Lizzie Borden Research Paper

It’s not a question of how, but rather who?

Who killed Andrew and Abby Borden? This is a question that has been asked for over 123 years. When they were brutally murdered in their home in Fall River Massachusetts. Andrew’s daughter Lizzie Borden was accused of the murders, but was eventually acquitted, and to this day the killer has not been found out (Tooley). The true identity of the killer will probably never be proven, all we have is speculation. Lizzie Borden is not the killer because there is not enough evidence, there are multiple other suspects, and the police did not investigate properly.

Others think that Lizzie Borden murdered Andrew and Abby. They think this because in their opinion she had the strongest motive, money

Other family members could be guilty of the crime, not just Lizzie. The first possible suspect that comes to mind is John Morse, Lizzie’s uncle who, after supposedly being made aware of the horrible murders, is said to have “ambled” into the back yard and proceeded to “eat pears in the shade” (King 27). The next possible suspect would have to be Emma, who, being out of town that day was sent a telegram telling her about the murders, but she “did not catch the next train,” or the next, in fact she did not “return” home “until after seven that night” (King 27). Doesn't that seem a little odd, seeing as her father was just killed; unless she had something to do with it and couldn’t get home until then, but we will never know. Another possible suspect is Bridget Sullivan, the maid who happened to be in and around the house at the time of the murders (“The Lizzie Borden Story”). She was washing the windows, even though she was sick, after being told to do so by Abby; after which she is said to have gone up to her attic room to rest (Linder). The murderer could have been an outsider or one of Andrew’s business partners seeking some of his vast wealth or revenge for past wrongs. Lastly, there are so many other possible suspects that might not have even had a connection to the family. It is possible that the murderer could have been a total outsider who happened upon the family killed the elder Bordens and then

Although the police found an ax head and a cylindrical stick in the flames at the Borden house they were not able to connect either to Lizzie and later they lost the hatchet handle altogether (King 27)(Howard). This left them with no hard evidence since they did not use their newfound “forensic techniques” to the extent they are used today (Tooley). Then if that didn’t blow the case out of the water this sure did. Lizzie Borden was the only person they prosecuted for the murders, they didn’t even take the first suspect, John Morse to court. No one was questioned, asked to give alibis, nothing. They didn’t even look into the “pale faced young man” who, witnesses say they saw on the sidewalk of “92 Second Street” at “10:30” that morning(Linder). They narrowed it down to just Lizzie too fast, she was arrested just five days later after giving “contradictory answers” at an “inquest” (Linder). Also, let's not forget that during the investigation the policy did not bring everyone out of the house, in fact they let Lizzie and Emma “help them” look. Overall the police did not do their job and as a result the killer was never convicted and