If you’re having just “one of those days,” it could be worse – just ask Lizzie Borden. Counting one’s blessings sounds much better than the more macabre expression of things being worse. However, if you stood trial for murder in August of 1892, “one of those days” would certainly be an understatement.

Imagine standing in that warm courtroom in Fall River, Massachusetts, with the air thick with speculation and stifling suspense. What Lizzie Borden thought or felt is harder to gauge, despite trial reports, which paint a rather odd picture of the 32-year-old woman. Wearing a large hat and appearing somewhat flushed, Miss Borden failed to answer several questions, leaving her defense with gaping holes. 

But was Lizzie Borden truly guilty? Was this everyday young woman capable of such brutality? Let us take a look at the facts and see what one may discover.

Respectably Vague

Born in 1860, Lizzie Borden grew up in a respectable New England family. Her father, Andrew Jackson Borden, came from a prominent family but always seemed to be short on cash. Mr. Borden worked in furniture and also made coffins; his family was able to live comfortably due to Andrew’s purchase of several textile mills in the area. Andrew also served as president of a local bank.

Both Lizzie and her older sister Emma lost their mother early in life, leaving a void in their young lives. Eventually, Andrew remarried and developed a reputation for being rather cheap. According to local reports, Mrs. Abby Borden was no favorite with Lizzie.

Lizzie Borden was well-educated, like other young ladies of their social standing. The family was devout members of the Central Congregational Church, and Lizzie took part in various organizations, including the Women’s Temperance Union and the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavour. From the outside – apart from a few oddities – Lizzie Borden’s life seemed tranquil and comfortable. Yet weeds still grow in the most abundant gardens. 

Lizzie Borden on Trial

On that fateful August day, Abby and Andrew Borden were found dead inside their home in the middle of the day. With only Lizzie and their Irish maidservant, Bridget Sullivan, at home, the authorities centered their attentions on the younger Miss Borden. The scene of the crime horrified all who saw it: both Andrew and Abbey had been struck repeatedly by an axe.

Both the 2018 and 1975 movies focus on different aspects of the murders, focusing on various fictional elaborations of what happened behind closed doors. Lizzie, starring Chloë Sevigny, portrays a cool and collected Lizzie Borden who has suffered from years of abuse. The 2018 version created a chilling atmosphere, and the tension is palpable.

In the 1975 version, Lizzie Borden is also portrayed as detached from the chaos of the trial, broken from years of unease, neglect, and mental health issues. Interestingly, both films show Lizzie committing the crime – in the eyes of Hollywood, at least, she is guilty. In the 2018 movie, Bridget Sullivan, the maid, aids Lizzie in the evil act but also evades justice by taking a train to Montana after making Lizzie promise not to contact her ever again.

According to actual reports, Lizzie Borden was composed during most of the trial, and showed very little emotion even after her acquittal. As far as the law was concerned, Miss Borden was free to go and rebuild her life. She moved to a more fashionable part of town, just as she wished, but was ostracized by her church and most of the community.

The Jury’s Still Out

Was Lizzie Borden truly guilty? Did she evade human justice? If the remainder of her life is any indication, she lived with Emma until they quarreled and Emma left. Both sisters never married and died within weeks of each other in 1927. She was even prosecuted for shoplifting in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1897 – after this incident, she lived quietly until the day of her death.