Andrew Borden and Lizzie’s stepmother, and Abby Borden were brutally murdered on August 4, 1892. The first victim of the murder was Abby. She left the house, then returned and began tidying her bedroom before she was murdered. Andrew was the next victim following his wife, Abby. He had left the house and went downtown, while everyone else stayed inside the house. Once he returned, he went upstairs to his bedroom …show more content…
In fact, she “tried to buy ten cents worth of prussic acid” (Taylor). This suspicious action made everyone believe that Lizzie had wanted to poison her targets. In addition to this, it is uncommon for someone to go to a corner store and ask for that kind of substance, unless they needed to carry out a task that involved the poison being used as an exterminant. Lizzie especially, was involved with organizations and created a well image for herself (“Borden, Lizzie”). With such a beneficial image, no one suspected her to try and purchase poison. Aside from her trustworthy image, investigators had also discovered that Lizzie had burned a dress she claimed was a stained with paint (“Lizzie Borden”). It is believed that she had worn that dress during the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Borden, and burned the dress to hide the actions she performed. These actions described had made investigators target Lizzie as a suspect …show more content…
There were three judges in the courthouse, including a former governor of Massachusetts. Lizzie Borden was the only suspect taken to trial following the investigation. On top of this, she did not take her own stand. It has been stated that during the trial, “Lizzie watched from behind a fan as the prosecutor described Lizzie as the only person having both the motive and opportunity to commit the double murders,” (User). A witness of the murder was Bridget Sullivan. She was the Borden’s family maid. She had stated that Lizzie was the only one in the house during the time of the murder. Aside from this, she defended Lizzie. It was also stated, “she had not witnessed, during her over two years of service to the family, signs of the rumored ugly relationship between Lizzie and her stepmother,” (User). This confused the judges into believing less of Lizzie being guilty of the murders, and more innocent. Other witnesses such as the store clerk, the doctor, and the people of the town were brought in to testify what they knew about Lizzie Borden and the murders. After all of the testimonies were heard, the judges came up with a decision. “Lizzie Borden was found "not guilty" on all three charges. Public opinion was, by this time, of the feeling that the police and the courts had persecuted Lizzie long enough” (Taylor). Lizzie Borden pleaded not guilty in her