Seven timelines of the Borden case: Legal, time period, and four timelines of important people (William Moody, John Morse, Bridget Sullivan, and Lizzie Borden) based entirely upon their own testimony.
Problems with Time
One of the problems with this enigmatic case is that the timelines of those involved (where they were before, during, and after the crimes) are inconsistent within themselves and in comparison to other’s versions of events. Famous for her contrary explanations, Lizzie Borden, in her Inquest testimony, offered up many different accounts of her whereabouts that fateful morning. While her contradictory answers may be due to stress and the doses of morphine she had been given to calm her nerves by family physician Dr. Bowen, her inability to remember properly where she was and exactly what she was doing has been the subject of debate for over a century.
Presented here are four timelines for your consideration. Each timeline (William Moody, John Morse, Bridget Sullivan, and Lizzie Borden) is based entirely upon their own testimony, either at the Inquest, Preliminary Hearing, or the trial itself. The Legal Chronology is simply a timeline of the court proceedings in the case.
The first chronology is based on provable facts that have been double checked for accuracy in several sources. The Probable Sequence of Events chronology is the only speculative work on the list. It is, however, the best guess possible, based on the evidence in this case.
AUG. 4, 1892 Murders of Andrew and Abby Borden
AUG. 6 Graveside Service
AUG. 6 Accusation Made By Mayor- Lizzie “suspect”
AUG. 8 Warrant Issued- not served
AUG. 9-11 INQUEST
AUG. 11 Lizzie Borden Arrested
AUG. 12 Arraigned- “probable cause”- pleaded “not guilty” – sent to Taunton
AUG. 25-SEPT. 1 PRELIMINARY HEARING
NOV. 7-21 GRAND JURY- Taunton (also heard other cases)
DEC. 1 GRAND JURY- reconvened (Alice Russell testimony)
DEC. 2 INDICTED
MAY 8, 1893 Arraigned- Superior Court- New Bedford
JUNE 5-20 TRIAL- acquittal
Aug. 25. 1789
Phebe Davenport born. (1st wife of Abraham Borden and mother of his children).
c. 1794
Sarah Sawyer born. (1st wife of Oliver Gray and mother of Priscilla and Abby).
July 8, 1798
Abraham Bowen Borden born. (father of Andrew and Lurana, etc.).
c. 1801
Oliver Gray born. (father of Priscilla, Abby, and Sarah).
July 5, 1801
BeBe Wilmarth born. (Abraham’s 2nd wife).
c. 1819
Oliver Gray and Sarah Sawyer married.
1820
Priscilla Gray born. (full sister to Abby).
Sept. 13, 1822
Andrew Jackson Borden born at 12 Ferry St., Fall River. (1st born, and only son of Abraham, 24, and Phebe, 33, of 5 children).
Sept. 19, 1823
Sarah Anthony Morse born. (1st wife of Andrew J. Borden, and mother of Emma, Alice, and Lizzie).
1824
Edwin Augustus Buck (Rev.) born. (Emma and Lizzie’s supporter throughout the ordeal).
Aug. 10, 1826
Lurana Borden born. (Andrew’s sister, marries Hiram Harrington).
Nov. 14, 1826
Jane Baker born. (14 months older than Abby; becomes 2nd wife of Oliver Gray and stepmother to Priscilla and Abby; mother to Sarah Bertha Gray).
Feb. 26, 1829
Hiram Harrington born. (marries Lurana Borden, Andrew’s only remaining sister).
Jan. 21, 1828
Abby Durfee Gray born, in Fall River. (2nd wife of Andrew Borden).
July 5, 1833
John Vinnicum Morse born, in Fall River, Mass. (Sarah Borden’s brother, and uncle to Emma and Lizzie).
July 20, 1840
Seabury Bowen (Dr.) born
July, 1843
Great Fire of Fall River
April 1, 1844
Abraham Borden invests money to start Andrew and William Almy in furniture business.
1845
Borden & Almy open business on 5 Anawan St., Fall River.
Dec. 25, 1845
Andrew Borden marries Sarah Morse.
Dec., 1845
House on 92 Second St., Fall River, completed by Southard Miller.
Nov., 1849
Adelaide (Buffinton) Churchill born.
March 1, 1851
Emma Lenora Borden born.
Jan., 1852
Alice Russell born.
Oct. 13, 1853
Davenport Borden dies. (age 64, wife of Abraham).
Jan. 26, 1854
Lurana, age 27, marries Hiram Harrington. (3 1/2 months after mother dies).
Nov. 23, 1854
Abraham Borden marries BeBe Wilmarth.
1855
John Morse moves west to Minn. to live with his brother William. (stays 1 year, then moves to ILL. in 1856 / stays 14 years / 1869 moves to Iowa. Throughout this time, he spends summers and winters in New England area, visiting).
