The Inquest Testimony of Lizzie Borden
The Inquest Testimony of Lizzie Borden Lyrics
Q. Give me your full name.
A. Lizzie Andrew Borden.
Q. Is it Lizzie or Elizabeth?
A. Lizzie.
Q. You were so christened?
A. I was so christened.
Q. What is your age, please?
A. Thirty-two.
Q. Your mother is not living?
A. No sir.
Q. When did she die?
A. She died when I was two-and-a-half years old.
Q. You do not remember her then?
A. Lizzie Andrew Borden.
Q. Is it Lizzie or Elizabeth?
A. Lizzie.
Q. You were so christened?
A. I was so christened.
Q. What is your age, please?
A. Thirty-two.
Q. Your mother is not living?
A. No sir.
Q. When did she die?
A. She died when I was two-and-a-half years old.
Q. You do not remember her then?
A. No sir.
Q. What was your father's age?
A. He was 70 next month.
Q. What was his whole name?
A. Andrew Jackson Borden.
Q. And your stepmother, what is her whole name?
A. Abby Durfee Borden.
Q. How long had your father been married to your stepmother?
A. I think about 27 years.
Q. How much of that time have they lived in that house on Second Street?
A. I think, I am not sure, but I think about 20 years last May.
Q. Always occupied the whole house?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What was your father's age?
A. He was 70 next month.
Q. What was his whole name?
A. Andrew Jackson Borden.
Q. And your stepmother, what is her whole name?
A. Abby Durfee Borden.
Q. How long had your father been married to your stepmother?
A. I think about 27 years.
Q. How much of that time have they lived in that house on Second Street?
A. I think, I am not sure, but I think about 20 years last May.
Q. Always occupied the whole house?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Somebody told me it was once fitted up for two tenements.
A. When we bought it it was for two tenements and the man we bought it off of stayed there a few months until he finished his own house. After he finished his own house and moved into it, there was no one else moved in. We always had the whole.
Q. Have you any idea how much your father was worth?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you ever heard him say?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you ever formed any opinion?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know something about his real estate?
A. About what?
Q. His real estate.
A. I know what real estate he owned; part of it. I don't know whether or not I know it all or not.
Q. Tell me what you know of.
A. When we bought it it was for two tenements and the man we bought it off of stayed there a few months until he finished his own house. After he finished his own house and moved into it, there was no one else moved in. We always had the whole.
Q. Have you any idea how much your father was worth?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you ever heard him say?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you ever formed any opinion?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know something about his real estate?
A. About what?
Q. His real estate.
A. I know what real estate he owned; part of it. I don't know whether or not I know it all or not.
Q. Tell me what you know of.
A. He owns two farms in Swansea, the place on Second Street and the A. J. Borden Building and corner and the land on South Main Street where McMannus is and then a short time ago, he bought some real estate up further south that formerly, he said, belonged to a Mr. Birch.
Q. Did you ever deed him any property?
A. He gave us, some years ago, Grandfather Borden's house on Ferry Street and he bought that back from us some weeks ago. I don't know just how many.
Q. As near as you can recall.
A. Well, I should say in June, but I am not sure.
Q. What do you mean by 'bought it back'?
A. He bought it of us and gave us the money for it.
Q. How much was it?
A. How much money? He gave us $5,000 for it.
Q. Did you pay him anything when you took a deed from him?
A. Pay him anything? No sir.
Q. How long ago was it you took a deed from him?
A. When he gave it to us?
Q. Yes.
A. I can't tell you. I should think five years.
Q. Did you have any other business transactions with him besides that?
A. No sir.
Q. In real estate?
A. No sir.
Q. Or in personal property?
A. No sir.
Q. Never?
A. Never.
Q. No transfer of property one way or another?
A. No sir.
Q. At no time?
A. No sir.
Q. And I understand he paid you the cash for this property?
A. Yes sir.
Q. You and Emma equally?
A. Yes sir.
Q. How many children has your father?
A. Only two.
Q. Only you two?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Any others ever?
A. One that died.
Q. Did you know of your father making a will?
A. No sir, except I heard somebody say once that there was one several years ago. That is all I ever heard.
Q. Who did you hear say so?
A. I think it was Mr. Morse.
Q. What Morse?
A. Uncle John V. Morse.
Q. How long ago?
A. How long ago I heard him say it? I have not any idea.
Q. What did he say about it?
A. Nothing except just that.
Q. What?
A. That Mr. Borden had a will.
Q. Did you ask your father?
A. I did not.
Q. Did he ever mention the subject of a will to you?
A. He did not.
Q. He never told you that he had made a will or had not?
A. No sir.
Q. Did he have a marriage settlement with your stepmother that you know of?
A. I never knew of any.
Q. Had you heard anything of his proposing to make a will?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know of anybody that your father was on bad terms with?
