The mystery of Lizzie Borden: House of Dead continues to captivate, a chilling reminder of the dark secrets that can lurk within the walls of an ordinary home. The unanswered questions and the lingering atmosphere of dread ensure that the story of Lizzie Borden will continue to fascinate for generations to come.
Lizzie Andrew Borden, an American woman, was acquitted of the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in her own house near Fall River, Massachusetts. The case has fascinated the public for over a century, not only because of its gruesome details but also due to the infamous rhyme associated with it:
Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
While many believe Lizzie was the perpetrator, the truth remains shrouded in mystery. Notably, no other suspects were ever seriously considered, and Lizzie was ostracized by her community. Despite this, she chose to spend the rest of her life in Fall River. Lizzie had an older sister, Emma, who was known for her gentle nature. Emma passed away shortly before Lizzie, who died of pneumonia in 1927.
After Lizzie’s death, the trials and details of the murders gained widespread publicity, becoming a staple of American popular culture. The case has been depicted in numerous films, books, and literary works, particularly in the Fall River area. This enduring cultural fascination all leads back to the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
Characters
- Lizzie Borden (Protagonist)
- Andrew Borden
- Role: Lizzie’s father and one of the victims.
- Emma Borden
- Role: Lizzie’s older sister, who supported her during the trial but later distanced herself.
- Abby Borden
- Role: Lizzie’s stepmother and the second victim.
- Maggie Sullivan
- Role: The Borden family maid, whose testimony provided key insights into the household dynamics.
Lizzie’s Life Before the Murders
Picture this: Fall River, Massachusetts, 1860. On July 19th, Lizzie Andrew Borden was born into a family that would eventually reside in what would become the infamous Lizzie Borden: House of Dead. Her parents, Sarah Anthony Borden (née Morse) and Andrew Jackson Borden, were central figures in her life, but it was her father’s journey that shaped the family’s legacy, laying the groundwork for the tragic events that would later haunt their home. Andrew, of English and Welsh ancestry, came from a well-known local family, but his early years were marked by financial struggles. Despite these humble beginnings, he worked tirelessly to build his fortune, starting with the furniture and casket business before expanding into real estate development.
Andrew’s success was extraordinary, a stark contrast to the grim fate that would befall his household within the walls of what would later be known as the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead. He became a director of multiple textile mills, acquired significant commercial properties, and held leadership roles, including president of Union Savings Bank and director of Durfee Safe Deposit and Trust Co.
By the time of his murder in 1892, within the very space that would earn the moniker Lizzie Borden: House of Dead, his estate was valued at 300,000—equivalent to nearly 10 million today. His rise from hardship to wealth was remarkable, but it also created a complex family dynamic that would later play a role in the tragic events of 1892, forever transforming their home into a symbol of a chilling mystery.
Maggie’s Statement
The Borden family maid, Maggie Sullivan, testified that Lizzie and Emma, the daughters of Mr. Borden, rarely ate meals with their parents, highlighting the strained family dynamics. In May 1892, Andrew killed several pigeons in his granary using a hand axe, also known as a hatchet. He believed the pigeons were attacking local children, though the act was not intentional. Lizzie, who had been caring for the pigeons and building a nest for them, was deeply upset by their deaths.
Maggie also recounted a family argument in July 1892, leading to Lizzie and Emma’s extended vacation. Upon their return, Lizzie’s decision to stay in a rented house for four days before coming back to the family residence raised questions, especially considering the tragic events that soon followed in what would be known as the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
Family Tensions and Financial Disputes
Tensions had been brewing in the Borden household before the murders, particularly over Andrew’s decision to gift various properties to Abby’s family. His sister-in-law received a house, which angered Lizzie and Emma. The sisters demanded and received a property they had lived in with their mother, purchasing it from their father for just $1 before the murders, they decided to sell the property back to their father for $ 5,000—equivalent to about $180,000 today.
The night before the murders, John Vinnicum Morse, Lizzie and Emma’s maternal uncle, visited the family. He was invited to stay for a few days to discuss business matters with Andrew, particularly regarding property transfers. This visit further aggravated the already tense situation within the walls of the house, where the chilling narrative of the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead was about to unfold.
Mysterious Illness Before the Murders
In the days leading up to the murders, the entire Borden family fell violently ill. One of their family friends had left mutton on the stove, which was later identified as the cause of the illness. This mysterious sickness added another layer of unease to the household, setting the stage for the tragic events that followed.
