victory for the District Attorney’s Office. The headlines for the trial shall read as follows, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. the Accused.

Chapter 1

Family Background

I n 1845, Andrew Jackson Borden (1822–1892) married Sarah Anthony (Morse) Borden (1823–1863), bearing three children: Emma Lenora Borden (1851–1927), Alice Esther Borden (1856–1858), and Lizzie Andrew Borden (1860–1927). Their marriage ended in 1863 with the death of Sarah, leaving Emma and Lizzie without a mother. Just two years after the death of Sarah, Andrew J. Borden became acquainted with Abby Durfee (Gray) Borden (1828–1892) at the commencement of a church service. The year is now 1865, and Andrew J. Borden would be marrying his second wife, Abby Durfee ( Gray).

Andrew J. Borden was a tall slender man with qualities of being a compassionate, gentle, and stubborn individual having a temper. He was born into a family that sustained great financial wealth and power through the cotton and manufacturing industry. As a child, he enjoyed the luxuries that followed this type of persona. But when he became a young man, the family’s wealth had been squandered, leaving him financially poor. In order for him to regain his stamina, he would begin to save and invest all of his money, never borrowing a cent from anyone (a point in his life that he was always proud of and made it well-known to all).

He began his business adventures becoming partner/owner of a furniture/funeral parlor. Through his business dealings, it has been said that he would convince the less fortunate to purchase elaborate funeral services for their loved ones that have passed on, knowing that they could not afford it financially. He would draw up a note for timely payments with a disclosure attached, allowing him to obtain their property if they went into default. This method of business enabled him to gain ownership of much of the city’s real estate. As years passed, Andrew became owner of many businesses as well as being on the board of directors for numerous banks throughout the city. He did, indeed, become a wealthy and powerful man within the city of Fall River.

With the rebirth of his wealth and power, Andrew J. Borden purchased a single family home located at 92 Second Street in Fall River during this era of time when the city was divided into two sections, that of the north and the south. The north side of the city was recognized as the Hill with the south side being for the poverty-stricken working-class people. It was understood that both classes of people did not associate, congregate, or purchase goods from one another. This ideology within the city was strictly enforced with only one exception: those being of wealth were permitted to hire those from the south to work jobs for a small wage, and that is where the relationship ended.

Throughout the Borden marriage, which survived twenty-seven years and ended with the murder of both Mr. and Mrs. Borden, it was Abby Borden who always maintained the household, taking charge of the chores that needed to be completed, including all disciplinary actions that were warranted toward the Borden girls. It has been stated that Abby was a strict and harsh parent, and for those reasons, people believed that she was extremely hard on both Emma and Lizzie when they were growing up. It has always appeared that Emma and Lizzie had a respectable relationship with Abby, calling her Mom and being cordial toward one another and never having any incidences of physical violence or disputes. The Borden family lived a quiet and private lifestyle, never allowing outsiders to know about their personal affairs. Even when one became ill, it would be rare for Mr. Borden to allow a doctor to come to the house; by doing so, it would create an unnecessary expense and it would be considered an invasion of their privacy.

Emma Lenora Borden was a quiet individual who, at all cost, would avoid any type of conflict. Upon the death of her mother, Sarah Anthony (Morse) Borden, Emma had made a promise that she would always protect and take care of Lizzie at all cost. Emma gave complete protection to Lizzie as the girls grew older, always protecting and caring for Lizzie which constituted a lifetime of safeguarding. (During that era, people made contractual agreements through means of a handshake, verbal, and written agreements. Such actions were not taken lightly, but rather a person’s word had much credibility and be not broken under any circumstances. One’s word was as good as their signature.)

The demeanor of Lizzie Andrew Borden was one that people were afraid to cross. She was a dominating, stubborn woman, who always fought for her rights. She possessed a temper that would warrant trouble. Lizzie enjoyed the luxuries and the associated power that came from her father’s wealth. She would frequent the stores, taking whatever she desired without payment. This, however, became an issue for Andrew J. Borden whom the vendors would threaten to seek the police.

In order to avoid legal action against Lizzie, an agreement was made between both parties. The arrangement entailed all items taken by Lizzie would be subjected to a bill sent directly to Mr. Borden who would render payment, but at no time shall the store owner resort to the authorities. It has been stated that Lizzie was a kleptomaniac, but one must wonder, could she be held accountable for such actions, considering her sustained wealth and power? The window of accountability and responsibility closes quickly when one achieves this status quo.

