The trial of Lizzie Borden for the ax murders of her father and stepmother stands as one of the most popular and argued-upon trials in American history. The Borden ax murders continue to stand unsolved, after decades of speculation and theorization. Though the prime suspect, Lizzie Andrew Borden, was found not guilty of the crime, thousands ostracized her after her trial and believed she harbored no innocence. She had the motive and the means to kill her parents, raising a thought-provoking question, “Did Lizzie Borden take the ax?” Lizzie Andrew Borden was an American woman born to Andrew Jackson Borden and his wife on July 19, 1860 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Shortly after the death of his wife, Andrew Borden married Abby Durfee Gray Borden, a woman that Lizzie neglected to call “mother”. Lizzie and her older sister Emma were raised in a modest lifestyle, despite Andrew’s generous amount of wealth. Lizzie Borden was a saint as a child, involving herself with various church activities such as …show more content…
Wanting to make a change for herself, Lizzie Borden adopted the new name of Lizbeth A. Borden. The Borden sisters enjoyed substantial wealth after the death of their parents, having inherited a chunk of Andrew and Abby’s estate. For the duration of her residence in Fall River, Lizbeth was continuously ostracized by her neighbors and fellow townspeople, even though she was found innocent in the murders of her parents. After having her gallbladder removed, Lizbeth fell ill and died on June 1, 1927 due to pneumonia. Few people attended her funeral and it was not publicized, lying in stark contrast of the popularity of her trial. Lizbeth left a great deal of money to an animal rescue organization in Fall River and extended her generosity towards a cousin and her closest friend. She was buried next to her sister in the family plot in Oak Grove