A. There was a man that came there that he had trouble with. I don't know who the man was.
Q. When?
A. I cannot locate the time exactly. It was within two weeks. That is, I don't know the date or day of the month.
Q. Tell all you saw and heard.
A. I did not see anything. I heard the bell ring and father went to the door and let him in. I did not hear anything for some time except just the voices. Then I heard the man say, "I would like to have that place; I would like to have that store." Father said, "I am not willing to let your business go in there." And the man said, "I thought with your reputation for liking money, you would let your store for anything." Father said, "You are mistaken." Then they talked a while and then their voices were louder and I heard father order him out and went to the front door with him.
Q. What did he say?
A. He said he had stayed long enough and he would thank him to go.
Q. Did he say anything about coming again?
A. No sir.
Q. Did your father say anything about coming again, or did he?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you any idea who that was?
A. No sir. I think it was a man from out of town because he said he was going home to see his partner.
Q. Have you had any efforts made to find him?
A. We have had a detective; that is all I know.
Q. You have not found him?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. You can't give us any other idea about it?
A. Nothing but what I have told you.
Q. Beside that, do you know of anybody that your father had bad feelings toward or who had bad feelings toward your father?
A. I know of one man who has not been friendly with him. They have not been friendly for years.
Q. Who?
A. Mr. Hiram C. Harrington.
Q. What relation is he to him?
A. He is my father's brother-in-law.
Q. Your mother's brother?
A. My father's only sister married Mr. Harrington.
Q. Anybody else that was on bad terms with your father or that your father was on bad terms with?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. You have no reason to suppose that the man you spoke of a week or two ago had ever seen your father before or has since?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know of anybody that was on bad terms with your stepmother?
A. No sir.
Q. Or that your stepmother was on bad terms with?
A. No sir.
Q. Had your stepmother any property?
A. I don't know. Only that she had half the house that belonged to her father.
Q. Where was that?
A. On Fourth Street.
Q. Who lives in it?
A. Her half-sister.
Q. Any other property besides that that you know of?
A. I don't know.
Q. Did you ever know of any?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you understand that she was worth anything more than that?
A. I never knew.
Q. Did you ever have any trouble with your stepmother?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you within six months had any words with her?
A. No sir.
Q. Within a year?
A. No sir.
Q. Within two years?
A. I think not.
Q. When last that you know of?
A. About five years ago.
Q. What about?
A. Her stepsister, half-sister.
Q. What name?
A. Her name now is Mrs. George W. Whitehead.
Q. Nothing more than hard words?
A. No sir. They were not hard words. It was simply a difference of opinion.
Q. You have been on pleasant terms with your stepmother since then?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Cordial?
A. It depends upon one's idea of cordiality perhaps.
Q. According to your idea of cordiality?
A. We were friendly; very friendly.
Q. Cordial, according to your idea of cordiality?
A. Quite so.
Q. What do you mean by "quite so?"
A. Quite cordial. I do not mean the dearest of friends in the world, but very kindly feelings and pleasant. I do not know how to answer you any better than that.
Q. You did not regard her as your mother?
A. Not exactly, no; although she came there when I was very young.
Q. Were your relations toward her that of daughter and mother?
A. In some ways it was and in some it was not.
Q. In what ways was it?
A. I decline to answer.
Q. Why?
A. Because I don't know how to answer it.
Q. In what ways was it not?
A. I did not call her mother.
Q. What name did she go by?
A. Mrs. Borden.
Q. When did you begin to call her Mrs. Borden?
A. I should think five or six years ago.
Q. Before that time you had called her mother?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What led to the change?
A. The affair with her step-sister.
Q. So that the affair was serious enough to have you change from calling her mother, do you mean?
A. I did not choose to call her mother.
Q. Have you ever called her mother since?
A. Yes, occasionally.
Q. To her face, I mean?
A. Yes.
Q. Often?
A. No sir.
Q. Seldom?
A. Seldom.
Q. Your usual address was Mrs. Borden?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did your sister Emma call her mother?
A. She always called her Abby from the time she came into the family.
Q. Is your sister Emma older than you?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What is her age?
A. She is 10 years older than I am. She was somewhere about 14 when she came there.
Q. What was your stepmother's age?
A. I don't know. I asked her sister Saturday and she said 64. I told them 67. I did not know. I told as nearly as I knew. I did not know there was so much difference between her and my father.
Q. Why did you leave off calling her mother?
A. Because I wanted to.
Q. Is that all the reason you have to give me?
A. I have not any other answer.
Q. Can't you give me any better reason than that?
A. I have not any reason to give except that I did not want to.
Q. In what respects were the relations between you and her that of mother and daughter, besides not calling her mother?
A. I don't know that any of the relations were changed. I had never been to her as a mother in many things. I always went to my sister because she was older and had the care of me after my mother died.
