Facts about Lizzie Borden

Lizzie Andrew Borden was an American woman who was tried and acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 4, 1892. No one else was charged in the murders, and Borden remained in Fall River for the rest of her life, despite the ostracism of other residents.

Lizzie and her father may have had a falling out over pigeons that he had killed in the month before the murders.

Lizzie and her sister Emma both took long vacations in July, but Lizzie returned first.

Lizzie’s father and stepmother were murdered on August 4, 1892, but she was not charged until December 2nd, 1892.

Lizzie set fire to a dress on August 7th, claiming it was covered in paint.

When the police searched the house after the murders, they did not take the axes found in the basement, nor did they examine Lizzie for blood splatter.

During the investigation, the police were chastised for their lack of diligence.

Lizzie attempted to purchase poison on August 3rd, one day before the murders, according to a pharmacist.

On August 8th, an inquest was held, but Lizzie had been given morphine to calm her, and her erratic behavior and inconsistent testimony may have contributed to her death.

Lizzie Borden’s trial began in New Bedford on June 6, 1893.

During the trial, it was revealed that a similar axe murder had occurred in the area, but the murderer in that case was out of the country at the time of Andrew and Abby Borden’s murder.

Bridget Sullivan (the maid), William Borden (Andrew’s illegitimate son), Emma Borden (Lizzie’s sister), and John Morse (Lizzie’s uncle on her mother’s side) have all been mentioned as possible suspects.

Lizzie Borden was acquitted by a jury on June 20th. The trial has received the same amount of attention as the trials of Bruno Hauptmann, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and OJ Simpson.

Nobody else was ever charged in connection with the murders.

Lizzie and her sister Emma used money from their father’s estate to buy a house.

Lizzie’s sister left the house in 1905 and never spoke to Lizzie again, possibly because Lizzie had a close friendship with a woman or because she learned details about the murders.

Lizzie Borden died of pneumonia on June 1, 1927, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Emma, her younger sister, died a few days later in New Hampshire.