What Is The Demise Of Lizzie Borden

A. Facts of case Silas Manning and Willie Barker were arrested in 1958 due to murders of an elderly couple. The prosecutor believed that he had a stronger case against Manning. For this reason, he hoped to use Manning's trial testimony to convict Barker. They asked for a continuance of Barker's trial so that Manning's trial could be completed. Barker did not object to the continuance request (Find Law, n.d.).

For 4 hours, Lizzie gave very confused and contradictory answers to the questions that she answer. After 2 days later, Police Chief Hilliard arrested Lizzie Borden. The next day, Lizzie entered a plea of "Not Guilty" to the charges of murder and was transported by railcar to the jail in Taunton. In August 22, Lizzie returned to a Fall River courtroom for her preliminary hearing, at the end of which Judge Josiah Blaisdell pronounced her "probably guilty" and ordered her to face a grand jury and possible charges for the murder of her parents. The trial of Lizzie Borden opened in June 5, 1893 in the New Bedford Courthouse before a panel of three judges.

The following evidence is what proves Lizzie is not guilty. First, all cases like this must include evidence to find the killer, but none was found against LIzzie to make her guilty. According to Source #1 , “There was no physical evidence linking her to the murders. A hatchet had been discovered in

Lizzie Borden’s Murder Case Lizzie Andrew Borden is the daughter of Andrew and Abby Borden and was accused by many of killing her parents. The murder case is still very famous today because it was the first nationally famous murder. Lizzie’s family consisted of herself, her older sister Emma Borden, step-mother Abby Borden, and her father Andrew Borden. The family also had a live in maid, Bridget Sullivan. On the day of the murder the only people present at the house were Lizzie, Bridget, Abby, and later on Andrew, which caused many people to believe that Lizzie committed the murders.

In Source # 1, it claims, “There was no physical evidence linking her to the murders.” Physical evidence is a significant key during any murder case. When there is a lack of evidence, there is a tough time finding a murder. If there is no evidence on their main suspect, Lizzie Borden, then she shouldn’t be the main suspect. How can you suspect someone with murder without any physical evidence against her?

But then again come to realize her timing on the situation. This puts suspicion on her side towards the fact of it being attempted to be bought the night before the unfortunate murders. So that is one of the many evidence that has been held against Lizzie Borden as she should have been proven guilty not

Even though the wounds were most likely from an ax, any other person could own an ax like used for the injuries. No weapon was found with any blood or evidence to make Lizzie guilty. Lizzie’s personality and emotions play a big part in the case. Lizzie was always a kind-hearted person. She taught Sunday school to little children.

In the trial a lot of evidence came out against Lizzie, like how Lizzie was caught burning her brand new blue dress which supposedly had “ red paint stains “ on it, how she attempted to purchase poison the day before the murder, and how only the hatchet head was found after Lizzie used it the day before. (www.bio.com) From this evidence it seems to be clear Lizzie had been planning to kill her parents and was trying to cover it up. For instance, there was plenty of exiting family conflict such as, Lizzie and Abby always arguing and Lizzie getting angry with her father because of money. Family conflict was a big motive in the trial.

Plus, she also tried to buy poison, but thankfully failed. Was that almost the way she was going to murder? Lizzie had an argument with her parents, just one week before the murders and chose to stay in a separate home for four days. Adding on to having an argument, just a few days before the murders, Lizzie tried to buy toxins. Although the police could not present the purchasing in the trial and the idea that all families have frenzied arguments, Lizzie definitely is guilty.

In addition to a shaky alibi, Lizzie had strange behavior and said strange things before and after the murder took place. An example of that is before the murder happened, she had been seen trying to buy poisonous prussic acid. She claimed it was only for cleaning, but it’s very possible that murder was on her mind. Another thing that happened a day before the murders occurred is that one of Lizzie’s friends, Alice Russell, reported something strange that Lizzie said. According to Alice, Lizzie said, “I feel as if something were hanging over me and I cannot throw it off”.

[Similarly] to Lindy, Elizabeth Diane Downs had been prosecuted for the attempted murder of her two eldest children and the murder of her youngest daughter. [On the contrary to Lindy], Elizabeth was rightfully charged and convicted. She claimed that a strange man had shot her and her children before she could escape him and drive to the hospital, but several witnesses testified and claimed that she drove at a slower pace than one would in her situation. During this time, Elizabeth was in an affair with Robert Knickerbocker, and he informed authorities that Elizabeth had possessed a handgun which investigators soon confirmed. When Christie Downs, Elizabeth’s eldest child, awoke from her coma, she testified against her mother claiming that Elizabeth did indeed shoot her.

Some of the time Lizzie and her sister Emma would not eat with the elder Borden. Lizzie did not eat with them the day so they expert said maybe Lizzie felt she did have to because she was going to kill them (Berni, C. (1997). After, the murder had taken place Lizzie had burnt a dress and then claimed it had red paint on it. Lizzie was know to shoplift from local stores.

First of all, Lizzie Borden is guilty of committing murder because of her strange testimony and alibi. Not only did Lizzie give an odd testimony, but her alibi doesn’t exactly make her seem innocent. According to Source #2, “At the time of her stepmother’s murder (around 9:30 A.M.), household

Held in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the trial of Lizzie Borden contained many suspicious, unusual, and debatable reactions and pieces of evidence, causing the jury to decide on an unlikely verdict of not guilty (Berni 34). From the start, Lizzie Borden provided many inconsistent facts about the murders (Hazell). One example of Lizzie Borden’s changing story relates to the note her stepmother allegedly received prior to her murder. When asked for proof of the letter, Lizzie concluded that she had disposed of it. Ms. Borden’s suspicious stories also included the burning of a dress “stained by paint” and the eating of pears in a barn outside the home on the hottest summer day (Stuart).

There were lots of loose ends and unsolved questions. I am here to convince you that Lizzie did not do it and, that she is innocent. Firstly, imagine being accused of killing your parents. How would that make you feel?