Most of us know the story of Lizzie Borden (if you don’t, you can check it out here). What most people don’t know, is that there were other people who had motive to kill Andrew and Abby Borden.
Suspect #1: David Anthony
David Anthony was a local gentleman vying for Lizzie’s affection. Andrew Borden refused to give his permission for David and Lizzie to marry, so David took action. Rumor has it, he killed Andrew and Abby Borden to liberate Lizzie from their strict control. In an interview with Jack Wiggins of the Ellsworth (Maine) American, a nurse by the name of Ruby Francis Cameron told of an interaction she had with Lizzie herself, while on her deathbed. “Nora saw David, livid with rage, go to the woodshed, grab the axe, and murder both Mr. and Mrs. Borden. Nora rushed for Maggie, and she called Jack, and they wiped up some of the mess and escaped in the meat cart, that was a regular business in those days. I took care of Miss Borden for one week, and then I knew the whole story from an innocent woman, always condemned by the unbelieving public.” The meat cart used in the escape was procured by Ruby’s mother, Margaret Cameron, who asked her fiance, later husband, John for assistance.
Unfortunately, there is no further evidence to support this theory.
Suspect #2: Dr. Seabury Bowen
Dr. Seabury Bowen lived across the street from the Borden family. He also happened to be their doctor. On the day before the murder, Abby Borden crossed the street to his home to report that both she and her husband, Andrew, were violently ill, and had possibly been poisoned. The next day, Dr. Seabury Bowen was one of the first to the scene, and was in a good position to remove the murder weapon from the house. Being as he was the doctor, he was never searched, even when he left the crime scene early on to send Emma a telegram in Fairhaven. He quickly medicated Lizzie, first with bromo caffeine, then morphine, which led some to suspect that he was trying to protect her from interrogation.
But, why? Well, it was believed that he felt very sympathetic toward Lizzie. He would often attend church with her, unchaperoned, whenever her family was out of town. Knowing her situation, he could have committed the act on his own, or assisted Lizzie in the act. One witness, in an unsigned letter dated Dec. 2, 1892, declared their concern for the doctor.
“…on the day of the murder I was coming towards Fall River… I met Dr. Bowen and a young man in a Carrige, driveing so fast that… I thought at the time that someone was dieing… I am well acquainted with him, but I never saw Him look so wild… it was about 15 minutes to eleven… the Doctor had hold of the reins with both hands, driving for dear life. Has Dr. Bowen ever been questioned where He was on the morning of the Murder. This is the truth and nothing but the truth.”
Suspect #3: John Morse
John Morse was the brother-in-law to Andrew Borden, and to Emma and Lizzie he was just Uncle John. On the night before the murder, John came to visit, arriving with nothing more than the suit on his back. Andrew had requested an in-person chat with him, to discuss business. That chat turned into an argument, as John had lost money in a joint livestock venture – Andrew was infuriated. That night, John slept in the guest room that would later be the room where Abby Borden was killed. When John left the house the next morning, it could easily have been after the murders. Some claim he got into an argument with Abby, as she was tidying the room, and that argument led to her death.
He left the home, and went to visit his niece, Annie, who was ill. When questioned later by the police, he claimed that he had returned to the Borden house at noon. That time later changed to 11:30am, and then 11:20am. Dr. Bowen was already on scene at 11:32am. With his timeline changing, not once, but twice, can he be trusted at all?
Suspect #4: Hiram Harrington
Hiram Harrington was Andrew Borden’s brother in law, having married Andrew’s only sister, Lurana.
During questioning Lizzie was asked
Q: … do you know of anybody that your father had bad feelings toward or who had bad feelings toward your father?
Lizzie: I know of one man who has not been friendly with him. The have not been friendly for years.
Q: Who?
Lizzie: Mr. Hiram C. Harrington.
Later, during his own testimony, Hiram aimed to take any suspicion off himself, and place it right back on Lizzie, “When the perpetrator of this foul deed is found, it will be one of the household. I had a long talk with Lizzie yesterday, Thursday, the day of the murder, and I am not at all satisfied with statement or demeanor. She was too solicitous about his comfort, and showed a side of character I never knew or even suspected her to possess. She helped him off with one coat and on with another, and assisted him in an easy incline on the sofa, and desired to place a afghan over him, and also to adjust the shutters so the light would not disturb his slumber. This is something she could not do, even if she felt; and no one who knows her, could be made believe it. She is very strong willed, and will fight for what she considers her rights. She went to the barn, where she stayed twenty minutes, or half an hour, looking for some lead from which to make sinkers for fishing lines, as she was going to Marion next week.”
Suspect #5: William S Borden
It is believed that Andrew Borden had an illegitimate son, William (Billy). This son, angry with his father over money issues, killed him and his wife, Abby. It is believed that Lizzie took pity and helped him to cover it up.
Suspect #6: Bridget Sullivan
Bridget Sullivan was the Borden family maid. On the day of the murder, Bridget was in her third floor bedroom, resting after washing windows when, just before 11:10am she heard Lizzie call out to her from downstairs. “Maggie, come quick! Father’s dead. Somebody came in and killed him.” (Bridget was sometimes called Maggie, which happened to be the name of a previous family maid.) After the investigation and trial, Bridget moved to Montana, never to discuss the case again. That is until she was on her deathbed.
Bridget had a friend, Minnie Green, who had migrated from Ireland to Butte. Bridget sent word to her that she wanted to see her and tell her something in person. It was then that Bridget finally told of her time with the Borden family. She claimed that she liked Lizzie and often took her part during troubles in the house. She even admitted that she “helped Lizzie out at the trial.” Minnie didn’t press for more information, as her friend was so ill. She promised she would never tell what she had been told, and kept that promise until after Bridget had died. Then Minnie turned to a librarian in Butte and told her about her visit with Bridget.
Suspect #7: Emma Borden
Emma Borden, the eldest of the Borden children was 41 at the time her father and step-mother were killed. Some believe it was her tumultuous relationship with her father that drove her to kill. Emma’s real mother, Sarah, died when she was just 12, leaving her to care for her younger sister, Lizzie. When their father remarried, their relationship turned to ice. Emma and Lizzie did not get along with Abby, and they rarely sat for dinner with their parents. Emma and Lizzie both had repeated arguments with their father over property inheritance and money. Just months before they were killed, Andrew had gifted a portion of his real estate to various members of Abby’s family. After a family argument in July 1892, the girls took an extended vacation to New Bedford. Emma returned to Fall River just a week before the murders, Lizzie returned, but stayed at a local rooming house for 4 days before returning home.
While there is only speculation, and no evidence to support this theory, it is also believed that Emma had one more reason to kill her parents. She was in love with a man who was of a much lower status than she. Her father opposed that marriage, leaving Emma to grow old, alone.
Did Lizzie kill her parents? Was she alone in this endeavor, or was she completely innocent. We will never know for sure.
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