This thorough if not deeply riveting account reveals the inner workings of one of the most famous murder trials in American history, which still piques interest, clearly, probably because the crime remains unsolved. It's no secret or spoiler that Lizzie Borden was charged but found not guilty by a jury of twelve men, presided over by three judges, in a venue whose population was fairly split on opinions about whether she was guilty.
The background story involves the gruesome double murder of wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, in the heat of summer, August, 1892, in the modest town of Fall River, Massachusetts. The shocking crime occurred in the family home, in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood in broad daylight, while youngest daughter Lizzie (who wasn't as young as many people often assume: she was 32 at the time, and was considered an aged spinster, as was her older sister, Emma) and maid Bridget were carrying on everyday activities. Eldest daughter Emma was away, and had been visiting friends for a couple of weeks. By all accounts, Lizzie was well-liked and respected in the community, of good reputation; she even served as a Sunday school teacher.
Despite outward appearances, not all was harmonious in the Borden home, however. Apparently, the girls and their stepmother had had something of a falling out, which likewise affected the girls' relationship with their father, described as a fairly harsh and austere man: the home lacked both electricity and even indoor plumbing, both considered typical accommodations and comforts for wealthy, or even middle-class homes at the time. Both the girls had thus spent some time away from home in the wake of a family argument over money which had occurred just about a month prior. There had been some tension in the family, particularly over the role of the girls' stepmother, which had apparently been festering for some time, an opportunity capitalized by the prosecution. Also, a fact which is frequently overlooked, is that the family had been suffering from a bout of illness, believed to have been food poisoning, for several days immediately preceding the murders, leading some to suspect that someone had attempted to intentionally poison them. Suspicion was even aroused when, in hindsight, Lizzie had attempted to purchase prussic acid, a potent and undetectable poison, from a drugstore, she claimed, to treat a sealskin cape.
The most shocking aspect of the crime was the brutality of the event: it was estimated that Andrew had been struck with a sharp object such as an axe or hatchet as he lay sleeping on the sofa some dozen times, and Abby possibly as many as 17 or 18 times. The blows to the head and face, as well as their number, demonstrate extreme rage and overkill, seemingly directed more at Mrs. Borden than at Andrew. It was believed that Abby was killed first, prompting some to yet again suspect that Lizzie had carefully calculated her actions; if he had died first, his estate would have passed to his wife, and, upon her death, to her relatives rather than to his daughters, but it appears that she died nearly a detectable hour before Andrew was killed, which would have meant that the killer remained in or around the house for that length of time, without being seen or heard, or anyone discovering the first crime, which occurred in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The rest of the drama unfolded with many twists and turns, culminating with the highly charged and publicized trial, which, as the book chronicles in detail, eventually resulted in Lizzie's acquittal.
The book is fairly visual, including many photographs of the key players, as well as maps, drawings and documents. It does a good job of highlighting the drama in the courtroom, not that a reader would need to use much imagination, as trials are as much theatrical performances often times as they are legal proceedings, and this one was certainly no exception. Revealing in detail with fairly ample description the strategies of both the masterful legal team deployed to save Lizzie from the gallows, and the dogged determination of prosecutors to see her hanged, the book provides a comprehensive account of the court proceedings, particularly those who testified. All eyes were centered on the defendant; she could not but sneeze or scratch her nose without someone assigning some greater meaning to the gesture!
As other reviewers have noted, however, there isn't much new material in this otherwise capable book. My primary criticism is that it was somewhat dry, excessively so, considering the subject matter. I am relieved that it was not salacious, as was much of the reporting of the day, as there's a fine balance between engaging prose and yellow journalism, but it could have used more of the former. Refreshingly, neither does the book really advocate for Lizzy's guilt or innocence, but presents a fair rendering of the facts and events, and lets the reader decide for themself.
Ultimately, we will never know who was responsible for this terrible deed, which is probably why there remains so much speculation about Lizzie's guilt. What is known is that she went on to lead a fairly normal, if secluded life, despite the tragedy left in her wake. After the trial, Lizzie left the family home and the two sisters moved into a large house in The Hill neighborhood, called Maplecroft. The girls lived in much more comfortable surroundings than at their previous residence, as the house was replete with modern conveniences and was staffed with live-in maids and a coachman.
