The following is the basic timeline of the murders:
August 4, 1892 - Fall River, Mass - Andrew and his wife Abby were brutally murdered with an axe or a hatchet.
In 1845 - Andrew married Sarah Morris.
The first daughter was Emma, their second child died at infancy, and in 1860, Elizabeth “Lizzy” was born.
Sara passed away when Lizzy was only two years old.
Andrew remarried to Abby Grey who was a spinster daughter.
Most of the wealthy people of Fall River, built their homes in a region called, “The Hill”, but Andrew decided he wanted to lead a more conservative life and purchased a house downtown living way below his means.
Andrew was a self made man with a $250,000 fortune back in the 1890’s. In 2016, this would be worth approximately 10 million dollars.
The Borden’s did not have modern inventions like gas lights or the telephone, and this made the life for his daughter's difficult to fit in with the more wealthy society.
On the morning of the murders, 5 people were in the house:
Andrew, Abbey, the maid Bridget Sullivan, John Morse - Andrews former brother-in-law, and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Borden.
Emma was out of town staying with friends.
Andrew, Abbey, and John had breakfast together.
Lizzy ate alone.
After finishing her breakfast, Lizzie ironed handkerchiefs.
John Morris left to visit relatives across town.
Abby instructed Bridget (the maid) to wash the windows inside and out.
Abby climbed the front stairs and began cleaning the guest room where John had slept the night before.
Andrew Borden was retired, but still had investments to oversee, he went downtown to check into business matters.
Between 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., someone entered the guest room and attacked Abby Borden. 19 blows to the back of the head with a sharp instrument was the cause of death.
Shortly before 11:00 a.m., Andrew returned home. Bridget had to unlock the front door and let him into the house. She then when up the back staircase to lay down for a nap.
Mr. Borden made his way to the sitting room. According to Lizzie, she helped him take off his shoes and he laid down for a nap.
Lizzy claimed she then went out to the barn. Later she gave various reason why she was out there.
As he laid on the couch, someone struck Andrew Borden in the head 10 times with a sharp instrument.
At around 11:15, Lizzie shouted up the staircase to Bridget, “Come down quick, father is dead, someone came in and killed him.”
The police were called but many of the officers were attending an event at Rocky Point.
The house was searched, police could not find any signs of forced entry or robbery.
Mrs. Churchill (a neighbor) and Bridget found Abbey upstairs.
The police determined that this was not a normal homicide and asked Lizzy if she knew who would of killed her father and mother. Her response was, “She is not my mother, she is my step mother. My mother died when I was young.”
Two days after the murder, Lizzy was informed she was a suspect. “I am ready to go now, she replied.” but the police did not take her into custody.
The day of the murders, they did not find any blood on Lizzy hands or clothing, but the day after she was named a suspect, she burned a dress that she said had paint stains on it.
An inquest was held, and Lizzy gave mixed answers during her testimony.
On August 11, Lizzy was charged and arrested for the crime. One week after the murders.
Lizzy’s trail began in June of the next year, and she was acquitted of the crime and released.
No other person was charged with the crime and the case remains unsolved to this day.
Source(s):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5W3t98q84o
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