Temporary insanity?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed May 18, 2005 12:55 pm

Assuming our Lizzie did indeed do the deeds, could there have been a period of temporary insanity?

None other than Mark Twain himself wrote these paragaphs on the subject at:

http://www.manythings.org/reading/mt-new_crime.html

These lines come from a small 1873 book "Fun, Fact and Fancy" described as a collection of original comic sketches.". The entire book can be seen at

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ea ... ag=private

Twain mentions the Bridget Durgin case which I have seen referred to in newspaper accounts of the Borden case.

Liz Crouthers · Post by **Liz Crouthers** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:52 pm

She can't be insane she's to sane for that

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:03 pm

The temporary insanity dispute will rage until the end of time...

Personally.. I believe there are times when a person can be temporarily insane.

I am emphatically in favor of prison reform and the rights of those convicted of crimes. But-- touch a hair on one of my babies heads.. and I could kill.

Everyone has an Achilles’ heel... Something they are vulnerable in. Mine is my children.. Lizzie's may very well have been money.

Now-- that said. I do not necessarily believe a person who was temporarily insane is not accountable for their actions... There is way too much gray area...

prussicacid · Post by **prussicacid** » Thu May 19, 2005 4:46 am

Hi,

Just found your great site , I've finished reading R. Sullivan's excellent book on the The Borden Case and will find it very interesting to hear from the defenders of Miss Borden ( are there any ?)

Temporary Insanity, MMmmmm! if Abby was killed at 09.30am and Borden at 10.45 am , that leaves Lizzie wandering about the house in a state of madness for 75 minutes, something Bridget would surely have noticed, unless, of course, lizzie had TWO Temporary Insanity episodes in the one day!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:39 am

Hi prussicacid! Welcome to the forum.

One of the great questions of the Borden case is exactly what time both victims were murdered. Even today with modern forensics, time of death is not always able to be determined with any accuracy.

The best that can be said in the Borden case is that no one claims to have seen Abby after about 9 a.m. and that Andrew was seen entering his home at about 10:40 a.m. Much of that time Lizzie and Bridget were not together.

Did Abby leave the house as Masterton speculates during this time gap? No one saw her but no one saw a lot of things that morning. No one saw Andrew leave and go down street earlier.

I'm personally not a supporter of the temporary insanity theory but I also do not think it should be excluded from consideration. Someone, most likely Lizzie, did indeed have two violent outbursts no matter what the time gap.

prussicacid · Post by **prussicacid** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:51 am

Harry,

Thanks for your speedy and interesting comments ( are you really only 11 years old ?) Your points have prompted me to re-read some of the witness statements as to the Borden's whereabouts on that muggy morning.

Liz Crouthers · Post by **Liz Crouthers** » Thu May 19, 2005 3:11 pm

Yes there are defenders here we protect her