Finally, the brother to Sarah Anthony (Morse) Borden, Mr. John Vinnicum Morse, uncle to Emma and Lizzie Borden. He lived out of state for many years with returning to Fall River on occasion visiting the Borden family. When Sarah passed away, Mr. Morse kept a good relationship with Andrew J. Borden, even helping him out with his farm in Swanzey, Massachusetts. Although he did not frequent the Borden home on a regular basis, an invitation was always extended out to him.

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The Borden House at 92 Second Street in Fall River, MA in 1892

Courtesy of Stefani Koorey

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1892 to 1918: Emma and Lizzie inherited the property.

Courtesy of Faye Musselman

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The Borden House at 92 Second Street in Fall River, MA

Courtesy of Faye Musselman

The following illustrations depict the exterior and interior portions of the Borden house, which include the surrounding properties, basement, first floor, second floor, and the attic.

Illustrations of the Borden House

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Exterior GroundsReplication Design by: Keith Buchanan

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All original illustrations were provided by Stefani Koorey

The Vengeance

In the year of 1882 on the sixth day in the month of December, Mr. Abraham Bowen Borden passed away, leaving one-half of his property located at 12 Ferry Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, to his daughter, Lurana (Borden) Harrington. By August of 1883, Andrew J. Borden had full ownership of the Ferry Street property by way of buying out his sister Lurana’s one-half share.

As the years followed, it was on May 5, 1887, when Mr. Borden had conducted another real estate transaction. The property for which he had paid off the interest in the amount of fifteen hundred dollars was located on Fourth Street in Fall River. The owner was the late Oliver Gray, father to Abby and husband to his second wife, Jane (Baker) Gray. Upon Mr. Oliver’s death, Mrs. Gray had inherited one-half of his estate for which she was unable to fulfill her financial commitment and had decided to sell the property to her stepdaughter Abby’s husband, Andrew J. Borden. When the sale was finalized, it was Mr. Borden who then gave the property to his second wife, Abby Durfee (Gray) Borden. Shortly thereafter, Abby had realized that her stepsister, Mrs. Sarah Bertha (Gray) Whitehead, was struggling financially and had decided to give her the Fourth Street property so that her stepsister would always have a place to live.

Now when the news of this business transaction was discovered by Emma and Lizzie, they both became infuriated. This event created an unstoppable wave of fury that would spiral out of control with no one being exempt from its rage. It was prior to this transaction that the Borden family had functioned in a normal and respectable way, having no known domestic problems and keeping a cordial relationship within the home. Emma, being the oldest daughter to Andrew, had always addressed her stepmother by her first name, Abby. But it was after May 5, 1887, when Lizzie, being as she was the youngest, had taken on a different demeanor toward her stepmother and began to discourse her as either Abby or Mrs. Borden and no longer addressed her as Mother. Now as time passed, it was also discovered that Mr. Borden’s daughters believed that if their father was going to give something to Abby, then they ought to get something too.

As time moved onward, there have been other events which have occurred and appeared to be under somewhat of a suspicious nature. These events could possibly be contributors which may have brought this violent act of aggression for vengeance to a tragic end. It was on June 24, 1891, a day in which both Mr. and Mrs. Borden had tended to their farm in Swanzey when a burglary had been committed in the city of Fall River. It was at the home of the Borden’s residence, and during such time as to when this crime was being committed, it is believed that Emma, Lizzie, and their servant Bridget Sullivan were all inside the house. It has not yet been disclosed of what items were stolen or if the family had even reported the incident to the police. But it was immediately after this robbery that all of the entrance doors on the Borden’s home were securely locked at all times.

Now on July 15, 1892, Mr. Borden had purchased back the property at 12 Ferry Street in Fall River from his two daughters, Emma and Lizzie. He had paid a sum of five thousand dollars for which his daughters had received a financial gain of twenty-five hundred dollars each. By July 21, Emma had decided to travel to 19 Green Street in Fairhaven and stay at the home of the Brownell family. Lizzie did not accompany her sister nor did she visit with her throughout that time period, but rather, she had stayed at home preparing plans to go on a fishing trip with friends in Marion within the next two weeks or so.