In one last spasm of family drama: something occurred between the sisters. In 1905, in the wake of a supposed argument over a party that Lizzie had hosted for an actress, Emma moved out of the house, and never saw her sister again, which struck some as odd, as they had been together all their lives. That was thirteen years after the event, however, so it is dubious that it had anything to do with the murders. Lizzie died at age 66, from pneumonia, in 1927, in Fall River, where she had lived her entire life. Whatever she knew about the murders which had occurred decades previously died with her. Curiously, Emma died only nine days later from chronic nephritis at age 76, in a nursing home in New Hampshire, having lived there since 1923. Despite their estrangement, the sisters were buried side by side in the family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery. At the time of her death, Lizzie was worth about $250,000, equivalent to about $5 million today, which was endowed to various charities, and the rest was willed to other relatives.
In the aftermath of the event, numerous books, movies, and plays have been written about this tragic episode in the small New England town more than a century ago, but it seems that there will always be renewed interest. As a side note, the Borden family home is now a popular bed and breakfast, so if you are so inclined, you can stay in the room where Abby was actually murdered, ensuring that the legacy of this dark deed will persist for some time to come.
The background story involves the gruesome double murder of wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, in the heat of summer, August, 1892, in the modest town of Fall River, Massachusetts. The shocking crime occurred in the family home, in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood in broad daylight, while youngest daughter Lizzie (who wasn't as young as many people often assume: she was 32 at the time, and was considered an aged spinster, as was her older sister, Emma) and maid Bridget were carrying on everyday activities. Eldest daughter Emma was away, and had been visiting friends for a couple of weeks. By all accounts, Lizzie was well-liked and respected in the community, of good reputation; she even served as a Sunday school teacher.
Despite outward appearances, not all was harmonious in the Borden home, however. Apparently, the girls and their stepmother had had something of a falling out, which likewise affected the girls' relationship with their father, described as a fairly harsh and austere man: the home lacked both electricity and even indoor plumbing, both considered typical accommodations and comforts for wealthy, or even middle-class homes at the time. Both the girls had thus spent some time away from home in the wake of a family argument over money which had occurred just about a month prior. There had been some tension in the family, particularly over the role of the girls' stepmother, which had apparently been festering for some time, an opportunity capitalized by the prosecution. Also, a fact which is frequently overlooked, is that the family had been suffering from a bout of illness, believed to have been food poisoning, for several days immediately preceding the murders, leading some to suspect that someone had attempted to intentionally poison them. Suspicion was even aroused when, in hindsight, Lizzie had attempted to purchase prussic acid, a potent and undetectable poison, from a drugstore, she claimed, to treat a sealskin cape.
The most shocking aspect of the crime was the brutality of the event: it was estimated that Andrew had been struck with a sharp object such as an axe or hatchet as he lay sleeping on the sofa some dozen times, and Abby possibly as many as 17 or 18 times. The blows to the head and face, as well as their number, demonstrate extreme rage and overkill, seemingly directed more at Mrs. Borden than at Andrew. It was believed that Abby was killed first, prompting some to yet again suspect that Lizzie had carefully calculated her actions; if he had died first, his estate would have passed to his wife, and, upon her death, to her relatives rather than to his daughters, but it appears that she died nearly a detectable hour before Andrew was killed, which would have meant that the killer remained in or around the house for that length of time, without being seen or heard, or anyone discovering the first crime, which occurred in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The rest of the drama unfolded with many twists and turns, culminating with the highly charged and publicized trial, which, as the book chronicles in detail, eventually resulted in Lizzie's acquittal.
The book is fairly visual, including many photographs of the key players, as well as maps, drawings and documents. It does a good job of highlighting the drama in the courtroom, not that a reader would need to use much imagination, as trials are as much theatrical performances often times as they are legal proceedings, and this one was certainly no exception. Revealing in detail with fairly ample description the strategies of both the masterful legal team deployed to save Lizzie from the gallows, and the dogged determination of prosecutors to see her hanged, the book provides a comprehensive account of the court proceedings, particularly those who testified. All eyes were centered on the defendant; she could not but sneeze or scratch her nose without someone assigning some greater meaning to the gesture!
