Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. Her stepmother Abby had about 18 axe wounds and her father Andrew had 11 wounds. Lizzie seemed suspicious after the murders due to a bad relationship with her stepmother and burning a smock with "paint" on it. At the trial, Lizzie was found not guilty due to lack of evidence and motive. After being acquitted, Lizzie was still suspected by the town and lived alone for the rest of her life until dying of pneumonia.
2. Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one……
We’re familiar with this childhood
poem, but what really happened?
4. • Abby Borden (step-mother)
• Andrew Borden (father)
• Both mysteriously –and brutally– murdered
The Crime
5. • Abby and Andrew were found in their house– but you
wouldn’t have known who they were
• Abby had about 18 whacks and Andrew 11 whacks – not
quite 81
So, what Happened?
6. • So, who would have killed the
Borden’s? Well, most people
thought Lizzie
• Surrounding the murders, she
seemed very suspicious:
• Bad relationship with step-mother
• Burning smock in fireplace because
of ‘paint’
• Claimed she was inside their shed
The Investigation: Lizzie’s
Arrest
7. • Most people put the blame on Lizzie
• The other options were pretty much anyone else in Fall
River
• Mr. Borden wasn’t well liked in the community.
Suspects
9. • The skulls of Abby & Andrew and the axe found in their shed
• The smock was brought up, but only briefly
The Evidence
10. • Lizzie was found not guilty due to lack of motive and
evidence, even though to this day there are people who
still believe she was the one who murdered Andrew and
Abby
• Lizzie’s sister (Emma) was a witness and told the jury
that she had no motive to kill, and that the rumors of her
having issues with her stepmom were false
Defense & Verdict
11. • After the trial, Lizzie moved to a large house (called
Maplecroft) on top of the hill overlooking Fall River, and
started going by ‘Lisbeth’
• She was ostracized by the town, and looked down upon
by most of the public eye
• She never married, and had many illnesses leading to her
death (from pneumonia)
The Aftermath
12. I agree with the verdict from the jury – not guilty. I think
she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. There
wasn’t any clear evidence, at least none that would point in
the direction of it having been done by Lizzie. Also, the
fact that Andrew was pretty much despised adds to the fact
that it could have been anyone. Yet another case where the
evidence is crucial to the outcome.
My Verdict