Q. In what respects were the relations between you and her that of mother and daughter?
A. That is the same question you asked before. I can't answer you any better now than I did before.
Q. You did not say before you could not answer, but that you declined to answer.
A. I decline to answer because I do not know what to say.
Q. That is the only reason?
A. Yes sir.
Q. You called your father, father?
A. Always.
Q. Were your father and mother happily united?
A. Why, I don't know but that they were.
Q. Why do you hesitate?
A. Because I don't know but that they were and I am telling the truth as nearly as I know it.
Q. Do you mean me to understand that they were happy entirely or not?
A. So far as I know they were.
Q. Why did you hesitate then?
A. Because I did not know how to answer you any better than what came into my mind. I was trying to think if I was telling it as I should, that's all.
Q. Do you have any difficulty in telling it as you should; any difficulty in answering my questions?
A. Some of your questions I have difficulty answering because I don't know just how you mean them.
Q. Did you ever know of any difficulty between her and your father?
A. No sir.
Q. Did he seem to be affectionate?
A. I think so.
Q. As man and woman who are married ought to be?
A. So far as I have ever had any chance of judging.
Q. They were?
A. Yes.
Q. What dress did you wear the day they were killed?
A. I had on a navy blue, sort of a Bengaline silk skirt with a navy blue blouse. In the afternoon, they thought I had better change it. I put on a pink wrapper.
Q. Did you change your clothing before the afternoon?
A. No sir.
Q. You dressed in the morning as you have described and kept that clothing on until afternoon?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When did Morse come there first? I don't mean this visit. I mean as a visitor, John V. Morse?
A. Do you mean this day that he came and stayed all night?
Q. No. Was this visit the first to your house?
A. He has been in the east a year or more.
Q. Since he has been in the east, has he been in the habit of coming to your house?
A. Yes; came in any time he wanted to.
Q. Before that, had he been at your house---before he came east?
A. Yes, he has been here, if you remember the winter that the river was frozen over and they went across, he was here that winter, some 14 years ago, was it not?
Q. I am not answering questions but asking them.
A. I don't remember the date. He was here that winter.
Q. Has he been here since?
A. He has been here once since. I don't know whether he has or not since.
Q. How many times this last year has he been at your house?
A. None at all to speak of. Nothing more than a night or two at a time.
Q. How often did he come to spend a night or two?
A. Really, I don't know. I am away so much myself.
Q. Your last answer is that you don't know how much he had been here because you had been away yourself so much?
A. Yes.
Q. That is true the last year or since he has been east?
A. I have not been away the last year so much but other times I have been away when he has been here.
Q. Do I understand you to say that his last visit before this one was 14 years ago?
A. No. He has been here once between the two.
Q. How long did he stay then?
A. I don't know.
Q. How long ago was that?
A. I don't know.
Q. Give me your best remembrance.
A Five or six years; perhaps six.
Q. How long has he been east this time?
A I think over a year. I'm not sure.
Q. During the last year, how much of the time has he been at your house?
A. Very little that I know of.
Q. Your answer to that question before was, "I don't know because I have been away so much myself."
A. I did not mean I had been away very much myself in the last year.
Q. How much have you been away the last year?
A. I have been away a great deal in the daytime; occasionally at night.
Q. Where in the daytime? Any particular place?
A No. Around town.
Q. When you go off nights, where?
A. Never, unless I have been off on a visit.
Q. When was the last time when you have been away for more than a night or two before this affair?
A. I don't think I have been away to stay more than a night or two since I came from abroad, except about three or four weeks ago I was in New Bedford for three or four days.
Q. Where at New Bedford?
A. At 20 Madison Street.
Q. How long ago were you abroad?
A. I was abroad in 1890.
Q. When did he come to the house the last time before your father and mother were killed?
A He stayed there all night Wednesday night.
Q. My question is when he came there.
A. I don't know. I was not home when he came. I was out.
Q. When did you first see him there?
A. I did not see him at all.
Q. How did you know he was there?
A. I heard his voice.
Q. You did not see him Wednesday evening?
A. I did not. I was out Wednesday evening.
Q. You did not see him Thursday morning?
A. I did not. He was out when I came downstairs.
Q. When was the first time you saw him?
A. Thursday noon.
Q. You had never seen him before that?
A. No sir.
Q. Where were you Wednesday evening?
A. I spent the evening with Miss Russell.
Q. As near as you can remember, when did you return?
A. About nine o'clock at night.
Q. The family had then retired?
A. I don't know whether they had or not. I went right to my room. I don't remember.
Q. You did not look to see?
A. No sir.
Q. Which door did you come in at?
A. The front door.
Q. Did you lock it?
A. Yes sir.
Q. For the night?
A. Yes sir.
Q. And went right upstairs to your room?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When was it that you heard the voice of Mr. Morse?
A. I heard him down there about suppertime No, it was earlier than that. I heard him down there somewhere about three o'clock, I think. I was in my room Wednesday, not feeling well, all day.
