Further Reading for Lizzie Borden
The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson
The Borden Murders by Sara Miller
The murder case of Lizzie Borden is among the best known in the United States resulting in a lasting folk mythology for its brutality and seeming randomness. Lizzie, herself, was suspected of the murders and was eventually tried for the crime but was acquitted by the jury. In spite of her status and notoriety, she remained in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the murders took place, and stayed there until her death of pneumonia in 1927. The crime remains unsolved to this day, though an entire cottage industry of theory and speculation has risen up to the meet the public’s demand for answers.
On August 4th, 1892, the bodies of Andrew Borden and Abby Borden were found in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Both were murdered not with an axe as the schoolyard tale supposes, but with a hatchet. Investigators strongly believed that Lizzie committed the murder and historians today also believe this, but enough evidence to convict her of the crime was hard to come by, a murder weapon was never produced, and motives were unclear. Lizzie’s account to police changed over time, with later accounts completely contradicting earlier versions. Witness testimony also supported some of her claims which placed her on the family property but not near the scene of the murders.
In many ways, this case was the first of many in the United States which caused a great public sensation. Lizzie Borden was the earliest known progenitor of a case similar to OJ Simpson. As it would happen, Americans are really into true crime as passionate pursuit.
Episodes: 475 & 476
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