May 3, 1856
Alice Esther Borden born.
1857
Oliver Gray, Abby’s father, moves family to 45 Fourth St.
Sept. 14, 1857
George B. Harrington, only child of Hiram and Lurana born.
March 10, 1858
Alice Esther Borden dies. (“dropsy on brain”- hydrocephalus)
1860 census
Andrew Borden and family, at 12 Ferry St., had live-in domestic, Caroline Gray, age 19, born in R.I
July 19, 1860
Lizzie Andrew Borden born, 12 Ferry St., Fall River.
Dec. 22, 1860
Sarah Sawyer Gray, Priscilla and Abby’s mother, dies, age 66.
March 26, 1863
Sarah Anthony Morse Borden, Emma and Lizzie’s mother, dies, age 39. (“uterine congestion- 4 mos.- and disease of the spine”).
c. 1863
Oliver Gray, Priscilla and Abby’s father, marries Jane D. Baker. (he abt. 62, she abt. 37, Priscilla abt. 43, Abby abt. 35).
1864
Sarah Bertha Gray born. (eventually marries Geo. Whitehead).
April 14, 1865
Lincoln assassinated
June 6, 1865
Andrew J. Borden marries Abby D. Gray (he 43+, she 37+, Emma 14+, Lizzie almost 5).
1865
John V. Morse visits Bordens
c. 1865- 1869 (?)
Emma away at school 1 1/2 years.
1866
Bridget Sullivan born, in Ireland.
March, 1867
George B. Harrington dies, age 9 1/2, of “brain disease”.
1866 – 1886
Per 1870 census, Hiram and Lurana Harrington live at 12 Ferry St. (2 family home, with attic apartment – from at least 1866 to 1871, 8 people lived there: Abraham and wife, Andrew and wife and 2 daughters, and Hiram and Lurana Harrington-possibly with a servant couple, would = 10).
April 26, 1872
Andrew Borden buys 92 Second St., Fall River, from original owner. (at that time #66 / 1875 changed to #92 / #230 in 1896).
June 19, 1874
Andrew Borden has running water installed. (2 faucetts – #66 Second St.).
1875
Lizzie Borden goes to high school.
1875
John Morse lives with Bordens one year.
1877
Lizzie Borden leaves high school. (in junior year).
1877
John Morse visits Bordens.
1877
Rev. Buck’s wife dies, age 49.
1878
Andrew J. Borden and Wm. M. Almy retire from Borden, Almy & Co. (continue to trade in real estate).
1878
Anthony Morse, Sarah and John Morse’s father, dies in Ill.
Aug., 1878
Oliver Gray dies, age 77. (father of Priscilla Fish, Abby Borden, and Sarah Whitehead).
1878
Alice Russell, and mother, move to 96 Second St., upon the death of Alice’s father. (the “Kelly” house).
1880 – census
Borden family at 92 Second St., has servant : Mary Greene, white, female, age 35, single, born in Ireland.
1881
William Almy retires from all partnership with Andrew Borden.
Dec. 6, 1882
Abraham Bowen Borden dies, age 84.
July 2, 1883
BeBe Wilmarth Borden dies, age 82. (Emma and Lizzie’s step-grandmother, Abraham Borden’s 2nd wife).
Aug., 1883
Andrew Borden buys Lurana’s 1/2 of Ferry St. property.
c. 1883
Sarah Bertha Gray marries George W. Whitehead. (Priscilla and Abby’s 1/2 sister-Sarah abt. 19, Priscilla abt. 63, Abby abt. 55).
July 1884
Abby B. Whitehead born to Sarah and George Whitehead.
1884
George Robinson elected Governor for 1st of 3 one year terms. (served 1884-1886, inclusive).
1885
Lizzie Borden joins the Central Congregational Church. (prior to this she and her family had been members of the First Congregational Church).
1885
John Morse visits Bordens.
June 11, 1885
William M. Almy dies. (Andrew Borden’s previous partner).
May 24, 1886
Bridget Sullivan arrives in the U.S. from Ireland.
March 1887
George O. Whitehead born to George and Sarah Whitehead.
May 2, 1887
Andrew Borden buys Jane Gray’s 1/2 share of house at 45 Fourth St., for $1,500, and gives to Abby. (Oliver Gray, Abby’s father, had died in 1878, leaving 1/2 share to his second wife Jane, and 1/2 share to his daughter with her, Sarah, Abby’s half-sister.) This “1/2 house” is included in Abby’s property to be distributed upon her death.
Oct. 1, 1887
Andrew Borden gives Emma and Lizzie the Ferry St. property for $1.
1887
Hiram and Lurana move to Freetown, Mass.
1887
Lizzie Borden stops calling Abby “Mother”.
