THE WITNESSSTATEMENTS

FOR THE LIZZIE BORDENMURDER CASE

AUGUST 4 - OCTOBER 6, 1892

FOREWORD

The Witness Statements are reproduced here as originally written pagination and

page breaks, paragraph spacing and indentations, grammatical errors, as well as

typographical and spelling mistakes have all been retained. They have been retyped into this

volume as the original pages were somewhat difficult to read. The only aspect of the original

that has not been retained is sentence length.

Created in 2001 by Stefani Koorey

For LizzieAndrewBorden.com

Proofread by Harry Widdows and Stefani Koorey 7.28.03

With new and comprehensive index by Stefani Koorey

Please discard all other previous versions.

THE WITNESS STATEMENTSTable of Contents

Page Date Police Officers / Witnesses

George A Allen1 Aug. 4 report of discovery of Mr. Bordens murder

John Fleet 2,3,4 Aug. 4 Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan, John Morse

Harrington & Doherty:4 Aug. 4 Dr. Bowen, Bridget Sullivan, Lizzie Borden5 Aug. 4 Lizzie Borden6 Aug. 4 Dr. Bowen, Dr. Dolan7 Aug. 4 the Marshal, Dr. Chagnon, asst. to Dr. Collett, Lucy Collett, John Denny8 Aug. 4 Patrick McGowan, Mrs. Crapo, FR Ice Co., Dr. Kellys girl Mary8 Aug. 4 Mrs. Dr. Bowen, Mrs. Churchill, Mrs. Buffington, Mrs. John Gomely,8 Aug. 4 Dennis Sullivan, Eli Bence9 Aug. 5 John Morse9 Aug. 6 Alan Morse, Henry M. Carter9 Aug. 8 Thom. A. Matherson, Chas. Baldwin9 Aug. 6 Mrs. John Gomely, Mrs. Churchill10 Aug. 6 Miss Mary Galagher, Joseph Shortsleeves and James Mather,10 Aug. 6 Mrs. Dr. Bowen, Mrs. Kelly, Elle M. Gifford, Mrs. Perry Gifford,11 Aug. 6 Miss Ida Gray, Hiram Harrington11 Aug. 8 Dr. Bowen, Mrs. Churchill12 Aug 8 Miss Sarah Scholick, Janice Duckworth13 Aug. 9 Thos. Walker, Peleg Brightman

Doherty and Harrington:13-14 Aug. 10 Mrs. George Whitehead14 Aug. 10 Maurice Daly, Mrs. C. J. Holmes, Dr. Handy14-15 Aug. 10 Dr. Handy15 Aug. 11 lady at home of Henrick Wood, Dr. Handy, Orin Rounds15-16 Aug. 12 at the Borden house16 Aug. 13 Abner Coggeshall, Gideon Manchester. S. R. Paquin16 Aug. 15 George Bentley17 Aug. 16 West Cook, Hiram Brightman,17 Aug. 17 Maurice Libby, Mrs. Jane Gray, Mrs. Phebe Warner17 Aug. 19-20 (on street duty)18 Aug. 21 Bestcombe A. Case and wife, Mrs. Daniel OLeary18 Aug. 23 Joseph Derosier, Michael Sullivan18 Aug. 27 Lucy G. Collett19 Sept. 25 Mrs. Arubia P. Kirby, Dr. Bowen, Louis Hall, Alexander H. Coggeshall19 Sept. 25 Robert Nicholson, James E. Cuneen, Dr. Handy, Henry A. Clark20 Sept. 25 Charles H. Cook, Fredrick A. Pickering, Mark Chase,20 Sept. 25 Leander A. Winslow, Thos. J. L. Brown and Fred Lavalle,20 Sept. 25 Carrie E. Rogers, John Eagan, Sarah Gray, Macy C. Macomber,20 Sept. 25 Mrs. Mary Wyatt, Elizabeth M. Johnson, Harry Pearce21 Sept. 25 William L. Hacking, George Petty, Mrs. Jane Grey

Page Date Police Officers / Witnesses

Doherty and Harrington21 Oct. 1 Bridget Sullivan22 Oct. 1 Bridget Sullivan, Dr. Albert C. Dedrick22-26 Sept. 29 E. P. McHenry and Henry G. Trickey26-28 Oct. 10 Henry G. Trickey and E. D. McHenry

William H. Medley28 Aug. 4 Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan29 Aug. 4 John Morse, Mrs. Emery, Mr. A. C. Hart, Mr. Everett Cook29-30 Aug. 7 Union Savings Bank (Mr. Hart), Everett Cook (First Natl Bank)30 Aug. 7 John T. Burrill (Union Natl Bank), Edith Francis, Charles C. Cook31 Aug. 5 Mrs. Poole (New Bedford)31 Aug. 8 Mrs. Cyrus W. Tripp31 Aug. 9 Joseph Silvia32 Aug. 10 measurements of house32 Aug. 13 Wm. H. Drummond, New Bedford32 Sep. 2 search for Sam Robinsky33 Sep. 2 Mrs. John Marshall at Pawtucket33 Sep. 8 Mrs. Robert Marshall33 Sep. 13 Mr. Mark Vincent (of Hillman & Vincent hardware)33 Sep. 12 Miss Lizzie Johnson34 Oct. 6 Curtis I. Piece

F. L. Edson35 Aug. 5 Edsons activities at the house, from 5:55 AM36 Aug. 8 Activities at the house, including search36 Aug. 26 John Morse