In August of 1892, the Borden home had become dysfunctional with past events resurfacing. The fury within the heart of a young daughter had escalated to higher levels that appear to be unstoppable. As the tension builds, it is only a matter of time before mayhem breaks lose. Although the fire began over the Fourth Street property, it was also being fueled by another source which was the denial of purchasing a modern style of living. A style that father believed to be unnecessary, but one that his daughters felt they were entitled too. The fire just continued to grow with further rejection felt by Lizzie and a stepmother who was just a mean old lady that was giving the family’s fortune away.

It was from this day forward that the very foundations of the Borden family’s structure had begun to take a course of total annihilation with little or no recourse. The infamous acts that had taken place from this point onward would be considered as nothing more than just a diabolical act of premeditated murder. It is this entangled web of evil that has emerged from the very depths of jealousy, greed, and unspeakable acts of lust for one’s own selfishness. The inner core of vengeance has proven to be a deed that disregards human life as a whole. It is pertinent for those evil predators to be held accountable for such acts as we have witnessed. As we move forward in preparation for the inquest hearing, it is within those courtroom walls that the truth must be told. Let all those who have an ear, let them hear, and for those who have eyes, let them see. For the bells of justice are about to ring and the truth within will begin to sing!

Chapter 2

The Eyewitness Reports

G ood morning, folks! I do welcome all of you for today’s Inquest Hearing. Please do allow me to introduce myself, my name is John, and I will be your narrator throughout this Inquest Hearing, and if you must, please do direct all of your questions and concerns to me, for it will be my pleasure in accommodating those requ ests.

Now prior to these courtroom doors opening, I must share with all of you some pertinent information that I was able to acquire before coming here this very morning. The information that I have obtained I do believe to be most informative in enabling one to comprehend such an infamous crime as this. I do have here before you a number of eyewitness statements, including some crime scene photos that were taken by the Fall River Police on the morning of August 4 and thereafter.

As I do present this information to you, please do keep in mind that the crime scene photos are quite graphic in nature, and I do emphasize one to use their own discretion when viewing such photos. Before we move onward, I would like to remind everyone that this is still an ongoing investigation and that we may, at any given time, receive new information regarding this very case. So with that being said, do allow us to begin our journey through this entangled web of murder.

Crime Scene Photos

Photographs of the body of Mr. Andrew Jackson Borden

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Courtesy of Stefani Koorey

Abby Durfee (Gray) Borden

Photographs of the body of Mrs. Abby Durfee (Gray) Borden

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Courtesy of Stefani Koorey

Photographs of the crime scene rooms and suspected weapon

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            Hatchet

Courtesy of Stefani Koorey

Well, folks! As I have stated earlier, the following information that you are about to review are the detail police reports taken on the morning of August 4 and the days that followed. It is with great anticipation for one to expose the hidden truth that is within such reports for which one gains the ability to suffice justice. So without further delay, please do allow us to begin our analysis of such reports as to investigate the very nature that it holds within.

Officer George W. Allen

August 4, 1892

Marshal’s orders given to Officer Allen

11:15 a.m.: The Marshal gave orders to Officer Allen to report to the Borden’s home in quoting Mr. Allen, I want you to go up on Second Street, the house next to Mrs. Buffington’s above Borden Street, and see what the matter is. Officer Allen immediately ran out of the police station and headed directly over to the Borden’s home, meeting up with Mr. Sawyer. Officer Allen then asked Mr. Sawyer to accompany him to the Borden’s home in which Mr. Sawyer did. Upon their arrival at the rear door, they were met by Dr. Bowen who had requested the presence of a police officer. Mr. Sawyer had then identified Mr. Allen as being such and then was given orders by Officer Allen to stand guard at the rear door allowing only police officers to enter.

Officer Allen’s observations

Officer Allen then accompanied Dr. Bowen into the sitting room to view the body of Andrew J. Borden which was lying down on the lounge with his face turned upward in having several deep lacerations across the left side of his face. It was during such time when Dr. Bowen had ordered Officer Allen to report back to the Marshal, informing him of what has transpired in which Officer Allen did by way of running as quickly as possible back to the police station. During Officer Allen’s verbal report to the Marshal, he had explained that Mr. Borden’s face had been cut by an object being possibly a razor. The Marshal then ordered Officer Allen to locate Officer Mullaly in having him report back to the police station which had only taken a few minutes for Officer Allen to complete.

