On August 4th, 1892, in Fall River Massachusetts at Second Street, Bridget, the hired girl, was relaxing in her room on a hot summer day. Suddenly, Andrew Borden’s daughter screamed for help and called out to Maggie (Bridget). Responding to the call, Maggie quickly came down from her room only to find that Andrew Borden had been brutally murdered. It is important to note that the Borders referred to Bridget as “Maggie”. At the time of his death, Andrew Borden was a wealthy man who held multiple positions in Fall River – he was a director, landlord, and banker. He resided with his second wife and two daughters when he was viciously attacked with an axe while napping on the sofa.
Andrews was lying on the sofa, with his right side facing upwards and his feet resting on the floor. His head was slightly tilted to the right, and his face appeared injured. One of Andrews’ eyes had been sliced in half and stuck out from his face, while his nose had been severed.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the guest room, Baby, Andrews’ wife, was found dead. The same person who attacked her husband while he slept had killed her using the same weapon.
This brutal crime remains Massachusetts’ most horrifying murder ever committed. Baby, a short and introverted individual who also happened to be overweight, had been murdered using a sharp object—presumably by Mrs. [insert name].
Borden Head was brutally attacked and struck with a sharp weapon multiple times, resulting in eighteen strikes, thirteen of which went through the skull. His body was mutilated and received eleven blows to the head, four of which crushed the skull. The case of Liege Borden has captivated crime enthusiasts for centuries as one of the most well-known incidents in American history involving Andrew and Baby Borden. Despite the horrifying double murder, the trial ended with a verdict of not guilty. On the morning of the murder, Bridget-Maggie started her duties at 6:30 AM and took a break in her room at 10:55 AM. Between 6:15 AM and 10:55 AM, various events occurred including Uncle John and Andrew having breakfast together. During this time period, Liege spent approximately twenty to thirty minutes either in the yard or barn while being at home. In her testimony during the trial, she mentioned going to the barn to get metal for fishing sinkers with plans to join Emma at Fairness for fishing later on. She returned at 11:10 AM only to find her father’s lifeless body. The trial lasted fourteen days from June 5th, 1893 until June 20th, 1893.
After a day of jury selection, twelve middle-aged farmers and tradesmen were chosen as jurors. It took the prosecution approximately seven days to present its case against Liege. Despite having support from religious organizations, some people despised her and believed she was responsible for the terrible murder. At first, there were four suspects in the case; however, one week into the investigation, local authorities arrested Liege Borden and accused her of killing her parents. The media and newspapers became aware of this horrifying crime and started reporting on the trial through news updates. They often referred to it as the “Notorious killing of wealthy family,” which attracted widespread attention.
The newspapers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island extensively covered a horrific crime that occurred in which a respected citizen and his elderly wife were brutally attacked in their own home. However, these newspapers provided contradictory information about who committed the crime and what motivated it. Testimonies surrounding this incident received significant attention, amounting to around five to six pages of coverage. One main suspect named Lezzy was identified as testimonies indicated that he had bought a deadly poison from a drug store in Fall River and had a troubled relationship with the victims. Even after the trial concluded, the New York Times published multiple articles about this case.
The shocking murder story left the entire nation in disbelief, as people questioned how someone could commit such a heinous crime. Speculations arose suggesting that the violent act was motivated by a deep-seated hatred towards the stepmother. The police investigation pointed towards a member of the Borden family as the possible murderer. However, crucial evidence such as blood stains on anyone other than the victims and the murder weapon remained elusive. In November, a grand jury initially decided against indicting anyone but reconvened after Alice Russell provided new evidence. Alice, who had stayed with the Borden sisters in the days following the murders, was a close friend of theirs.
Russell testified before the grand jury that she had witnessed Liege Borden burning a blue dress in the kitchen fire, claiming it was covered in old paint. Bridget Sullivan had previously stated under oath that Liege was wearing a blue dress on the morning of the killings. The grand jurors concluded from this evidence that there was sufficient reason to charge Liege with her parents’ murders. Nevertheless, despite no direct evidence linking her to the crime throughout the entire case, the jury declared Liege not guilty.
Borden. There is no blood or weapon linked to her. As a suspect, Liege likely faced difficulties in determining whether she murdered her parents or not. Every suspect faces challenges from society. Liege Borden, being the daughter of a wealthy father, had access to everything she desired. Some doubted her capacity for murder due to her privileged background. After the trial, Liege and her sister Emma returned to Fall River and bought a large house they named Manipulator.
Despite her interest in acting, she frequently took on minor roles in plays and continued to reside in Fall River until her death at 67. The Borden saga has persisted to this day. Nevertheless, during her trial, Lizzie was incarcerated for approximately 10 months. While in her cell, she received meals, letters, and visits from her sister and friends. This treatment led to the perception that individuals belonging to wealthy classes are always treated more favorably than those from working-class backgrounds.