Q. Did you eat supper at home Wednesday night?
A. I was at home. I did not eat any supper because I did not feel able to eat supper. I had been sick.
Q. You did not come down to supper?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you hear him eating supper?
A. No sir. I did not know whether he was there or not.
Q. You heard him in the afternoon?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you hear him go away?
A. I did not.
Q. You did not go down to see him?
A. No sir.
Q. Was you in bed?
A. No sir, I was on the lounge.
Q. Why did you not go down?
A. I did not care to go down and I was not feeling well and kept to my room all day.
Q. You felt better in the evening?
A. Not very much better. I thought I would go out and see if the air would make me feel any better.
Q. When you came back at nine o'clock, you did not look in to see if the family were up?
A. No sir.
Q. Why not?
A. I very rarely do when I come in.
Q. You go right to your room?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you have a night key?
A. Yes sir.
Q. How did you know it was right to lock the front door?
A. That was always my business.
Q. How many locks did you fasten?
A. The spring locks itself and there is a key to turn and you manipulate the bolt.
Q. You manipulated all those?
A I used them all.
Q. Then you went to bed?
A Yes, directly.
Q. When you got up the next morning, did you see Mr. Morse?
A. I did not.
Q. Had the family breakfasted when you came down?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What time did you come downstairs?
A As near as I can remember, it was a few minutes before nine.
Q. Who did you find downstairs when you came down?
A. Maggie and Mrs. Borden.
Q. Did you inquire for Mr. Morse?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you suppose he had gone?
A. I did not know whether he had or not. He was not there.
Q. Your father was there?
A Yes sir.
Q. Then you found him?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you speak either to your father or Mrs. Borden?
A. I spoke to them all.
Q. About Mr. Morse?
A. I did not mention him.
Q. Did not inquire anything about him?
A. No sir.
Q. How long before that time had he been at the house?
A. I don't know.
Q. As near as you can tell.
A. I don't know. He was there in June some time. I don't know whether he was there after that or not.
Q. Why did you not go to Marion with the party that went?
A. Because they went sooner than I could and I was going Monday.
Q. Why did they go sooner than you could? What was there to keep you?
A. I had taken the secretaryship and treasurer of our CE Society, had the charge, and the roll call was the first Sunday in August and I felt I must be there and attend to that part of the business.
Q. Where was your sister Emma that day?
A. What day?
Q. The day your father and Mrs. Borden were killed.
A. She had been in Fairhaven.
Q. Had you written to her?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When was the last time you wrote to her?
A. Thursday morning; and my father mailed the letter for me.
Q. Did she get it at Fairhaven?
A. No sir, it was sent back. She did not get it at Fairhaven for we telegraphed for her and she got home here Thursday afternoon and the letter was sent back to this post office.
Q. How long had she been in Fairhaven?
A. Just two weeks to the day.
Q. You did not visit in Fairhaven?
A. No sir.
Q. Had there been anybody else around the house that week, or premises?
A. No one that I know of except the man that called to see him on this business about the store.
Q. Was that that week?
A. Yes sir.
Q. I misunderstand you probably. I thought you said a week or two before.
A. No, I said that week. There was a man came the week before and gave up some keys and I took them.
Q. Do you remember of anybody else being then around the premises that week?
A. Nobody that I know of or saw.
Q. Nobody at work there?
A. No sir.
Q. Nobody doing any chores there?
A. No sir, not that I know of.
Q. Nobody had access to the house so far as you know during that time?
A. No sir.
Q. I ask you once more how it happened that, knowing Mr. Morse was at your house you did not step in and greet him before you retired.
A. I have no reason except that I was not feeling well Wednesday and so did not come down.
Q. No, you were down when you came in from out.
A. Do you mean Wednesday night?
Q. Yes.
A. Because I hardly ever do go in. I generally went right up to my room and I did that night.
Q. Could you then get to your room from the back hall?
A. No sir.
Q. From the back stairs?
A. No sir.
Q. Why not? What would hinder?
A. Father's bedroom door was kept locked and his door into my room was locked and hooked, too, I think and I had no keys.
Q. That was the custom of the establishment?
A. It had always been so.
Q. It was so Wednesday and so Thursday?
A. It was so Wednesday but Thursday they broke the door open.
Q. That was after the crowd came. Before the crowd came?
A It was so.
Q. There was no access, except one had a key, and one would have to have two keys?
A They would have to have two keys if they went up the back way to get into my room. If they were in my room, they would have to have a key to get into his room and another key to get into the back stairs.
Q. Where did Mr. Morse sleep?
A In the next room, over the parlor in front of the stairs.
Q. Right up the stairs where your room was?
A Yes sir.
Q. How far from your room?
A. A door opened into it.
Q. The two rooms connected directly?
A By one door, that is all.
Q. Not through the hall?
A. No sir.
Q. Was the door locked?
A It has been locked and bolted and a large writing desk in my room kept up against it.
Q. Then it was not a practical opening?
A No sir.
