What happened the day that Lizzie Borden murdered her parents?

Answer 1

Lizzie gave several different accounts of that day. Closest to the true would be: Lizzie her step-mother Abbey and the Borden's maid Bridget were by themselves in the house. Bridget was ill and after washing the outside windows she retired to the attic to lay down. Lizzie was everywhere and nowhere according to her testimony. She was ironing, in the basement, in the barn, in the back yard picking fruit. Hunting fishing sinkers in the barn loft.

But Abbey Borden was attacked and murdered with a hatchett. An 1 1/2 hr. later Andrew Borden was attacked and murdered while taking a nap in the parlor. Abbey's body was not found until after Andrew's.

Lizzie was arrested on August 11, 1892.

Answer 2

This is one in a number of facinating 'coincidents' that surround the Borden case. Just prior to the double ax murders, the entire family* had what was first thought to be food poisoning, due to the maid, named Bridget, and her stew. Abby Borden was suspicious though and had made a comment to a neighbor that she thought 'someone' was trying to poison them.

Whether Abby Borden was aware that Lizzie had spent much time and energy in an attempt to purchase prussic acid is unknown. I doubt Lizzie discussed anything with her parents, considering the elder Bordens did not even dine with the younger Bordens, those being Lizzie and her older sister Emma.

It is most likely that when she could not buy the prussic acid without a prescription, her murder plans had to be altered. Poisoning is more commonly seen with females as a means of murder.

Needless to say, had Lizzie gone on trial in the 21st century, she most likely would have been found guilty. But in Victorian times women were viewed as the 'gentler sex' and an all male jury could not believe a woman, especially of Lizzie's social class, could have committed such a crime.

*The exception to this would be Emma, the older sister, who was away visiting friends in a nearby town. Lizzie claimed that she was ill also, but if this is true, she seemed to have a much milder case than the others in the home.