Nov./Dec., 1889
Bridget Sullivan comes to work for the Bordens. (called “Maggie” by the daughters).
c. 1889 – 90
Maplecroft” built, owner Charles M.Allen.
1890
Lizzie becomes secretary of the Fruit and Flower Mission. (her name is not included the following year.)
1890
Hiram and Lurana move back to Fall River.
June 21 – Nov. 1, 1890
Lizzie takes a trip to Europe. (19 weeks).
1890
“Andrew J. Borden” building finished.
1891
Alice Russell moves to 33 Borden St.
June 24, 1891
Andrew and Abby have been at the farm in Swansea.
June 24, 1891
Daylight robbery at 92 Second St. (Emma, Lizzie, and Bridget at home).
June 24, 1891
Lizzie named Board Member of Good Samaritan Hospital.
June 24, 1891
Sometime after this date, all doors kept locked, at 92 Second St., inside and out.
July, 1891
Bridget receives key to side door.
Oct., 1891
Morse moves from R.I. to South Dartmouth to live with old friends Isaac Davis, and his son, William A. Davis. (butchers and slaughterhouse owners).
1891
Lizzie becomes Treasurer of Young Womans Christian Temperance Union, Fall River.
1892, early spring
Lizzie tells cloakmaker Hannah Gifford that Abby “is a mean old thing”.
April, 1892
Borden barn broken into.
May 10, 1892
House painted. (drab brown, or drab olive green).
May /June, 1892
Andrew kills pigeons. (supposedly because they attracted intruders to the barn)
1892, end of June
Morse visits
July 10, 1892
Morse visits.
July 15, 1892
Andrew buys Ferry St. property back from Emma and Lizzie for $5,000.
July 21, 1892
Thurs.- Emma and Lizzie leave Fall River to go to New Bedford. Emma goes on to Fairhaven to visit Brownells. Lizzie stays with Pooles.
July 23, 1892
Sat. Lizzie goes shopping alone in downtown New Bedford for 1 1/2 hours.
July 25, 1892
Monday- Lizzie makes a side trip to Marion to visit the yacht of Charles W. Anthony.
July 26, 1892
Tuesday- Lizzie and her hosts go to Westport; returned by way of New Bedford- Lizzie returns to Fall River.
July 31, 1892
Sunday- Bridget serves mutton for first time.
Aug. 2, 1892
Tuesday-fried swordfish served for dinner. Supper is warmed-over fish, toasted bakers bread, tea, cake, and cookies.
Aug. 2/ 3, 1892
Andrew and Abby are sick.
Aug. 3, 1892
Wednesday- breakfast is pork steak, johnny cakes and coffee.
9 a.m.
Abby visits Dr. Bowen across the street.
a.m.
Dr. Bowen tries to visit Andrew a.m.
a.m.
Lizzie tells Bridget she had been sick.
a.m.
Eli Bence claims Lizzie came to D. R. Smith’s drug store to buy prussic acid.
noon
Boiled mutton and mutton soup for dinner. (supper is same soup warmed over, bread, cake, cookies and tea).
1:30 p.m.
Morse arrives, has dinner.
1:30 – 3 p.m.
Morse and Andrew talk.
3 – 4 p.m.
Morse leaves for the Swansea farm.
7 – 9 p.m.
Lizzie visits Alice Russell and recounts “littany of doom”. (past mischief about the house, fear of poisoning, father has enemies, seen suspicious characters lurking on premises. “I’m afraid but that someone will do something”). Said she would go to Marion, after all, on Monday.
8:30 p.m.
Morse returns.
9 p.m.
Lizzie returns from Alice’s house.
9:15 p.m.
Abby goes to bed.
10:00 p.m.
Andrew and Morse retire.
10:05 p.m.
Bridget returns from evening out; retires.
Aug. 4, 1892
Breakfast is cold mutton, mutton soup, johnny cakes, coffee, and fruit if wanted.
9 – 11:15 a.m.
Murder of Abby and of Andrew Borden.
Sources [s] and Resources [r] for Verification:
Caplain, Neilson, “Lizbits: Lizzie Borden Murder Case Pt. 1” (revised), Lizzie Borden Quarterly, Vol. VIII, Number 1, (Jan.2001). [s]
Duniho, Terence, “Borden Case,” private chronology, (unpublished). [s]
Koorey, Kat, “Borden Case,” private chronology, (partial), (unpublished). [s]
Rebello, Leonard, Lizzie Borden Past and Present. Fall River, Mass.: Al-Zach Press, 1999. [r]
Hoffman, Paul Dennis, Yesterday In Old Fall River, A Lizzie Borden Companion. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2000. [r]
Stenographer’s Minutes, Commonwealth vs. Lizzie Borden, Preliminary Hearing, Vol. 1, 1892: Fall River Historical Society. [r]
Menus by Bridget Sullivan. [r]
Dedicated to T.D. and BZK.