Q. How otherwise do you get from your room to the other room?
A. I have to go into the front hall.
Q. How far apart are the two doors?
A. Very near. I don't think more than so far. Indicating
Q. Was it your habit when you were in your room to keep your door shut?
A. Yes sir.
Q. That time---that Wednesday afternoon?
A. My door was open part of the time and part of the time I tried to get a nap and their voices annoyed me and I closed it. I kept it open in summer, more or less, and closed in winter.
Q. Then, unless for some special reason, you kept your door open in the summer?
A. Yes sir, if it was a warm day. If it was a cool day, I should have closed it.
Q. Where was your father when you came down Thursday morning?
A. Sitting in the sitting room in his large chair, reading the Providence Journal.
Q. Where was your mother? Do you prefer me to call her Mrs. Borden?
A. I had as soon you call her mother. She was in the dining room with a feather duster dusting.
Q. When she dusted, did she wear something over her head?
A. Sometimes when she swept, but not when dusting.
Q. Where was Maggie?
A. Just came in the back door with the long pole, brush and put the brush on the handle. and getting her pail of water. She was going to wash the windows around the house. She said Mrs. Borden wanted her to.
Q. Did you get your breakfast that morning?
A. I did not eat any breakfast. I did not feel as though I wanted any.
Q. Did you ever deed him any property?
A. He gave us, some years ago, Grandfather Borden's house on Ferry Street and he bought that back from us some weeks ago. I don't know just how many.
Q. As near as you can recall.
A. Well, I should say in June, but I am not sure.
Q. What do you mean by 'bought it back'?
A. He bought it of us and gave us the money for it.
Q. How much was it?
A. How much money? He gave us $5,000 for it.
Q. Did you pay him anything when you took a deed from him?
A. Pay him anything? No sir.
Q. How long ago was it you took a deed from him?
A. When he gave it to us?
Q. Yes.
A. I can't tell you. I should think five years.
Q. Did you have any other business transactions with him besides that?
A. No sir.
Q. In real estate?
A. No sir.
Q. Or in personal property?
A. No sir.
Q. Never?
A. Never.
Q. No transfer of property one way or another?
A. No sir.
Q. At no time?
A. No sir.
Q. And I understand he paid you the cash for this property?
A. Yes sir.
Q. You and Emma equally?
A. Yes sir.
Q. How many children has your father?
A. Only two.
Q. Only you two?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Any others ever?
A. One that died.
Q. Did you know of your father making a will?
A. No sir, except I heard somebody say once that there was one several years ago. That is all I ever heard.
Q. Who did you hear say so?
A. I think it was Mr. Morse.
Q. What Morse?
A. Uncle John V. Morse.
Q. How long ago?
A. How long ago I heard him say it? I have not any idea.
Q. What did he say about it?
A. Nothing except just that.
Q. What?
A. That Mr. Borden had a will.
Q. Did you ask your father?
A. I did not.
Q. Did he ever mention the subject of a will to you?
A. He did not.
Q. He never told you that he had made a will or had not?
A. No sir.
Q. Did he have a marriage settlement with your stepmother that you know of?
A. I never knew of any.
Q. Had you heard anything of his proposing to make a will?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know of anybody that your father was on bad terms with?
A. There was a man that came there that he had trouble with. I don't know who the man was.
Q. When?
A. I cannot locate the time exactly. It was within two weeks. That is, I don't know the date or day of the month.
Q. Tell all you saw and heard.
A. I did not see anything. I heard the bell ring and father went to the door and let him in. I did not hear anything for some time except just the voices. Then I heard the man say, "I would like to have that place; I would like to have that store." Father said, "I am not willing to let your business go in there." And the man said, "I thought with your reputation for liking money, you would let your store for anything." Father said, "You are mistaken." Then they talked a while and then their voices were louder and I heard father order him out and went to the front door with him.
Q. What did he say?
A. He said he had stayed long enough and he would thank him to go.
Q. Did he say anything about coming again?
A. No sir.
Q. Did your father say anything about coming again, or did he?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you any idea who that was?
A. No sir. I think it was a man from out of town because he said he was going home to see his partner.
Q. Have you had any efforts made to find him?
A. We have had a detective; that is all I know.
Q. You have not found him?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. You can't give us any other idea about it?
A. Nothing but what I have told you.
Q. Beside that, do you know of anybody that your father had bad feelings toward or who had bad feelings toward your father?
A. I know of one man who has not been friendly with him. They have not been friendly for years.
Q. Who?
A. Mr. Hiram C. Harrington.
Q. What relation is he to him?
A. He is my father's brother-in-law.
Q. Your mother's brother?
A. My father's only sister married Mr. Harrington.
Q. Anybody else that was on bad terms with your father or that your father was on bad terms with?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. You have no reason to suppose that the man you spoke of a week or two ago had ever seen your father before or has since?