Lizzie Borden: House of Dead
Thursday 4th August, 1892
John Vinnicum Morse, Lizzie and Emma’s maternal uncle, arrived on the evening of August 3rd and stayed in the guest room that night. The next morning, after breakfast, the family gathered in a room for discussion. Andrew, John, Abby, and the maid, Maggie Sullivan, were present, and they chatted for nearly an hour. John left the room around 8:48 a.m. to visit his niece in Fall River, planning to return to the Borden home by noon for lunch. Andrew also left the room for his morning walk shortly after 9:00 a.m.
Cleaning the guest room was one of Lizzie and Emma’s regular chores. Abby went upstairs between 9:20 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to clean her room and make the bed.
According to forensic investigations, the killer was waiting for Abby in her room. As she entered, she was struck on the side of the head with a hatchet, the blow cutting just above her ear. She collapsed to the floor, and the attacker delivered 17 more blows, primarily to the back of her head, brutally ending her life.
Andrew returned home around 10:30 a.m. but found the door jammed when he tried to unlock it. He knocked, and Maggie Sullivan went to open the door. Sullivan later stated that she heard Lizzie laughing immediately after this incident. Although she didn’t see Lizzie, she claimed the laughter came from upstairs. At this point, Abby was already dead, her body lying on the second floor. When Andrew asked Lizzie about Abby’s whereabouts, Lizzie claimed that a messenger had come to take Abby to visit a sick friend.
Maggie Sullivan recounted helping Andrew get comfortable by removing his boots and slipping on his slippers before he lay down for a nap on the sofa. However, crime scene photos later contradicted her account, clearly showing Andrew still wearing his boots at the time of his death. Maggie also testified that she was exhausted and resting on the third floor after a long morning of cleaning windows when, just before 11:10 a.m., she heard Lizzie’s frantic voice calling from downstairs: “Maggie, come quick! Father’s dead. Somebody came in and killed him!” The urgency in Lizzie’s voice suggested something terrible had happened.
Downstairs, the scene was nothing short of gruesome, a true reflection of the horrors that defined the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead. Andrew was found slumped on the couch in the sitting room, brutally struck ten or eleven times with a hatchet-like weapon. One of the blows had split his eye in two, indicating he was likely asleep when the attack occurred. The wounds were still bleeding, suggesting the murder had taken place just moments earlier.
Dr. Bowen, the family physician who lived across the street, arrived promptly and confirmed that both Andrew and Abby were dead. Detectives later estimated that Andrew had been killed around 11:00 a.m., painting a chilling picture of the horrifying event that sealed the fate of the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
Investigation in Borden’s House
Lizzie’s statements to the police, within the confines of what was now a crime scene in the Borden’s House of Dead, were riddled with inconsistencies, leaving investigators puzzled. Initially, she claimed to have heard a groan, a scraping noise, or a cry for help before entering the house. However, just two hours later, she changed her story, insisting she had heard nothing and walked in without suspecting anything was wrong, adding to the growing mystery within the infamous dwelling.
When questioned about her stepmother’s whereabouts, Lizzie mentioned that Abby had received a note asking her to visit a sick friend. She then suggested that someone check upstairs, implying Abby might have already returned to the house. Sullivan and a neighbor, Mrs. Churchill, began ascending the stairs, and as they reached the second floor, they discovered Abby lying face down on the guest room floor—a grim and unsettling sight.
Many officers found Lizzie’s demeanor during questioning deeply unsettling. Some described her as overly composed, even indifferent, which struck them as unusual given the circumstances. Despite her shifting alibis and odd behavior, she was never checked for bloodstains. Police conducted a brief search of her room but admitted during the trial that it was only a cursory inspection, as Lizzie had claimed she wasn’t feeling well. This lack of thoroughness later drew significant criticism, with many questioning the investigators’ diligence in handling such a critical case within the now notorious Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
The Basement Discovery
In the basement, officers discovered a collection of tools, including two hatchets, two axes, and a hatchet-head with a broken handle. The hatchet-head quickly became the focus of suspicion, as the break in the handle appeared fresh, and the tool itself seemed to have been deliberately covered in dust and ash to make it look older. Strangely, none of these tools were collected as evidence. Yet, within the silence of those uncollected tools, a whisper remained—a chilling prelude to the secrets that would forever bind the basement’s shadows to the enigma of the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
Other Leads and Rumors
Investigators explored other leads, including the mysterious illness that had afflicted the household before the murders. They tested the family’s milk and even the victims’ stomach contents—removed during autopsies conducted in the Borden dining room—for traces of poison, but no toxins were found.