Observations of Mrs. Borden’s body

When Officer Mullaly reported back to the Marshal, he was given orders to report back to the Borden’s home in which he did in having an arrival time of 11:25 a.m. Officer Mullaly arrived at the Borden’s home just before Officer Allen with Officer Doherty being just ahead of both officers. Upon their arrival, they all went upstairs into the guest room with Dr. Bowen being present to observe the body of Mrs. Borden. It was the opinion of Dr. Bowen who stated that Mrs. Borden must have fainted with fright. During such time as to when Dr. Bowen had given his opinion, Officers Mullaly and Doherty turned the body of Mrs. Borden over, and when they viewed her face, Officer Doherty made a remark in saying, My God, her face is all smashed in.

Officer Allen then returned back to the police station to inform the Marshal who then left and began walking in the direction toward the Borden home.

Assistant Marshal John Fleet

August 4, 1892

11:45–12:00 p.m.: Assistant Marshal John Fleet arrives at the Borden home.

Interview with Lizzie Andrew Borden

Lizzie claimed that her father came home between the hours of 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. During such time as to when her father entered into the house, she was up in the barns loft with duration of time being approximately thirty minutes. During such time being between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m., it was Bridget Sullivan who had gone upstairs to her room, leaving Lizzie who was helping Mr. Borden in the sitting room. According to Lizzie, when she had left her father in the sitting room, he was still alive. But after she had returned back into the house from the barn’s loft, her father was dead.

11:00 and 11:15 a.m.: Lizzie does admit that she did not hear nor see anyone around the house or yard during such time. It has also been stated by Lizzie that she recalled a man who had visited the home on the morning of August 4 at about 9:00 a.m. During such a visit, this English-speaking man and Mr. Borden had a discussion about a store for hire. Lizzie only heard their voices, but never actually saw the physical appearance of this man.

2:00 p.m.: Assistant Marshal Fleet inquiries about searching Lizzie A. Borden’s bedroom.

Response: Lizzie declined the search at first due to not wanting to be bothered and that it would make her ill, but with Dr. Bowen already being present, Lizzie had decided to comply. It was the belief of Lizzie that the Assistant Marshal Fleet would not find any form of evidence pertaining to the crime, due to Lizzie always locking her bedroom door which would prevent anyone from placing anything inside her bedroom. Lizzie also disclosed that the last time she saw Mrs. Borden alive was at about 9:00 a.m.

Interview with Bridget Sullivan

10:40 a.m.: Bridget Sullivan observed Mr. Borden entering into the house and walking directly into the dining room toward the window and began looking at some papers that were already in his hand. He then proceeded to walk into the sitting room and sat down on the large chair near the window, leaving Lizzie in the dining room ironing her handkerchiefs.

10:55 a.m.: Bridget Sullivan had walked upstairs to fix her room.

11:05–11:10 a.m.: Lizzie called out for Bridget Sullivan from downstairs saying that father was dead and that Bridget needed to find Dr. Bowen. According to Bridget Sullivan, she was upstairs in her room for no more than ten to fifteen minutes and that she at no time heard anyone either exit or enter into the house nor did she see anyone from her bedroom window.

Interview with John Vinnicum Morse

It was stated by Mr. Morse that on the evening of August 3, he had arrived back at the Borden’s home at 8:30 p.m. with retiring for the evening at 10:00 p.m.

Morning of August 4, 1892

6:00 a.m.: Mr. Morse, who had occupied the guest room, had awakened to begin his day.

7:00 a.m.: Breakfast in the dining room had been served.

8:40 a.m.: Mr. Morse had exited the Borden home and tended to his affairs for that day. His first place of business was at the Post Office where he wrote and mailed a letter before walking over to Third Street then onto Bedford Street over to Pleasant Street and finally arriving at 4 Weybosset Street.

9:30 a.m.: Mr. Morse visited with his niece and nephew.

11:20 a.m.: Mr. Morse exited 4 Weybosset Street and had taken a horse car that dropped him off on the corner of Pleasant and Second Streets.

12:00 p.m.: Mr. Morse arrived at the Borden’s home and observed a number of people being present, hearing the news about the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Borden.