A. No sir.
Q. Do you know of anybody that was on bad terms with your stepmother?
A. No sir.
Q. Or that your stepmother was on bad terms with?
A. No sir.
Q. Had your stepmother any property?
A. I don't know. Only that she had half the house that belonged to her father.
Q. Where was that?
A. On Fourth Street.
Q. Who lives in it?
A. Her half-sister.
Q. Any other property besides that that you know of?
A. I don't know.
Q. Did you ever know of any?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you understand that she was worth anything more than that?
A. I never knew.
Q. Did you ever have any trouble with your stepmother?
A. No sir.
Q. Have you within six months had any words with her?
A. No sir.
Q. Within a year?
A. No sir.
Q. Within two years?
A. I think not.
Q. When last that you know of?
A. About five years ago.
Q. What about?
A. Her stepsister, half-sister.
Q. What name?
A. Her name now is Mrs. George W. Whitehead.
Q. Nothing more than hard words?
A. No sir. They were not hard words. It was simply a difference of opinion.
Q. You have been on pleasant terms with your stepmother since then?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Cordial?
A. It depends upon one's idea of cordiality perhaps.
Q. According to your idea of cordiality?
A. We were friendly; very friendly.
Q. Cordial, according to your idea of cordiality?
A. Quite so.
Q. What do you mean by "quite so?"
A. Quite cordial. I do not mean the dearest of friends in the world, but very kindly feelings and pleasant. I do not know how to answer you any better than that.
Q. You did not regard her as your mother?
A. Not exactly, no; although she came there when I was very young.
Q. Were your relations toward her that of daughter and mother?
A. In some ways it was and in some it was not.
Q. In what ways was it?
A. I decline to answer.
Q. Why?
A. Because I don't know how to answer it.
Q. In what ways was it not?
A. I did not call her mother.
Q. What name did she go by?
A. Mrs. Borden.
Q. When did you begin to call her Mrs. Borden?
A. I should think five or six years ago.
Q. Before that time you had called her mother?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What led to the change?
A. The affair with her step-sister.
Q. So that the affair was serious enough to have you change from calling her mother, do you mean?
A. I did not choose to call her mother.
Q. Have you ever called her mother since?
A. Yes, occasionally.
Q. To her face, I mean?
A. Yes.
Q. Often?
A. No sir.
Q. Seldom?
A. Seldom.
Q. Your usual address was Mrs. Borden?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did your sister Emma call her mother?
A. She always called her Abby from the time she came into the family.
Q. Is your sister Emma older than you?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What is her age?
A. She is 10 years older than I am. She was somewhere about 14 when she came there.
Q. What was your stepmother's age?
A. I don't know. I asked her sister Saturday and she said 64. I told them 67. I did not know. I told as nearly as I knew. I did not know there was so much difference between her and my father.
Q. Why did you leave off calling her mother?
A. Because I wanted to.
Q. Is that all the reason you have to give me?
A. I have not any other answer.
Q. Can't you give me any better reason than that?
A. I have not any reason to give except that I did not want to.
Q. In what respects were the relations between you and her that of mother and daughter, besides not calling her mother?
A. I don't know that any of the relations were changed. I had never been to her as a mother in many things. I always went to my sister because she was older and had the care of me after my mother died.
Q. In what respects were the relations between you and her that of mother and daughter?
A. That is the same question you asked before. I can't answer you any better now than I did before.
Q. You did not say before you could not answer, but that you declined to answer.
A. I decline to answer because I do not know what to say.
Q. That is the only reason?
A. Yes sir.
Q. You called your father, father?
A. Always.
Q. Were your father and mother happily united?
A. Why, I don't know but that they were.
Q. Why do you hesitate?
A. Because I don't know but that they were and I am telling the truth as nearly as I know it.
Q. Do you mean me to understand that they were happy entirely or not?
A. So far as I know they were.
Q. Why did you hesitate then?
A. Because I did not know how to answer you any better than what came into my mind. I was trying to think if I was telling it as I should, that's all.
Q. Do you have any difficulty in telling it as you should; any difficulty in answering my questions?
A. Some of your questions I have difficulty answering because I don't know just how you mean them.
Q. Did you ever know of any difficulty between her and your father?
A. No sir.
Q. Did he seem to be affectionate?
A. I think so.
Q. As man and woman who are married ought to be?
A. So far as I have ever had any chance of judging.
Q. They were?
A. Yes.
Q. What dress did you wear the day they were killed?
A. I had on a navy blue, sort of a Bengaline silk skirt with a navy blue blouse. In the afternoon, they thought I had better change it. I put on a pink wrapper.
Q. Did you change your clothing before the afternoon?
A. No sir.
Q. You dressed in the morning as you have described and kept that clothing on until afternoon?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When did Morse come there first? I don't mean this visit. I mean as a visitor, John V. Morse?
A. Do you mean this day that he came and stayed all night?
Q. No. Was this visit the first to your house?
A. He has been in the east a year or more.
Q. Since he has been in the east, has he been in the habit of coming to your house?
A. Yes; came in any time he wanted to.
Q. Before that, had he been at your house---before he came east?
A. Yes, he has been here, if you remember the winter that the river was frozen over and they went across, he was here that winter, some 14 years ago, was it not?