As other reviewers have noted, however, there isn't much new material in this otherwise capable book. My primary criticism is that it was somewhat dry, excessively so, considering the subject matter. I am relieved that it was not salacious, as was much of the reporting of the day, as there's a fine balance between engaging prose and yellow journalism, but it could have used more of the former. Refreshingly, neither does the book really advocate for Lizzy's guilt or innocence, but presents a fair rendering of the facts and events, and lets the reader decide for themself.
Ultimately, we will never know who was responsible for this terrible deed, which is probably why there remains so much speculation about Lizzie's guilt. What is known is that she went on to lead a fairly normal, if secluded life, despite the tragedy left in her wake. After the trial, Lizzie left the family home and the two sisters moved into a large house in The Hill neighborhood, called Maplecroft. The girls lived in much more comfortable surroundings than at their previous residence, as the house was replete with modern conveniences and was staffed with live-in maids and a coachman.
In one last spasm of family drama: something occurred between the sisters. In 1905, in the wake of a supposed argument over a party that Lizzie had hosted for an actress, Emma moved out of the house, and never saw her sister again, which struck some as odd, as they had been together all their lives. That was thirteen years after the event, however, so it is dubious that it had anything to do with the murders. Lizzie died at age 66, from pneumonia, in 1927, in Fall River, where she had lived her entire life. Whatever she knew about the murders which had occurred decades previously died with her. Curiously, Emma died only nine days later from chronic nephritis at age 76, in a nursing home in New Hampshire, having lived there since 1923. Despite their estrangement, the sisters were buried side by side in the family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery. At the time of her death, Lizzie was worth about $250,000, equivalent to about $5 million today, which was endowed to various charities, and the rest was willed to other relatives.
In the aftermath of the event, numerous books, movies, and plays have been written about this tragic episode in the small New England town more than a century ago, but it seems that there will always be renewed interest. As a side note, the Borden family home is now a popular bed and breakfast, so if you are so inclined, you can stay in the room where Abby was actually murdered, ensuring that the legacy of this dark deed will persist for some time to come.
The story of Lizzie Borden is one of America's most notorious true crimes. One hundred years later, people are still interested in this fascinating murder and example of legal history. According to Amazon, the author spent 20 years researching this book. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed; the author did not add any insight into Lizzie's feelings.
Probably, everyone knows the story of Lizzie Borden; she was accused of killing her father and step-mother with an ax. This book takes the reader through the trial with extensive detail. When I finished reading the book, I was stunned to find that the men on the jury voted "not guilty" on the first vote because they agreed to go out for a beer if they got a solution quickly. So they wouldn't appear to be hasty in their judgment, they waited around and chatted for an hour before reporting that they were ready to return to court. The total time they were out of court was 1 and 1/2 hours.
One of the strongest features of this book was the explanation of the social mores of 19th-century America. It was obvious that the men on the jury could not imagine that a woman of Lizzie's rank and prestige could have killed in such an atrocious manner. The author even goes into the view of women's hysteria at that time. All of this helped explain the men's decision.
Another strong feature of this book is the author's ability to make me feel as if I were there at the time of the trial. It was hot and steamy and the court was jam-packed each day. The author explained what each lawyer hoped to prove in his approach to the jurors.
I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more about Lizzie's life after the trial. She and her sister moved to a more desirable location after the trial, but Lizzie was forever avoided by her peers. She and her sister Emma died within days of each other in 1927.
Probably, everyone knows the story of Lizzie Borden; she was accused of killing her father and step-mother with an ax. This book takes the reader through the trial with extensive detail. When I finished reading the book, I was stunned to find that the men on the jury voted "not guilty" on the first vote because they agreed to go out for a beer if they got a solution quickly. So they wouldn't appear to be hasty in their judgment, they waited around and chatted for an hour before reporting that they were ready to return to court. The total time they were out of court was 1 and 1/2 hours.
One of the strongest features of this book was the explanation of the social mores of 19th-century America. It was obvious that the men on the jury could not imagine that a woman of Lizzie's rank and prestige could have killed in such an atrocious manner. The author even goes into the view of women's hysteria at that time. All of this helped explain the men's decision.
Another strong feature of this book is the author's ability to make me feel as if I were there at the time of the trial. It was hot and steamy and the court was jam-packed each day. The author explained what each lawyer hoped to prove in his approach to the jurors.
I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more about Lizzie's life after the trial. She and her sister moved to a more desirable location after the trial, but Lizzie was forever avoided by her peers. She and her sister Emma died within days of each other in 1927.
