Well, I'm a proud mother hen.. The last days of my daughter's senior high school year our upon us, and she has been a busy girl! The last few weeks she has been keeping me busy with prom plans, award ceremonies, plays...etc.. She won a few certificates the last few days for her Thespian Theatre engagements, as well as a certificate for Outstanding Defense Attorney for her mock trial classes... She just finished her last project from her mock trial class-a multimedia project, and she chose the trial of Lizzie Borden.
Not only is this case unimaginable and creepy (she wasn't able to work on this project late at night because of the gruesome pictures of the victims), but it still remains to be unsolved. Lizzie Borden was accused of the murders of both her father and step-mother, but was found not guilty for lack of evidence. Sure, she had tried to purchase some poison from the drug store the following day, and sure, she had been seen burning the blue dress she was seen wearing on the day of the murder, the following day...BUT, the ax handle of the murder weapon was not found. No fingerprints, no DNA, case closed. The only other person who was found questionable was the Portuguese (of course) gardener who came to collect his pay that day who was sent away, and told to come the following afternoon. This person was soon cleared. The only other people in the home that day was the maid, and Lizzie. Witnesses did say they had seen two men around the house during the day of the murder, along side the back where the ax was kept near the yard of the Borden home. The defense argued that because of lack of evidence, the accused Lizzie Borden would have had killed both of them while in the nude. Somehow, I don't think that could have happened myself. Do you how modest women back in the late 1800's dressed?! Anyhoo, I wonder, if this trial had taken place today, what would have happened?
Lizzie Borden lived her years alone, unmarried, along with her older sister Emma, and they both died 8 days after one another. They must have had a very tight sisterly bond. Perhaps they were in it together? Who knows..... There is talk that the Borden home is haunted, and it's a Bed & Breakfast?!! Eeeekk..... Did I mention my daughter's name is also Lizzie?
She was a little freaked out by it, and it wasn't until she was in the middle of the project did she regret picking this particular trial. So happens, in Lizzie Borden's later years, she was also involved in theatre arts, which my daughter found a little amusing since it is an interest they both share. Late nights however, over the pictures and story of the case were getting a little frightening for my daughter. I guess she was having those "Emily Dickinson" moments I had experienced when I was her age. You know those moments where you are tired, and every little sound is heard, and eyes in the pictures seem to be staring at you..? Well, my daughter added music to her little project, and one of the songs she chose has a verse that goes.."stabbed in the back"... This particular verse skipped a few too many times one evening.... She ran upstairs, left all the nights on, and left her T.V. and light on... Poor Lizzie, but she got an A+, so I guess it was worth it.
3 comments:
I remember reading a book on Lizzie Borden. Glad the pictures weren't in color. Anytime I see Victorian furniture, I think of that photograph of her father. Seems like old photo make everyone look creepy.
People often bought poisons from pharmacies back then.Usually to kill rats or put down animals. We found a book in my fathers drugstore with records of poisons and who bought them and for what purpose from around the turn of the century.
Historically speaking, aren't women more likely to commit murder with something like poison rather then violence? Maybe I'm thinking suicide! At any rate, if DNA could have been used back thn I'm sure this case would have been solved no problem.
There an old unsolved murder mystery here in NJ invoving the death of a preacher and I think a married woman in his congregation. Have to look it up on the web.
Thanks Teresa for that comment.. Maybe she wanted to kill a pesty mouse or something, but the pharmacist REFUSED to let her purchase it. Hmmm... I wonder why? This would be a great CSI case! Julie
lizzie did it , and I think her sister was in on it.
The father was a skinflint who might have been mean to those girls.
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