The History
The Borden family lived at 230 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, a modest Victorian home that belied their considerable wealth. Andrew Borden was one of the richest men in Fall River, worth the equivalent of $12 million today, yet he was notoriously frugal. The family home had no indoor plumbing and was located in an unfashionable part of town.
Tensions in the household were severe. Lizzie and her older sister Emma resented their stepmother, Abby Durfee Gray, and the family dynamics were strained. In the days before the murders, the family was sick from food poisoning, and Lizzie had attempted to buy prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) from a local pharmacy, though the druggist refused to sell it to her.
The Crime
On the sweltering morning of August 4, 1892, someone entered the upstairs guest room and struck Abby Borden 19 times with a hatchet-like weapon while she was making the bed. She fell face-down and died on the floor. Approximately 90 minutes later, Andrew Borden was attacked as he napped on the sitting room sofa, struck 11 times in the face.
Lizzie claimed to have been in the barn during both attacks. The timeline of events and Lizzie's inconsistent statements made her the prime suspect. She was arrested and tried in June 1893 in one of the first major media trials in American history.
After 13 days of testimony, the all-male jury deliberated for just 90 minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty. No one else was ever charged. Lizzie inherited a fortune and moved to a larger home in Fall River's affluent neighborhood, where she lived until her death in 1927.
Key Facts
The Famous Rhyme
"Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, gave her father forty-one." The actual number of blows was 19 and 11.
The Burned Dress
Three days after the murders, Lizzie was seen burning a dress in the kitchen stove, claiming it had paint on it. This became key evidence at trial.
The Murder Weapon
A handleless hatchet found in the basement was presented as the murder weapon. The defense argued the missing handle could have been broken during an unrelated task.
Modern Theories
Alternative suspects include the maid Bridget Sullivan, Lizzie's uncle John Morse, and even Lizzie's sister Emma. DNA testing of crime scene evidence has been inconclusive.
What's There Now
Stay at the Lizzie Borden House
Address: 230 Second Street, Fall River, MA
Status: Bed and breakfast museum, open for overnight stays and daytime tours year-round.
Highlights: Sleep in the rooms where the murders occurred. The house has been restored to its 1892 appearance. Ghost tours and paranormal investigation events are offered regularly.
Tip: Book the "John Morse Room" — it's the guest room where Abby Borden was found. Overnight stays include a full breakfast featuring the same meal the Bordens ate on the morning of the murders.
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