Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Of course just speculation here, but the thought crossed my mind last night. Let's suppose Lizzie was guilty. In suspecting Lizzie, the Fall River police were searching the house, looking for a blood-stained dress. But, what if Lizzie had worn men's clothing while committing the murders? Could Uncle John Morse have smuggled in something that would fit Lizzie? Or did Lizzie (or Emma) procure the clothing on an earlier occasion? Or was Lizzie able to wear something of Andrew's, something she managed to fit into? Did the police only search through the girls' closet of dresses or did they search through every wardrobe, male clothing included?

Is it safe to say that no one at the time would suspect a Victorian lady to commit a gruesome double murder in men's clothing? All Lizzie would have to do is slip the clothes back on a nail in the back of Andrew's wardrobe closet, hide the hatchet in the inside jacket pocket & the police wouldn't be any the wiser. The clothing & hatchet could always be disposed of later. What are your thoughts? Perhaps the dress-burning incident was an innocent act after all.

Hi, that's as good an idea as any, she could have donned the men's clothing, but I don't believe she took the time to cover herself that well. She only took minuets, to do the things she had to do, before calling up for Bridget. But anythings possible, the only one who knows what she did or didn't is Lizzie, and she ain't telling!

She might have worn Abby's clothing, the police might not have looked closely at anything in Abby's closet.

Yep, that might have been easier and faster to get on and off over her own clothes.

Perhaps Lizzie just pinned a sheet over herself...even if it got bloody, it could be soaked clean and washed and no one would be the wiser. A sheet would probably fit in the slop bucket, especially if it had water in it for soaking. It would also make for a fast clean up! Abby may have reacted if she saw Lizzie coming at her wrapped in a sheet, but I still believe the burned dress was burned for a reason...and she had plenty of time to clean herself up and lie in wait for Andrew.

The quickest and simplest solution is to wear Andrew's Prince Albert coat backwards while wielding the hatchet. The coat extended almost to the wearer's knees, it was a very long coat. On Lizzie, it would likely have covered her to below her knees.

I didn't realize the coat was that long, that would have done nicely, then, just shove it under his head, any blood found on it would be explained. So, why did she still have to burn that dress? Oh, she didn't know to wear anything when she killed Abby........

I've often said it is suspicious that a dress which should have been carefully stored away, if not usable, was deliberately destroyed. It should have been further proof on innocence if it was free of blood, one more garment in Lizzie's wardrobe without bloodstains. There should have been nothing compelling the destruction of that dress or any other part of Lizzie's wardrobe in light of the circumstances. Alice Russell cautioned Lizzie to not get caught burning the dress at the time, something about not letting anyone see her doing it. Lizzie continued burning the dress, in spite of the warning, without questioning the warning itself or why it was wrong to do that. Then after Alice told Emma and Lizzie that she had been questioned by Hanscom about the clothing and having told him about the dress burning, Lizzie's reaction was "how could you let me do it", or something similar. I doubt that anyone beyond the age of ten is quite that naive!

I never thought of that. She might have done the deed in mens clothing. Thepolice were looking for female clothing because she was a lady and wore dresses. Good point!!