Haunted America
The Borden-Winslow House
By: Rob Lefebvre, Anchor Staff
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinions
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
On August 4, 1982, Andrew Jackson Borden and his wife Abby Borden were murdered in their home in Fall River, Mass. They had been killed with several blows to their bodies with a hatchet, Mr. Borden having his head crushed. Their killer still remains a mystery, despite the heavy conjecture that it was their daughter Lizzie Borden. But could Andrew and Abby still be in the house?
According to police reports at the time, the bodies were discovered by Lizzie Borden at around 11:00 that morning. Andrew Borden had been out earlier to go to the post office and the bank. The maid, Bridget Sullivan, said that Lizzie called to her crying that someone killed her father. He was found lying on a couch in the living room. Later, when neighbors and the family's doctor came to see her, Abby Borden's body was discovered in the guest room.
Several people were suspects in the murders. John V. Morse, Andrew Borden's first wife's brother, was visiting the house, but was away at the time of the murders. Emma Borden, Lizzie's sister was also a suspect, but she had been away at the time as well. There were many neighbors who were suspected since Mr. Borden was not very popular among the town but the chief suspect was, of course, Lizzie. Her stories to the police were inconsistent and her behavior was very suspicious. During the investigation, she had been seen burning a dress that she claimed she had smeared paint on and a broken hatchet was found in the house. She was also refused prussic acid by a local druggist who didn't believe her when she said it was to clean a seal skin coat.
There had also been much conflict within the Borden family at the time. According to Sullivan and Emma Borden, there had been numerous arguments, including one about a decision to divide up the property among relatives rather than leave it to the two siblings, in the weeks leading up to the murders. Both Emma and Lizzie left after one heated argument to get away for a while, but Lizzie came back earlier than expected.
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
On August 4, 1982, Andrew Jackson Borden and his wife Abby Borden were murdered in their home in Fall River, Mass. They had been killed with several blows to their bodies with a hatchet, Mr. Borden having his head crushed. Their killer still remains a mystery, despite the heavy conjecture that it was their daughter Lizzie Borden. But could Andrew and Abby still be in the house?
According to police reports at the time, the bodies were discovered by Lizzie Borden at around 11:00 that morning. Andrew Borden had been out earlier to go to the post office and the bank. The maid, Bridget Sullivan, said that Lizzie called to her crying that someone killed her father. He was found lying on a couch in the living room. Later, when neighbors and the family's doctor came to see her, Abby Borden's body was discovered in the guest room.
Several people were suspects in the murders. John V. Morse, Andrew Borden's first wife's brother, was visiting the house, but was away at the time of the murders. Emma Borden, Lizzie's sister was also a suspect, but she had been away at the time as well. There were many neighbors who were suspected since Mr. Borden was not very popular among the town but the chief suspect was, of course, Lizzie. Her stories to the police were inconsistent and her behavior was very suspicious. During the investigation, she had been seen burning a dress that she claimed she had smeared paint on and a broken hatchet was found in the house. She was also refused prussic acid by a local druggist who didn't believe her when she said it was to clean a seal skin coat.
There had also been much conflict within the Borden family at the time. According to Sullivan and Emma Borden, there had been numerous arguments, including one about a decision to divide up the property among relatives rather than leave it to the two siblings, in the weeks leading up to the murders. Both Emma and Lizzie left after one heated argument to get away for a while, but Lizzie came back earlier than expected.
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