Lizzie's reaction to Anna Borden
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:45 am
Lizzie garnered an enormous amount of attention, and often praise, for her composed demeanor, which extended from the day of the murders to the trial acquittal.
Another exception to Lizzie's stoic demeanor was her reaction, specifically her body language, when Anna Borden took the witness stand at the trial.
Anna's appearance and testimony seemed to have caused a marked emotional reaction out of Lizzie.
Below are four newspaper articles providing a consistent description. There are additional articles with similar descriptions. I've left out both the FR and Boston Globe reports.
Fall River Daily Herald June 15, 1893. Page 3.
One moment later, the most trying time for Lizzie and Anna Borden arrived. Miss Anna stepped up to the stand and after taking the oath was obliged to remove a veil. Miss Lizzie slid far down into her chair, hid her face behind her fan, and never once looked into the bright eyes of her whilom friend.
Whilom definition = formerly; in the past.
Fall River Daily Evening News June 14, 1893. Page 5.
The exclusion of Miss Anna Borden’s testimony was a good point in favor of the defense and apparently a great relief to the witness. During the few moments that she was on the stand Miss Borden stared at her fan and did not look up.
San Francisco Examiner June 15, 1893. Page 2.
The nearest she came to giving away to her emotions to-day was when her friend and cousin, the very pretty and gentle-faced Anna Borden was called. She pressed her black fan close to her forehead at the first sound of the witness’ voice, squeezing it even more convulsively over her eyes, until its edge was bent in a narrow semi-circle. Then, with her left hand still holding the limp-stemmed white flower, she raised her handkerchief to her eyes.
Portland Daily Press. June 15, 1893. Page 1.
Miss Anna Borden stepped down and out. Lizzie Borden raised her flushed face from the recess of her opened fan and again there was a slight glistening of the eyes. Neither of the two former friends looked at each other once while Miss Anna remained in the court room. Lizzie’s face sought refuge in the fan for all period.
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What emotions or thoughts were racing through Lizzie's mind as Anna Borden was up on the stand? Was she concerned about what would be said? Was she embarrassed to have someone she likely held in high regard, as a witness against her in a courtroom? Something else?
I suspect Anna and Lizzie had a closer friendship than has been suggested in the Borden case materials I've read. To spend around 19 weeks at the side of someone touring Europe, including 2 weeks in a steamship cabin, would seemingly create a pretty strong bond. I've also added a couple of news snippets below that support the concept that the friendship extended well beyond the Europe excursion.
While the Boston Globe may have participated in yellow journalism and certainly editorial malfeasance with the October 10th reporting, on August 15, no one had the slightest idea that Anna Borden might be a witness at the trial ten months later. The reporter would have had zero reason to even know her name and falsely connect it to Lizzie's July 30 visit to Marion (which we know occurred).
Boston Globe August 15, 1892. Page 3.
However, she (Lizzie) promised to join the cottage party from time to time, and on the 30th of July she and Miss Anna H. Borden, a Fall River friend, but not a relative, went over to Marion and spent the day with the ladies there.
There it was that their plans were made for her to come for several days, which she was to have done on the Monday following that bloody Thursday.
Fall River Globe June 14, 1893. Page 8.
Her sister, Emma, was over to see her yesterday morning, but came home on the midday train. Miss Anna Borden, who was said to have been the closest friend Lizzie had, was about the court house yesterday, and Chief Hilliard admitted that she had been summoned.
Another exception to Lizzie's stoic demeanor was her reaction, specifically her body language, when Anna Borden took the witness stand at the trial.
Anna's appearance and testimony seemed to have caused a marked emotional reaction out of Lizzie.
Below are four newspaper articles providing a consistent description. There are additional articles with similar descriptions. I've left out both the FR and Boston Globe reports.
Fall River Daily Herald June 15, 1893. Page 3.
One moment later, the most trying time for Lizzie and Anna Borden arrived. Miss Anna stepped up to the stand and after taking the oath was obliged to remove a veil. Miss Lizzie slid far down into her chair, hid her face behind her fan, and never once looked into the bright eyes of her whilom friend.
Whilom definition = formerly; in the past.
Fall River Daily Evening News June 14, 1893. Page 5.
The exclusion of Miss Anna Borden’s testimony was a good point in favor of the defense and apparently a great relief to the witness. During the few moments that she was on the stand Miss Borden stared at her fan and did not look up.
San Francisco Examiner June 15, 1893. Page 2.
The nearest she came to giving away to her emotions to-day was when her friend and cousin, the very pretty and gentle-faced Anna Borden was called. She pressed her black fan close to her forehead at the first sound of the witness’ voice, squeezing it even more convulsively over her eyes, until its edge was bent in a narrow semi-circle. Then, with her left hand still holding the limp-stemmed white flower, she raised her handkerchief to her eyes.
Portland Daily Press. June 15, 1893. Page 1.
Miss Anna Borden stepped down and out. Lizzie Borden raised her flushed face from the recess of her opened fan and again there was a slight glistening of the eyes. Neither of the two former friends looked at each other once while Miss Anna remained in the court room. Lizzie’s face sought refuge in the fan for all period.
----------------------------------------------
What emotions or thoughts were racing through Lizzie's mind as Anna Borden was up on the stand? Was she concerned about what would be said? Was she embarrassed to have someone she likely held in high regard, as a witness against her in a courtroom? Something else?
I suspect Anna and Lizzie had a closer friendship than has been suggested in the Borden case materials I've read. To spend around 19 weeks at the side of someone touring Europe, including 2 weeks in a steamship cabin, would seemingly create a pretty strong bond. I've also added a couple of news snippets below that support the concept that the friendship extended well beyond the Europe excursion.
While the Boston Globe may have participated in yellow journalism and certainly editorial malfeasance with the October 10th reporting, on August 15, no one had the slightest idea that Anna Borden might be a witness at the trial ten months later. The reporter would have had zero reason to even know her name and falsely connect it to Lizzie's July 30 visit to Marion (which we know occurred).
Boston Globe August 15, 1892. Page 3.
However, she (Lizzie) promised to join the cottage party from time to time, and on the 30th of July she and Miss Anna H. Borden, a Fall River friend, but not a relative, went over to Marion and spent the day with the ladies there.
There it was that their plans were made for her to come for several days, which she was to have done on the Monday following that bloody Thursday.
Fall River Globe June 14, 1893. Page 8.
Her sister, Emma, was over to see her yesterday morning, but came home on the midday train. Miss Anna Borden, who was said to have been the closest friend Lizzie had, was about the court house yesterday, and Chief Hilliard admitted that she had been summoned.