Q. I am not answering questions but asking them.
A. I don't remember the date. He was here that winter.
Q. Has he been here since?
A. He has been here once since. I don't know whether he has or not since.
Q. How many times this last year has he been at your house?
A. None at all to speak of. Nothing more than a night or two at a time.
Q. How often did he come to spend a night or two?
A. Really, I don't know. I am away so much myself.
Q. Your last answer is that you don't know how much he had been here because you had been away yourself so much?
A. Yes.
Q. That is true the last year or since he has been east?
A. I have not been away the last year so much but other times I have been away when he has been here.
Q. Do I understand you to say that his last visit before this one was 14 years ago?
A. No. He has been here once between the two.
Q. How long did he stay then?
A. I don't know.
Q. How long ago was that?
A. I don't know.
Q. Give me your best remembrance.
A Five or six years; perhaps six.
Q. How long has he been east this time?
A I think over a year. I'm not sure.
Q. During the last year, how much of the time has he been at your house?
A. Very little that I know of.
Q. Your answer to that question before was, "I don't know because I have been away so much myself."
A. I did not mean I had been away very much myself in the last year.
Q. How much have you been away the last year?
A. I have been away a great deal in the daytime; occasionally at night.
Q. Where in the daytime? Any particular place?
A No. Around town.
Q. When you go off nights, where?
A. Never, unless I have been off on a visit.
Q. When was the last time when you have been away for more than a night or two before this affair?
A. I don't think I have been away to stay more than a night or two since I came from abroad, except about three or four weeks ago I was in New Bedford for three or four days.
Q. Where at New Bedford?
A. At 20 Madison Street.
Q. How long ago were you abroad?
A. I was abroad in 1890.
Q. When did he come to the house the last time before your father and mother were killed?
A He stayed there all night Wednesday night.
Q. My question is when he came there.
A. I don't know. I was not home when he came. I was out.
Q. When did you first see him there?
A. I did not see him at all.
Q. How did you know he was there?
A. I heard his voice.
Q. You did not see him Wednesday evening?
A. I did not. I was out Wednesday evening.
Q. You did not see him Thursday morning?
A. I did not. He was out when I came downstairs.
Q. When was the first time you saw him?
A. Thursday noon.
Q. You had never seen him before that?
A. No sir.
Q. Where were you Wednesday evening?
A. I spent the evening with Miss Russell.
Q. As near as you can remember, when did you return?
A. About nine o'clock at night.
Q. The family had then retired?
A. I don't know whether they had or not. I went right to my room. I don't remember.
Q. You did not look to see?
A. No sir.
Q. Which door did you come in at?
A. The front door.
Q. Did you lock it?
A. Yes sir.
Q. For the night?
A. Yes sir.
Q. And went right upstairs to your room?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When was it that you heard the voice of Mr. Morse?
A. I heard him down there about suppertime No, it was earlier than that. I heard him down there somewhere about three o'clock, I think. I was in my room Wednesday, not feeling well, all day.
Q. Did you eat supper at home Wednesday night?
A. I was at home. I did not eat any supper because I did not feel able to eat supper. I had been sick.
Q. You did not come down to supper?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you hear him eating supper?
A. No sir. I did not know whether he was there or not.
Q. You heard him in the afternoon?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you hear him go away?
A. I did not.
Q. You did not go down to see him?
A. No sir.
Q. Was you in bed?
A. No sir, I was on the lounge.
Q. Why did you not go down?
A. I did not care to go down and I was not feeling well and kept to my room all day.
Q. You felt better in the evening?
A. Not very much better. I thought I would go out and see if the air would make me feel any better.
Q. When you came back at nine o'clock, you did not look in to see if the family were up?
A. No sir.
Q. Why not?
A. I very rarely do when I come in.
Q. You go right to your room?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you have a night key?
A. Yes sir.
Q. How did you know it was right to lock the front door?
A. That was always my business.
Q. How many locks did you fasten?
A. The spring locks itself and there is a key to turn and you manipulate the bolt.
Q. You manipulated all those?
A I used them all.
Q. Then you went to bed?
A Yes, directly.
Q. When you got up the next morning, did you see Mr. Morse?
A. I did not.
Q. Had the family breakfasted when you came down?
A. Yes sir.
Q. What time did you come downstairs?
A As near as I can remember, it was a few minutes before nine.
Q. Who did you find downstairs when you came down?
A. Maggie and Mrs. Borden.
Q. Did you inquire for Mr. Morse?
A. No sir.
Q. Did you suppose he had gone?
A. I did not know whether he had or not. He was not there.
Q. Your father was there?
A Yes sir.
Q. Then you found him?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you speak either to your father or Mrs. Borden?
