The Morning of the Murders

[joe1956]

I have always wondered about all of Lizzie's actions after she got out of bed the morning of the murders. What time did she wake up? What did she do in her room before coming down that morning? Did she lay in bed awake all night, thinking and possibly plotting? What was her usual morning routine? Were there any changes in that routine on the morning of August 4, 1892? Did she have to go to the front dress closet off the landing to get a dress, passing the guest room? Did she have to do her hair, etc...? The last time I was in the house, I sat on the fainting couch in Lizzie's room, and tried to imagine Lizzie rising from bed that morning and starting her day. I would love to read your thoughts. Also, what was the usual morning routine after rising for a prim and proper Victorian lady of that time? Thanks.

[Kat]

Hello!
It's an interesting question when we think about daily routines.
But I keep coming back to the fact that Lizzie returned from her trip Tuesday, July 26, then on the Saturday, July 30th, she seemed to go away for the day. (Emma Trial 1552- also see Bridget.) Yet Emma stayed away.

Anyway, I think Lizzie usually slept late- at least later than the Borden breakfast time, and she went out a lot, and didn't seem to eat at home much.

But on the 4th she gave her father a letter to Emma to mail, and she wrote it that *morning.*
Getting her clothes to wear the morning of the 4th is a good question- did she usually get her next day outfit out of the dress closet the night before? Did she start using Emma's bedroom for storing her clothing while Emma was away? I picture Lizzie throwing her clothing on that bed while Emma was not there.
Or did she wait until Uncle Morse went down to go to the closet in the hall? Hmmm...

[Bob Gutowski]

I think this is, ahem, pretty open to conjecture...

[Harry]

Hi Joe1956, welcome to the forum.

We have little knowledge of the everyday routine of the Bordens, just scraps that filter through the testimony at the hearings. Breakfast at 7, dinner at 12, etc. Lizzie had her outside interests but Emma did not seem to be involved in anything.

One of the usual things that Lizzie deviated from that morning was not to unlock the front door when she came down. Emma testified at the Inquest:

"Q. Was it the habit to keep the front door locked with the spring lock?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How about the bolt and the big lock?
A. We used those only when we went to bed.
Q. When did they get unlocked in the morning?
A. Usually when my sister or I came down stairs, one or the other unlocked them."

Bridget testified at the Trial, p235:

"Q. I am reminded that one question was unanswered. How many locks on the front door were locked as you went there, --- locks and bolts, I mean?
A. There was a bolt and there was a spring lock, and there was a key.
Q. And those were all locked?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. During the morning hours, usually, was that door kept locked otherwise than by the spring lock?
A. I don't know anything about the door; I didn't have nothing to do to it.
"

Again, welcome Joe1956

[DJ]

Hey, Joe!
I'm with Bob on this one-- I don't believe Miss Lizzie A. Borden began August 4, 1892, as any "ordinary" day. She may have spent a restless night, formulating her plans for the day. She may have well been up with the dawn, sitting in her room until she decided upon just the right moment to come downstairs.
She may have even sneaked downstairs and eavesdropped on the breakfast conversation.

[Bob Gutowski]

Or she spread out on the roof, like Jeremy in the comic strip ZITS, thinking about her life.

[DJ]

Or, daydreaming about her upcoming fishing trip to Swansea, before the Old Ladies' Home snatched the farm away from her--
Actually, Lizzie's reference to the locale, re her purported trip to the barn, could have been Freudian, if she knew of Mr. Borden's plans to will the property out of the family.