Crime Library - Evidence

The murders of Andrew and Abby Borden occurred on August 4, 1982, before fingerprint technology became an established method of police investigation. By today's standards of forensic science, the police work in the Borden murders seems crude, sloppy, and disorganized. The evidence that remains for us to examine comes from various sources—the primary source documents (Inquest, Preliminary, and Trial testimony) as well as collections of artifacts in private and non-profit sources.

The Fall River Historical Society has a large collection of resources from the case, including photographs, letters, personal papers, Abby's hair swatch, the "handleless hatchet" (presented at trial as the possible murder weapon), and the bloody pillow shams from the guest room. Through the years, copies of most of the photographs have been available for armchair detectives to use in their own investigations.

The documents and photographs in this section of the Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum and Library comprise a large portion of what remains of the evidence in the Borden murders. Hopefully, some additional material will come to light in the future, documents and artifacts perhaps now hidden away in some attic or basement trunk, just waiting for someone to recognize their significance. Now is the time to look around your houses for these valuable lost items. If you find anything of import, we welcome the story of your discovery here.

According to CNN, Lizzie's defense attorney, George Dexter Robinson's file on the case is "probably the last great body of fresh historical evidence on one of the most sensational episodes in legal history. The papers are in a locked room inside a file cabinet on the 16th floor at the Springfield law firm founded by George Robinson." Unfortunately, the law firm has successfully resisted all attempts, both legal and otherwise, to examine the contents of the files. While some enthusiasts feel that this is the last great hope of finding that smoking axe of Borden scholarship —a statement by Lizzie herself as to her guilt or innocence— the firm continues to cite attorney-client confidentiality in their refusal to turn over the documents to researchers and historians.

Instead, Borden scholars are relegated to examining the public material that has been in existence since the crimes occurred 110 years ago. Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes and a new examination of this collection of evidence will help solve the crime of the century (the 19th century that is).

A note of warning: the autopsy section of the Crime Library contains graphic images that are disturbing and gruesome. You are hereby warned that this area is not for children or the squeamish. Since the images are important historically, and have been printed in books on the case previously, they are included here for your examination.