George F . Seaver36 Aug. 11 Frederick Eddy37 Aug. 11 Alfred Johnson

D. Desmond37 Aug. 8 Activities at the house; Lizzie Borden, Emma Borden

Joseph Hyde38 Aug. 4 Bridget Sullivan38 Aug. 4 Alice Russell39 Aug. 8 Alice Russell

John Devine39 Aug. 4 Activities at the house; finding of hatchets

John Riley40 Aug. 28 Activities at the house; finding of hatchets

Page Date Police Officers / Witnesses

J. M. Heap40 Aug. 14 Ronnald St. Amant41 Aug. 14 Mrs. Exentive StAmant41 Aug. 14 John St. Laurant41 Aug. 14 Francois Charret41 Aug. 14 Joseph Michaud42 Aug. 14 Alexander Cote

Albert E. Chase

42 Aug. 5 Burial of articles in backyard42 Aug. 17 Duty at house over 13 days43 Aug. 19 Charles B. Peckham43 Aug. 24 Jonathan Clegg, Mrs. Lizzie Gray, Mrs. Dr. Kelly43 Aug. 24 L. L. Hall, John J. Cunningham44 Aug. 24 James Leonard, Alice Russell, Charles Sawyer44 Aug. 24 Alexander B. Coggeshall44 Sep. 20 Miss Emma Borden

A. Perron44-45 Aug-18 Joseph Lemay

P. T. Barker45 Aug. 4 Mrs. Mary A. Chase45 Aug. 4 George H. Kelly

Edwin D. McHenry45 28, 1892 Mrs. Whitehead interview last Saturday night (presumably in Aug.)46 28, 1892 Mrs. Potter and Miss Dimon (milliners on Fourth street)

1

Fall River, Mass. August 4, 1892.

GEORGE W. ALLEN

Fifteen minutes past eleven A. M. the Marshal came out of his office and said Mr. Allen, I wantyou to go up on Second street, the house next to Mrs. Buffingtons above Borden street, and see whatthe matter is.

I ran out of the station up Second street, and just before I got to Mr. Bordens house I met Mr.Sawyer. I told him I wanted him to go with me; and he went. When I got to the side door of Mr.Bordens house, I was met by Dr. Bowen. He said he wanted a police officer. Mr. Sawyer said I wasone. He said all right, come right in. I told Mr. Sawyer to guard the side door, and not allow anyone tocome in, only police officers.

Dr. Bowen took me into the sitting room where Mr. Borden lay. He was on the lounge with hisface turned upwards. Several cuts long and deep on the left side of the face. Doctor said you go down,and tell the Marshal all about it. I ran down to the station as fast as I could go, and told the Marshal thatMr. Borden had been cut in the face with something like a razor. He said is he dead? I told him hewas. He gave me orders to go and find Officer Mullally, which I did in a few minutes, and brought himto the station.

The Marshal gave him orders to go right up to Mr. Bordens house. He was there by twenty fiveminutes past eleven oclock A. M. Just before we got there, Officer Doherty was ahead of us. When wewent up stairs the Doctor said Mrs. Borden had fainted with fright. Officers Mullaly and Doherty turnedher over. Officer Doherty said My God her face is all smashed in.

I went back to the station, and reported to the Marshal, and he went out, and went up that way.

2

JOHN FLEET

August 4, 1892.Went to the Borden house 92 Second Street at about between 11.45 and 12 M. Found Mr Borden

dead on the lounge; head badly cut; Dr. Dolan standing over him. Went up stairs; found Mrs. Bordendead on the floor between the bed and dressing case; head badly smashed, face downward.

Saw Lizzie A. Borden in bedroom on same floor, was sitting with Minister Buck on lounge. Askedher what she knew of these murders. She said that she knew nothing further than her father came inabout 10.30 or 10.45 A. M. and that he seemed to be quite feeble, and she helped him, and advised himto lay down on the lounge, which he did.

I was ironing handkerchiefs in the Dining room, which I left and went in the barn, up stairs, andremained there for half an hour. Bridget had gone up stairs, and when I came back I found father deadon the lounge, and went to the back stairs and called Bridget (servant) down stairs. Told her that someone had killed father, and told her to get Dr. Bowen. Did you see anyone around here? No, I had notseen anyone in the house or yard. Who is this Mr. Morse? He is my Uncle; he came here last night,and slept here, but went away before nine oclock A. M. and did not get back until after the murder; hecould not know anything about the murder. Have you any idea who could have done this? No, I donot know that my father had bad trouble with anyone. But about two weeks ago a man called, and theyhad some talk about a shop; and father told him that he could not have it for that purpose. The mantalked as though he was angry; did not know who he was, did not see him, could not tell all that he said.A man came here this morning about nine oclock, I think he wanted to hire a store, talked English. I didnot see him; heard father shut the door, and think the man went away.

Saw Lizzie two hours later, wanted to search her room. Dr. Bowen was in. She did now want to bebothered, would make her sick. Told her that I must search on account of the murders; otherwise shouldnot be doing my duty. She then allowed the search to go on. Could not find anything in the room whichwould show blood, and found no instruments that had been used for murder. She said that it wasimpossible for anyone to get in or throw anything in her room, because she always kept it locked.

Lizzie said that she had not seen Mrs. Borden since about nine oclock. She then saw her in thebedroom when she was coming down stairs.

3

Had a conversation with Bridget Sullivan. Said she saw Mr. Borden come in the house about 10:40A. M. Saw him come in the dining room, go to the window and look at some papers which he had inhis hands. He then went in the sitting room, sat down in the large chair near the window, and left Lizzieironing some handkerchiefs in the dining room. Went up stairs at 10.55 to fix my room. After I had beenin the room about ten minutes, Lizzie called me down stairs, saying that her father was dead, some onehad killed him, go