Lizzie borden case file

This year marks the th anniversary of the killings. Loveland author Rebecca Pittman holds an original doorknob from Maplecroft, the mansion Lizzie Borden bought after inheriting a fortune from her father and step-mother.

Pittman believes Lizzie's desire for her father's wealth was the reason she committed the murders. Loveland resident Rebecca Pittman believes that, through exhaustive research, she has uncovered new evidence that proves Lizzie Borden really did kill her father and stepmother with a hatchet.

Pittman, is available online at amazon. During her five years of digging deep into historic records and ancestry databases, the author also believes she also uncovered the identities of two men who witnesses spotted at the Borden home the day of the murders — something police were unable to do years ago.

But she believes her research and book actually solve that mystery and prove that a Lizzie, a Sunday school teacher and daughter of a prominent man, got away with murder.

The contents of their stomach were investigated for toxins following death; however, no conclusions were achieved. Lizzie was then arrested on August 11, The hatchet was discovered by the Fall River police; however, it appeared to have been cleaned of any evidence. Therefore, no potential prints were lifted from the murder weapon. Although no blood-stained clothing was found as evidence, it was reported that Lizzie tore apart and burned a blue dress in the kitchen stove a few days following the murder because it was covered in baseboard paint.

Based on the lack of evidence and a few excluded testimonies, Lizzie Borden was acquitted for the murder of her father and stepmother. Following the trial, Lizzie and her sister Emma resided together in a home for the next few years.

Upon questioning from Alice, Lizzie said the dress had been ruined by a paint stain and she was burning it. A secret inquest into the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden began on August 9 and lasted until August After hearing the testimonies of several individuals including Lizzie Borden and Alice Russell, Judge Blaisdell took the decision to charge Lizzie with the murders.

On August 12 Lizzie pleaded not guilty. She was remanded in custody in Taunton Jail. Eventually, Lizzie was charged with three counts of murder and a trial date of June 5, , was set.

Ten months after the brutal murders the trial of Lizzie Borden began. The trial lasted two weeks, starting on June 5, , and ending on June 20, , when an all-male jury found Lizzie not guilty. The prosecution found it difficult to prove a motive for the murders. They argued that Lizzie Borden planned the murders after finding out her father planned to make a new will. John Morse was a key witness called for this claim.

Another problem was that John Morse contradicted his own testimony. No will, new or old, was found. Unfortunately for the prosecution, the evidence they had was ruled inadmissible in court. The judges proceeding the case also ruled out another piece of key evidence for the prosecution. Eli Bence told his story of how Lizzie Borden had attempted to buy poison the day before the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden.

The next day it was ruled that the information had no bearing on the case and should be ignored. The jury took a little over an hour to deliver their not guilty verdict. Despite the verdict, Lizzie Borden was ostracised by the majority of the Fall River community and remained so until her death in Almost one hundred and thirty years have passed since the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Dozens of books, movies and even TV series have been based on the murders, with the main focus almost always on Lizzie Borden over the victims themselves.

One person often in the firing line is the uncle of Lizzie Borden, John Morse. On the face of it, Morse had a perfect alibi that day but oddly this has led to doubts as the alibi was almost too perfect. The timing of his stay along with his behaviour upon returning from his errands have only fueled those who believe he was guilty.

The big question against John Morse is his motive. Morse gained nothing from the murder of Andrew and Abby Borden financially. One theory was that he did it for his sister but by the time of the murders, Andrew and Abby had been married nearly twenty years — so why now?.

The maid Bridget Sullivan has also had her accusers. The most common idea is that Bridget snapped after been forced to clean the windows on a hot day and whilst feeling unwell. Although Lizzie was acquitted in fact, Massachusetts eventually elected to not charge anyone with the murders , her name remains inextricably linked to the case, and she lived out the remainder of her life as a shunned member of the Fall River community.

What makes the trial of Lizzie Borden particularly notable is the degree to which it transpired in the public eye. Indeed, this sensationalized case is considered a predecessor to contemporary legal trials that have provoked public obsession think O. Public fascination with this case has continued into the present day; it has inspired numerous films, stories, plays, and operas. This public obsession has also secured a permanent place for the trial proceedings on the historical record.