A. I spoke to them all.
Q. About Mr. Morse?
A. I did not mention him.
Q. Did not inquire anything about him?
A. No sir.
Q. How long before that time had he been at the house?
A. I don't know.
Q. As near as you can tell.
A. I don't know. He was there in June some time. I don't know whether he was there after that or not.
Q. Why did you not go to Marion with the party that went?
A. Because they went sooner than I could and I was going Monday.
Q. Why did they go sooner than you could? What was there to keep you?
A. I had taken the secretaryship and treasurer of our CE Society, had the charge, and the roll call was the first Sunday in August and I felt I must be there and attend to that part of the business.
Q. Where was your sister Emma that day?
A. What day?
Q. The day your father and Mrs. Borden were killed.
A. She had been in Fairhaven.
Q. Had you written to her?
A. Yes sir.
Q. When was the last time you wrote to her?
A. Thursday morning; and my father mailed the letter for me.
Q. Did she get it at Fairhaven?
A. No sir, it was sent back. She did not get it at Fairhaven for we telegraphed for her and she got home here Thursday afternoon and the letter was sent back to this post office.
Q. How long had she been in Fairhaven?
A. Just two weeks to the day.
Q. You did not visit in Fairhaven?
A. No sir.
Q. Had there been anybody else around the house that week, or premises?
A. No one that I know of except the man that called to see him on this business about the store.
Q. Was that that week?
A. Yes sir.
Q. I misunderstand you probably. I thought you said a week or two before.
A. No, I said that week. There was a man came the week before and gave up some keys and I took them.
Q. Do you remember of anybody else being then around the premises that week?
A. Nobody that I know of or saw.
Q. Nobody at work there?
A. No sir.
Q. Nobody doing any chores there?
A. No sir, not that I know of.
Q. Nobody had access to the house so far as you know during that time?
A. No sir.
Q. I ask you once more how it happened that, knowing Mr. Morse was at your house you did not step in and greet him before you retired.
A. I have no reason except that I was not feeling well Wednesday and so did not come down.
Q. No, you were down when you came in from out.
A. Do you mean Wednesday night?
Q. Yes.
A. Because I hardly ever do go in. I generally went right up to my room and I did that night.
Q. Could you then get to your room from the back hall?
A. No sir.
Q. From the back stairs?
A. No sir.
Q. Why not? What would hinder?
A. Father's bedroom door was kept locked and his door into my room was locked and hooked, too, I think and I had no keys.
Q. That was the custom of the establishment?
A. It had always been so.
Q. It was so Wednesday and so Thursday?
A. It was so Wednesday but Thursday they broke the door open.
Q. That was after the crowd came. Before the crowd came?
A It was so.
Q. There was no access, except one had a key, and one would have to have two keys?
A They would have to have two keys if they went up the back way to get into my room. If they were in my room, they would have to have a key to get into his room and another key to get into the back stairs.
Q. Where did Mr. Morse sleep?
A In the next room, over the parlor in front of the stairs.
Q. Right up the stairs where your room was?
A Yes sir.
Q. How far from your room?
A. A door opened into it.
Q. The two rooms connected directly?
A By one door, that is all.
Q. Not through the hall?
A. No sir.
Q. Was the door locked?
A It has been locked and bolted and a large writing desk in my room kept up against it.
Q. Then it was not a practical opening?
A No sir.
Q. How otherwise do you get from your room to the other room?
A. I have to go into the front hall.
Q. How far apart are the two doors?
A. Very near. I don't think more than so far. Indicating
Q. Was it your habit when you were in your room to keep your door shut?
A. Yes sir.
Q. That time---that Wednesday afternoon?
A. My door was open part of the time and part of the time I tried to get a nap and their voices annoyed me and I closed it. I kept it open in summer, more or less, and closed in winter.
Q. Then, unless for some special reason, you kept your door open in the summer?
A. Yes sir, if it was a warm day. If it was a cool day, I should have closed it.
Q. Where was your father when you came down Thursday morning?
A. Sitting in the sitting room in his large chair, reading the Providence Journal.
Q. Where was your mother? Do you prefer me to call her Mrs. Borden?
A. I had as soon you call her mother. She was in the dining room with a feather duster dusting.
Q. When she dusted, did she wear something over her head?
A. Sometimes when she swept, but not when dusting.
Q. Where was Maggie?
A. Just came in the back door with the long pole, brush and put the brush on the handle. and getting her pail of water. She was going to wash the windows around the house. She said Mrs. Borden wanted her to.
Q. Did you get your breakfast that morning?
A. I did not eat any breakfast. I did not feel as though I wanted any.
About
Genius Annotation
On August 4th, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found axed to death in their home. Their daughter, Lizzie Borden, was tried for their murders. She was acquitted, but historians today still puzzle over the details of the Bordens' deaths.
Lizzie Borden had an axe/
She gave her mother 40 whacks,
When she saw what she had done/
she gave her father 41.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
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