On August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden (age 69, wealthy businessman) and his wife Abby Borden (age 64, Lizzie's stepmother) were found bludgeoned to death in their home at 92 Second Street, Fall River, Massachusetts. Abby was killed first — struck 19 times with a hatchet-like weapon while making a bed in the upstairs guest room. Andrew was killed approximately 90 minutes later — struck 11 times while napping on a downstairs couch. Lizzie Borden (age 32, Andrew's unmarried daughter) was the only known person in the house during both murders other than the maid, Bridget Sullivan, who was washing windows outside. Lizzie reported finding her father's body at approximately 11:10 AM. Lizzie was arrested on August 11, 1892 after giving inconsistent statements to police and at the inquest. She was charged with both murders. The trial began on June 5, 1893, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Despite the strong circumstantial case, Lizzie was acquitted on June 20, 1893. No one else was ever charged.
Crime Scene Evidence and Autopsy Reports
Medical Examiner Dr. William Dolan testified: Abby Borden was struck 19 times on the back of the head, face, and neck with a sharp, heavy instrument consistent with a hatchet. She was found face-down in the upstairs guest room. Blood pooling and coagulation indicated she died between 9:00–9:30 AM. Andrew Borden was struck 11 times on the left side of his face and head while lying on the downstairs sofa. He died between 10:45–11:00 AM. The 60–90 minute gap between deaths is critical: the killer remained in or near the house, undetected, between murders. No signs of forced entry. Nothing was stolen (Andrew had $80 in cash on his person). The attack on Andrew was so violent his face was nearly unrecognizable — one eye was split in half.
Lizzie's Inconsistent Statements
In the days following the murders, Lizzie gave multiple contradictory accounts: To police on August 4: said she was "in the barn loft" for approximately 20 minutes during the time her father was killed — looking for sinkers for a fishing trip. Police tested this: the barn loft was stiflingly hot (over 110F), dusty with undisturbed dust on the floor, and no footprints were found. At the inquest (August 9–11): Lizzie changed her story multiple times — first she was in the barn, then she was downstairs, then she came in from outside. She could not explain why she did not hear 19 hatchet blows killing her stepmother (Abby was 200-pound woman whose body fell to the floor). She said she had a "good relationship" with Abby, but other witnesses testified she refused to eat meals with her stepmother and referred to her as "Mrs. Borden," not "Mother."
The Handleless Hatchet
Police found a hatchet head in the basement with its handle freshly broken off — the break was clean and the wood looked new (not aged like the rest of the tools). The blade was 3.5 inches wide, consistent with the wound measurements. However: no blood, hair, or tissue was found on the blade despite extensive testing. The hatchet appeared to have been covered in ash (possibly to disguise blood stains, or simply from being stored near the furnace — disputed). The broken-off handle was never found. Prosecution argued: the killer broke off the bloody handle and burned it in the kitchen stove (Lizzie was seen near the stove that morning). Defense argued: a handleless hatchet with no blood evidence proves nothing — the actual murder weapon was never found and was likely carried away by an unknown intruder.
The Burned Dress Incident
On Sunday, August 7 (three days after the murders), Lizzie was observed by her friend Alice Russell burning a light-blue cotton dress in the kitchen stove. Russell testified she said to Lizzie: "I wouldn't let anybody see me do that, Lizzie." Lizzie replied: "Oh, why did you let me do it? It was covered in paint." Police had searched Lizzie's wardrobe on August 5 and inventoried her dresses — they did not recall a light-blue cotton dress being among them. Prosecution: Lizzie burned the dress she wore during the murders to destroy blood evidence. Defense: the dress was genuinely paint-stained (the house had been painted recently), and Lizzie was openly burning it in front of witnesses — hardly the behavior of someone destroying murder evidence.
Attempted Prussic Acid Purchase
Pharmacist Eli Bence testified that on August 3, 1892 — the day before the murders — Lizzie came to his drugstore and attempted to purchase prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide), claiming she needed it to clean a sealskin cape. Bence refused the sale because prussic acid was a deadly poison requiring a prescription. Two other pharmacy employees corroborated Bence's account. The trial judge ruled this evidence inadmissible because the murders were committed with a hatchet, not poison — therefore the poison purchase was irrelevant and prejudicial. This was considered the prosecution's most damaging exclusion. Defense argued: even if true, attempting to buy poison and then using a hatchet shows the events are unconnected.
Bridget Sullivan (Household Maid, Prosecution)
Irish immigrant maid who worked for the Borden family for 3 years; the only other person confirmed in or around the house during the murders
I was washing windows outside that morning. I came in around 10:30 and went upstairs to my room to rest because I was feeling ill. I did not see anyone enter or leave the house. Miss Lizzie was downstairs when I came in. She seemed calm. I heard nothing unusual. She called me down about 11:10 saying her father was dead. I did not go upstairs until police arrived and found Mrs. Borden.
Alice Russell (Lizzie's Friend, Prosecution)
Close friend of Lizzie Borden; stayed at the Borden house after the murders to comfort the family; witnessed the dress burning
On Saturday evening before the murders, Lizzie came to my house very upset. She said: "I feel something hanging over me — I can't tell what it is." She said her father had enemies. She said she was afraid someone would burn the house down or poison them. Then on Sunday morning after the murders, I saw her at the kitchen stove tearing a dress and putting it in the fire. I said "Lizzie, I wouldn't let anybody see me doing that." She said it was covered in paint. But I was troubled by it.
Lizzie Borden (Defendant — did not testify at trial)
Unmarried daughter of Andrew Borden, age 32; active in church and charitable organizations; lived at home with father, stepmother, and sister Emma; known to have strained relations with stepmother
Lizzie did not testify at trial (as was her right). Her inquest testimony — given without counsel present while she was effectively under arrest — was ruled inadmissible by the trial court. From her inquest: "I was in the barn loft looking for sinkers. I was there perhaps 20 minutes. I heard no noise from the house. When I came back I found my father on the sofa, dead. I did not go upstairs. I called Bridget." When pressed on contradictions, she said: "I am so confused — I do not know what I did that morning." On her relationship with her stepmother: "I always called her Mrs. Borden. We were not close. But I bore her no ill will."
Commonwealth v. Lizzie Borden (1893)
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