Lizzie Borden was an American woman born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts. She is famously known for being accused of the brutal axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, on August 4, 1892. Despite the widespread belief and a sensational trial that captivated the public, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the murders in 1893. The murders involved multiple axe wounds, and Lizzie was considered an unlikely suspect due to her social standing and community involvement. She lived the rest of her life in Fall River, where she was shunned by many neighbors despite her acquittal. The case remains officially unsolved and has become a part of American cultural legend, inspiring numerous stories and rhymes. Lizzie Borden died in 1927. The key facts about Lizzie Borden include:
- She was charged with the first-degree murder of her father and stepmother but was acquitted.
- The murders occurred in the Borden family home.
- The trial was highly publicized and involved complex social and legal dynamics.
- No weapon was found, but an axe from the basement was suspected.
- Lizzie tried to buy poison and burned a dress shortly after the murders.
- She never spoke to her sister Emma after 1905.
The infamous rhyme associated with her case goes:
"Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks;
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one." This rhyme, however, exaggerates the details
of the murders. Lizzie Borden's life and trial remain a famous part of
American history and folklore.