Adding to the growing suspicion, rumors swirled that Lizzie had attempted to purchase diluted hydrocyanic acid from a local druggist. Her explanation, that she needed it to clean her furs, was met with skepticism. A medical examiner’s testimony that the substance lacked antiseptic properties only deepened the shadows of doubt surrounding her involvement. And in the silence that followed, one could almost imagine her intent: to claim the house, to reshape its narrative. To make the home into her own with a name of Lizzie Borden: House of Dead, a testament to her dominion, a chilling monument to secrets that would forever haunt its rooms.
The Night After the Murders
The night after the murders, the atmosphere in the Borden home remained tense. Alice Russell, a close friend of Lizzie and Emma, stayed with the sisters to offer support, while their uncle, John Morse, spent the night in the attic guest room—contrary to later claims that he had slept in the room where Abby was killed.
On August 5th, Morse attempted to leave the Borden home but was met by an angry and chaotic crowd. The situation grew so volatile that police had to escort him back inside for his safety.
Police officers kept watch around the house, and one of them later reported seeing Lizzie and Alice go down to the cellar. Lizzie was carrying a kerosene lamp and a slop pail. The officer observed both women returning from the basement, but moments later, Lizzie went back down alone. Though he couldn’t see exactly what she was doing, he noted that she appeared to be bent over the sink, raising questions about her actions that night. From that day, the case is famous in the name of Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
August 5th: Chaos and Further Investigation
The following day, investigators conducted a more thorough search of the house, examining the sisters’ clothing and finally confiscating the broken-handled hatchet head from the basement. That evening, a police officer and the mayor arrived at the residence to officially inform Lizzie that she was now a suspect in the murders.
The Torn Dress
The next morning, Alice Russell entered the kitchen and was startled to find Lizzie tearing up a dress. Lizzie claimed she was planning to burn it because it had been stained with paint. However, authorities were never able to confirm whether it was the dress she had worn on the day of the killings, leaving this act shrouded in suspicion.
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Court Hearing
The hearing took place on August 8th. Lizzie requested to have a family attorney present, but her request was denied due to a state law requiring inquests to be conducted privately. At the time, she was consuming daily doses of morphine to calm her nerves amid the chaos surrounding her. However, these doses likely influenced her testimony, making her appear erratic and unreliable.
During the hearing, Lizzie’s behavior was inconsistent and unpredictable. At times, she flat-out refused to answer questions, even when doing so might have helped her case. Her accounts of her whereabouts also kept changing. At one point, she claimed she was in the kitchen reading a magazine when her father returned home. Later, she said she was ironing in the dining room, and then she insisted she was coming down the stairs. These contradictions only added to the confusion and suspicion surrounding her, deepening the enigma that shrouded the events within the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
The district attorney took an aggressive approach during the inquest, pressing Lizzie with intense questioning. This ultimately led to her arrest and jailing. Her inquest testimony, which became a key point of debate over her guilt or innocence, was later ruled inadmissible at her trial in June 1893, leaving the secrets of the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead further obscured from the legal proceedings
Media Attention and Public Reaction
Newspapers closely followed the case, with some describing Lizzie as having a “stolid demeanor,” while others noted moments where she appeared visibly anxious—biting her lips, flushing, or leaning toward her attorney. Some of her supporters even began to waver after hearing the details of her testimony. The case garnered nationwide attention, with The Boston Globe publishing a detailed three-page article on the proceedings, fueling the public’s fascination with the mysteries surrounding the Lizzie Borden: House of Dead.
Grand Jury and Indictment
A grand jury convened on November 7th to review the evidence. By December 2nd, Lizzie Borden had been formally indicted for murder, setting the stage for one of the most infamous trials in American history.
Later Life
After enduring the turmoil of the trial and the public scrutiny that followed, Lizzie and Emma decided to start anew in the Hill neighborhood of Fall River. They built a modern, luxurious home where they hoped to live a peaceful life. Lizzie chose to reinvent herself, adopting the name Lizbeth A. Borden. Their new residence, which Lizzie named “Maplecroft,” was a grand and well-staffed home, complete with live-in maids, a housekeeper, and a coachman. Financially, the sisters were well-off.
Since Abby had been legally declared to have died before Andrew, her estate was transferred to him first and then passed on to Lizzie and Emma upon his death. However, a significant financial settlement was made to Abby’s relatives to resolve any disputes over the inheritance.
The Fractured Relationship
In 1905, tensions between Lizzie and Emma reached a breaking point. The rift reportedly began over a party Lizzie hosted for actress Nance O’Neil, which Emma disapproved of. The disagreement escalated to such an extent that Emma moved out of Maplecroft shortly afterward. She never spoke to Lizzie again, marking the end of their once-close relationship. This irreparable fracture left Lizzie to live out the rest of her days under the shadow of her past, isolated and ostracized by much of society.
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