Lizzie Borden: The 1892 Axe Murder Trial and Its Aftermath

Lizzie Borden was an American woman who was tried and acquitted in 1892 for the axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts. The case remains one of the most famous unsolved crimes in U.S. history and continues to inspire books, movies, and the popular nursery rhyme.

Who was Lizzie Borden?

Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, a booming textile town. She was the third of four children in a prosperous family; her father, Andrew Jackson Borden, was a wealthy businessman who owned a successful wharf and several real estate holdings. Lizzie was educated at home and later attended Miss Whittier’s School for Young Ladies, where she learned music, drawing, and basic etiquette.

What happened on August 4, 1892?

On the morning of August 4, 1892, a neighbor heard a loud commotion at the Borden house. When police arrived, they found both Andrew and Abby Borden dead, each with multiple axe wounds. The murder weapon, a 12‑inch iron axe, was found in the cellar. The police noted that the scene suggested a single assailant who moved quickly between the two victims.

Why was Lizzie Borden arrested?

Detectives focused on Lizzie for several reasons:

• She was the only family member present in the house at the time of the murders.
• She had purchased a hatchet a few weeks earlier, a fact recorded in a local store ledger.
• Neighbors reported hearing a woman’s voice saying, “You’re not going to get me!” during the night.

Despite these points, the physical evidence linking Lizzie directly to the crime was weak. No blood was found on her clothing, and the axe was not identified as hers.

How did the 1892 trial unfold?

The trial began on June 5, 1893, in the Fall River District Court. It lasted ten days, with 35 witnesses called. The prosecution, led by District Attorney George W. Waller, argued that Lizzie had a motive—financial gain and resentment toward her stepmother. The defense, headed by attorney Robert K. Brown, emphasized the lack of forensic proof and highlighted the prejudice against women in the legal system.

Key moments that swayed the jury

1. Bloodstain analysis: A medical examiner testified that the blood on the carpet was consistent with the victims, not with Lizzie’s own blood type.

2. Inconsistent testimony: Lizzie’s sister, Emma Borden, gave contradictory statements about the timeline, weakening the prosecution’s narrative.

3. Public sentiment: Newspapers such as the Fall River Daily Evening News published editorials questioning the fairness of trying a woman for such a violent crime, influencing jurors’ perceptions.

What was the verdict?

On June 20, 1893, after deliberating for less than three hours, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The foreman announced, “We find the defendant not guilty of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden.” The acquittal sparked national debate, with some newspapers calling it a miscarriage of justice and others praising it as a victory for women’s rights.

What happened to Lizzie after the trial?

Lizzie lived the rest of her life in Fall River, rarely leaving the house. She never married and reportedly spent her later years caring for a small garden and a pet parrot. In 1927, she died of pneumonia at the age of 66. She was buried next to her mother in the Oak Grove Cemetery, with a modest headstone that reads simply, “Lizzie Borden (1860–1927).”

How has Lizzie Borden entered popular culture?

The case inspired countless works, including the 1975 song “Lizzie Borden” by the rock band The Guess Who, the 1998 film The Legend of Lizzie Borden, and the infamous rhyme:

“Lizzie Borden took an axe /
And gave her mother forty whacks /
When she saw what she had done /
She gave herself a very good /
The doctor said she died of a fright /
and they hung her from a rope.”

Although historically inaccurate, the rhyme cemented the murder in the public imagination.

Timeline of Key Events

Why does the case remain unsolved?

Modern forensic techniques such as DNA analysis were unavailable in the 1890s, and the crime scene was contaminated by onlookers and investigators. In 1990, a forensic team examined preserved bloodstains from the house and concluded that the DNA did not match any known descendant of the Borden family, but the sample size was too small for a definitive answer. Consequently, scholars continue to debate Lizzie’s guilt, making the case a staple of true‑crime discussion groups.

What can we learn from the Lizzie Borden case?

The trial highlighted the limitations of 19th‑century forensic science, the impact of gender bias on legal outcomes, and the power of media to shape public opinion. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of preserving crime‑scene evidence for future analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Lizzie Borden ever convicted of the murders?

No. Lizzie Borden was found not guilty on June 20, 1893, after a ten‑day trial that lasted only a few hours of jury deliberation.

What evidence linked Lizzie to the murders?

Investigators cited her presence at the house, a recent purchase of a hatchet, and a neighbor’s claim of hearing a woman’s voice, but no blood, fingerprints, or the murder axe were directly tied to her.

How did the public react to the verdict?

The verdict sparked national debate; some newspapers called it a miscarriage of justice, while others praised it as a triumph for women’s rights in a male‑dominated legal system.

Has modern science solved the case?

DNA testing of bloodstains in 1990 did not match any known Borden descendant, but the samples were insufficient for a definitive conclusion, leaving the case officially unsolved.

Why does Lizzie Borden remain a cultural icon?

The gruesome nature of the crime, the sensational trial, and the enduring nursery rhyme have kept Lizzie Borden in books, films, music, and true‑crime discussions for over a century.