Lizzie Borden acquitted of the 1892 Fall River axe murders
- When
- 1893
- Where
- New Bedford
- Episodes
- 2
Lizzie Borden was tried in New Bedford starting June 5, 1893, for the 1892 murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River. The trial featured contested evidence, including inadmissible inquest testimony and disputed physical findings. On June 20, 1893, the jury acquitted Borden after a brief deliberation, despite her remaining a prime suspect.
Episodes
- Trial Commencement
Lizzie Borden's trial began in New Bedford on June 5, 1893, with skulls presented as evidence.
- Jury Deliberation and Verdict
The jury acquitted Lizzie Borden on June 20, 1893, after a short deliberation period.
Background and detail
Trial Proceedings. The trial commenced in New Bedford on June 5, 1893. Inquest testimony was ruled inadmissible. Physical evidence included skulls presented on the first day. Witness Russell testified about a dress burned in the stove, claiming it was ruined by paint. Police admitted to a cursory search of Lizzie's room due to her illness. The defense received a lengthy summary from Associate Justice Justin Dewey before deliberation.
Verdict and Aftermath. The jury deliberated on June 20, 1893. Contemporary reports state the verdict was reached in 40 minutes on a single ballot, though later accounts suggest an hour and a half. Lizzie Borden was acquitted. Despite the acquittal, she remained the prime suspect. No other individuals were charged. Post-trial, Lizzie and her sister Emma moved to a house in Fall River's Hill District.
People involved
- Lizzie Borden · Defendant
- Justin Dewey · Presiding Associate Justice
- Bridget Sullivan · Witness
- Russell · Witness (unresolved single-surname mention)
Sources
- Lizzie Borden Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-11
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.