The Borden Murders
On the morning of August 4th 1892, in Fall River Massachusetts, a double murder took place. Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were both found hacked to death. Andrew Borden was found in the living room with evidence of eleven blows to the head and Abby Borden was found in the guest bedroom with evidence of eighteen blows. A handleless hatchet was found in the basement, clean of blood. At the time of the murder, Andrew’s eldest daughter, Emma, was out of town. His youngest, Lizzie, claimed to be in the backyard barn, the maid, Maggie, was taking a nap in her room and Andrew’s brother-in-law was not seen.
The body of Andrew Borden was found by Lizzie who called for the maid, Maggie, who went to get help. Whilst Maggie was fetching a neighbour, Lizzie allegedly heard Abby Borden upstairs. Maggie went to see her and found her dead in the guest bedroom. Lizzie was noted, by Maggie, to be in a blue, unstained dress.
Nobody was ever charged with the murder due to lack of evidence.
Theory One: Lizzie killed her father and stepmother. Andrew Borden was rich but forced his family to live quite frugally. Five years before the murders, Lizzie had a falling out with Abby over the fact that Andrew had bought a house for her half-sister, instead of Lizzie and Emma. After this argument, Lizzie refused to call Abby Mother and instead referred to her as Mrs Borden. Evidence that pointed to Lizzie, includes, her burning a dress not long after the murders, but not the dress she was seen in on the day of the murders. The day before, Lizzie had also tried to buy a poison called Prussic Acid. There was a trial and despite giving inconsistent answers and the public’s opinion, Lizzie was acquitted.
Theory Two: John Morse killed Andrew and Abby Borden. John Morse was not seen between the times of nine and twelve and his alibi included the Doctor who was at the Borden house at the time. According to Lizzie’s testimony, John Morse knew about Andrew Borden’s will. He also had motive, Andrew Borden and he had a failing livestock business. Morse was also a trained butcher and it is theorised that he used a meat-cleaver as a weapon.
Theory Three: Maggie and Lizzie were accomplices. This theory appears in a lot of media adaptations. Lizzie reportedly had a crush on an actress later in life, so it is not a stretch to believe that Lizzie and Maggie were lovers. They were each other’s alibis.
The Borden murders fascinate me, mostly due to the large number of people, then and now, who believe Lizzie was responsible for the murders. The nursery rhyme and different adaptations have turned Lizzie into some sort of bogeyman. Many adaptations have also chosen to believe that Lizzie and Maggie were lovers and come up with many different motives to fit that theory. However, it is still, officially, unsolved and I love an unsolved mystery.