Mr. Morse and the Assistant Marshal Fleet had a difference in opinion in respect to a theorized version of someone having been already hiding inside the house prior to the murders. According to Mr. Fleet, he had disagreed with that theory in believing that such an event could possibly have taken place without discovery. But for Mr. Morse who was puzzled by the fact that such a crime could be committed during the daytime and in a location that was at the heart of the city was seemingly possible. The base of Mr. Morse’s theory was in reference to an unsolved murder that had taken place in the city some twenty to twenty-five years earlier involving the Nathan family.

Officers Philip Harrington and Patrick H. Doherty

August 4, 1892

Officer’s investigation

11:35 a.m.: Officer Doherty arrived at the Borden home accompanied by Mr. Frank Wixon and meeting with Dr. Seabury W. Bowen at the kitchen door with Dr. Bowen being relieved of Officer Doherty’s arrival. It was Dr. Bowen’s opinion that Mrs. Borden had died from fright upon observing her husband (Mr. Borden) being killed. When Officer Doherty entered into the guest room, he had observed the body of Mrs. Borden lying down in a pool of blood being between the dressing case and the bed including blood spots and a large tuft of hair that was located on top of the bed. He also believed that such an act of this was surely committed by the use of an instrument, such as an axe, cleaver, or something of that nature. Officer Doherty then requested for Mr. Wixon, Dr. Bowen, and a news reporter to stay with the bodies so that he could report back to the Assistant Marshal.

Interview with Lizzie Andrew Borden and Bridget Sullivan

10:50 a.m.: Bridget Sullivan stated that she had opened up the door to allow Mr. Borden to enter into the house. Once Officer Doherty heard this statement from Miss Sullivan, he immediately began a full search of the premises, starting from the attic with finishing in the cellar. During such search, there were no weapons found nor were there any persons hiding within the home. When asked of Miss Lizzie regarding someone being inside the home prior to the murders, she responded in saying that she heard of no one and was inside the barn during such time, as did Miss Sullivan who was upstairs in her room, the attic.

Officer Doherty had concluded that Miss Lizzie had no suspicious on the farmhands, and according to Miss Lizzie, she did not see the man who called about a store nor did she explain how she knew it was him who came to the house a second time.

An interview with Lizzie Andrew Borden inside her bedroom, witnessed by Alice Manley Russell

Lizzie’s statement: Saw Father sitting down reading the paper upon his return from the post office and then I went out to the barn. I stayed in the barn for twenty minutes, and when I returned back to the house, I discovered Father was dead. I saw no one in the yard nor did I hear any noise, not even the opening or closing of a door. Miss Lizzie, then being hesitant, suspected no one of the crime and believed that this was not a robbery due to nothing being taken from the home and the ring on Mr. Borden’s finger was untouched.

A few weeks prior to August 4, Miss Lizzie speaks of a man who had visited the home and had a heated conversation with her father before leaving. She states that she had never seen such a man but only heard the tone of their voices, leading her to believe that things between them were unpleasant.

She continues on in saying that about two weeks prior to the fourth of August, the same man called and had an animated conversation with her father regarding a store that he would not allow this man to have. At that point, they both separated and her father said, Well, when you are in town again, come up, and I will let you know about it.

When Miss Lizzie made such statements as these, she was then cautioned by Officer P. Harrington not to give a full statement at this time due to the atrociousness of the crime affecting her mental condition and that she should wait until tomorrow (8/5/1892) for she may have a better recollection of this man who wish to hire a store, being able to better recite of what she knows. Lizzie then declined to stop the interview in believing that she could, in fact, continue on.

When the officers performed a visual observation of both Miss Lizzie and Miss Russell, they had determined throughout the entire interview of Miss Russell appearing to be very pale with a much agitated state and showing signs of short but sharp breaths with the wringing of her hands. Miss Lizzie, who was standing at the foot of the bed, appeared to be in a calm and collective manner with whole bearing being most remarkable under the circumstances with having the least agitation in showing no signs of sorrow, grief, lamentation of the heart, and having no comment regarding the horror of the crime and no expression of having a criminal being captured. Officer P. Harrington believed that Lizzie was not forthcoming with her answers.

Officer Harrington’s observation and search

12:15 to 12:20 p.m.: Officer Harrington had a conversation with Miss Lizzie about five minutes after his arrival with having a fixed time of being between 12:20 or 12:25 p.m. The officer observed Lizzie wearing a striped house