This Week In History: The Axe Murder of Andrew and Abby Borden
On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were killed in Fall River, Massachusetts. Investigators would stumble upon a horrific scene where both were killed with an ax. In searching for a suspect, police landed on Andrew Borden’s 31-year-old daughter Lizzie Borden.
Born in Fall River in July 1860, Lizzie Borden was the daughter of Andrew and Sarah Borden. In May 1863, Sarah Borden died. Three years later, Andrew remarried a woman named Abby Dunfree-Gray. Lizzie and Emma Borden believed Abby was married to their father simply to gain access to his wealth. The sisters addressed her as “Mrs. Borden” despite being their stepmother nearly their entire lives.
The family was prominent in the town due to Andrew’s wealth. Andrew first sold caskets and later became a successful real estate developer. He directed many textile mills and owned many commercial properties. His wealth was an estimated $300,000 at the time of his death. In 2022, that would be just over $9 million.
Despite this, Andrew Borden was known for his frugality. Lizzie desperately wanted to live in an area of Fall River known as ‘The Hill.’ ‘The Hill’ was the wealthier part of Fall River. The Bordens lived in a neighborhood dominated by Irish Catholics. As a member of the Christian Congregational Church and Sunday school teacher, she detested the Irish and other immigrant populations.
They also lacked indoor plumbing-which was commonplace amongst the wealthier population. Emma and Lizzie lived with their father and stepmother into adulthood. On the day of the murder, Emma was out of town
Tensions between the Borden family grew as the years went on. During the week of the murders, the entire Borden family fell ill. They believed this was due to some mutton that was left on their stove for a few days. By the morning of August 4, everyone in the home besides Bridget Sullivan, their Irish maid, was feeling normal.
Once Andrew Borden left for town, Abby Borden decided to begin her daily chores. She climbed the stairs to the second floor of their home to make the bed and clean their guest room. It was then that someone followed Abby Borden upstairs and brutally attacked her with an ax. Abby was first struck on the side of her head and fell to the ground. She was struck 17 more times before her attacker stopped.
When Andrew Borden returned home, he asked where Abby went. Lizzie told her father that Abby received a note about a sick friend and left. Content with that answer, Andrew Borden laid down on the couch. Sullivan also went to her bedroom to rest. Around 11 a.m. Andrew Borden was struck 11 times with the same weapon. In the attack, one of Andrew’s eyes was cut in half. His nose was severed from his face entirely.
Fifteen minutes later, Lizzie Borden’s screaming awoke Sullivan. Lizzie was calling for her, saying her father was dead. Sullivan ran out of the home to find a doctor. The family’s physician, Dr. Bowen, lived across the street and quickly arrived. He also found the body of Abby Borden upstairs. Lizzie’s screaming attracted the attention of many neighbors who called upon the police.
Initially, police did not suspect Lizzie. They considered the murders a “male crime” and first arrested an innocent Portuguese immigrant. A bloody hatchet was found on a nearby farm but was used to kill chickens.
During her interrogation, Lizzie’s story changed multiple times. She first claimed she was searching for iron. Afterward, she claimed she was eating pears in the barn loft. Despite their growing suspicions, there was no physical evidence to prove she committed the murders. Some asked about the note Abby allegedly received. Lizzie told her friend Alice Russell that she believed her stepmother burned it.
The day before the murder, Lizzie attempted to buy poisonous prussic acid at a local pharmacy. She claimed it was for a seal-skin cape. The pharmacist refused to sell it to her, saying she would need a prescription. A few days after the murders, Russell allegedly saw Lizzie burning a dress. She claimed she burned the dress because it was stained with paint and could not be worn.
On August 8, Lizzie attended an inquest hearing where she once more changed her story regarding the murders. On August 11, she was arrested and put in jail by the county’s judge. Lizzie’s trial would begin in June 1893. The story of Lizzie Borden and the murder of her parents quickly became a national story. Media from around the county convened in Fall River to cover the trial.
Many did not accept the idea that someone like Lizzie could kill their parents in such a brutal manner. Members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and various women’s groups defended Lizzie. They said Lizzie would not be able to be judged by a jury of her peers since women could not sit on juries. The small courtroom was packed with supporters, including many women from The Hill.
Her attorneys noted how the prosecution did not offer a murder weapon as evidence. Due to her financial status, Lizzie was able to afford the best lawyers in Massachusetts. One of the co-prosecutors, Hosea Knowlton, knew the trial would be an uphill battle. He tried to do everything in his power to prove she was guilty. His closing argument was five hours long at the end of the trial.
Those living in Fall River were excluded from the jury. Half the jury were farmers, the other half being tradesmen. The final juror owned a metal factory. All were practicing Protestants. It did not take long for the jury to acquit Lizzie. They waited for an extra hour to make it appear as if they hadn’t made a hasty decision.
The audience, her supporters, and even members of the press cheered at her acquittal. Despite the support during her trial, afterward, she was treated as an outcast. Lizzie and Emma bought a home on The Hill soon after the trial. She was shunned from her church and withdrew from social life. She and Emma had a falling out with each other in 1904. Emma moved out in 1905 and the sisters never saw each other again. They died within nine days of each other in 1927.
The murders of Andrew and Abby Borden and the subsequent trial of Lizzie have become infamous in American history. Although she was acquitted, many today are debating whether or not she killed her parents. Most believe Lizzie killed her parents and got away with murder. Some believe Andrew’s “illegitimate” son William killed them with the help of Emma and Lizzie. Others believe the sisters conspired to kill their parents.
Despite the theories, one fact remains true, no one knows exactly who, or why Andrew and Abby were killed in their home, this week in history.
