Brighton Gable 3/25/24 1st Period Mr. Parsloe Research Paper. The Borden Murders “Lizzie Borden took an ax, she gave her father 40 whacks, and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” -Unknown Do you remember singing that song on the playground? You may have thought that this song was just a creepy nursery rhyme, but it really happened. This little rhyme was inspired by one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in history. I will be explaining what happened on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Also, why the main suspect, Lizzie Borden, got away free. What Took Place On August 4, 1892 Lizzie Borden calls for maid “Maggie” to get a doctor because “something is wrong with her father” She runs across the street to find …show more content…
At that moment, she became the main suspect in the murders. Moreover, the day before the murders Lizzie had been seen attempting to purchase a deadly prussic acid from the drugstore. Why else would she have done that unless she was attempting to murder someone? Lizzie had also been seen burning the dress she allegedly wore on the day of the murders in the stove. If there is so much evidence of her guilt, then why did she get away? Why Lizzie Borden Was Not Convicted It is almost completely sure that Lizzie committed the murders, but yet she was not convicted. Fall River’s nativism, gender stereotypes, and Lizzie’s wealth all contributed to Lizzie going free. In 1892, there were many immigrants coming to Fall River, so when the murders happened the police assumed it was an immigrant. So, right away they arrested an innocent Portuguese man working on the property. This clearly shows that the people of Fall River did not think that Lizzie, a Catholic, white, rich, and a woman could ever commit patricide. Lizzie had also picked up some of the nativism there. On the day of the murders, Lizzie told Maggie, the maid, to “go get a doctor” so she went across the street to get the