Chronology © 2001 Kat Koorey
Source: Lizzie’s testimony at the Inquest held from August 9 – August 11, 1892. Inquest Upon the Deaths of Andrew J. and Abby D. Borden, August 9 – 11, 1892, Volume I and II. Fall River, MA: Fall River Historical Society.
Aug. 4, 1892, Thursday
8:45 – 8:50 a.m.
Lizzie comes down “a few minutes before nine.” “I should say about a quarter” [before nine]. (pg. 56, 59).
Saw “Maggie” [Bridget] and Mrs. Borden; Morse “was not there.” (pg. 56).
The family had already breakfasted.
Spoke to her father, and Mrs. Borden . . . “spoke to them all.”
Did not mention Morse, nor inquire anything about him. (pg. 56).
“When I first came down stairs I went down cellar to the water closet.” (pg. 63).
Mr. Borden was in the sitting room reading the paper. (pg. 58).
Mrs. Borden was in the dining room dusting. (pg. 58).
9:00 a.m.*
Mrs. Borden had left the guest room “all in order”. (pg. 63).
She was going to put some fresh pillow slips on the small pillows at the foot of the bed and was going to close the room . . . “
“She had done that [made bed, dusted, etc.] when I came down.”
It would take “about 2 minutes” to put on the pillow slips. (pg. 63).
Did not see her after Lizzie “went down in the morning and she [Mrs. Borden] was dusting the dining room.” (pg. 62).
“I left her in the dining room.” (pg. 62).
“I should have seen her if she had stayed down stairs; if she had gone to her room I would not have seen her.” (pg. 63).
Mrs. Borden could have gone to her room while “I was down cellar.” (pg. 65).
Lizzie did not see Mrs. Borden when Lizzie came back from down cellar. (pg. 65).
“I had supposed she had gone out.” (pg. 66).
Lizzie gone [down cellar] a little more than 5 minutes. (pg. 66).
“Maggie” had “Just come in [while Mrs. Borden dusted the D. R.] the back door with the long pole, brush . . . she was going to wash the windows around the house. She said Mrs. Borden wanted her to.” (pg. 58).
Lizzie did not have any coffee or tea; does not know if ate any cookies. (pg. 59).
When she got down the breakfast things were all put away “except the coffee pot; I am not sure if that was on the stove or not.” (pg. 59).
The next thing that happened after Lizzie got down was “Maggie went out of doors to wash the windows . . . ” and Mr. Borden “came out into the kitchen and said he did not know whether he would go down to the post office or not. And then I sprinkled some handkerchiefs to iron.” (pg. 59).
“Maggie” went out after the brush before Mr. Borden went away. (pg. 59).
“After 9 o’clock”
“It must have been after 9 o’clock” when Mr. Borden went down town. (pg. 60).
“I was in the dining room . . . [when Mr. Borden started away] . . . I had just commenced . . . to iron.” (pg. 59).
“About 10 a.m.”
“My father did not go away . . . until somewhere about 10.” (pg. 68).
Lizzie “had not commenced [to iron handkerchiefs], but [I] was getting the little ironing board and the flannel.” (pg. 60).
Before Mr. Borden returned, Lizzie did not see “Maggie”. (pg. 67).
After Mr. Borden went out Lizzie did not go up stairs at all. (pg. 67).
Lizzie carried some clean clothes up. (pg. 60).
Stayed “in my room long enough when I went up to sew a little piece of tape on a garment.” (pg. 60).
The door to the guest room was closed. (pg. 64).
“He [Mr. Borden] came home after I came down stairs.” (pg. 60).
“I think “Maggie” let him in.” (pg. 61).
“After 10:00 a.m.”
“It must have been after 10 [when he came home] because I think he told me he did not think he should go out until about 10.” (pg. 83).
“He was not gone so very long.” (pg. 84).
When the bell rang “I think [I was] in my room up stairs.” (pg. 61).
“I was on the stairs coming down when she [“Maggie”] let him in.”
“I don’t think I had been up there over 5 minutes” [when Mr. Borden returned]. (pg. 61).
Mr. Borden was gone “not very long.” (pg. 62)
“I was down in the kitchen . . . [when he returned] reading an old magazine” . . . “eating a pear.” (pg. 60, 68).
“I am not sure whether I was there [kitchen] or in the dining room.” (pg. 60).
Lizzie was in the kitchen when her father was let in. (pg. 67).
Lizzie was reading an old magazine “for perhaps 1/2 an hour” before going to the barn. (pg. 71).
After Mr. Borden came home Lizzie was in the sitting room with him. (pg. 66).
Lizzie did not iron any more after he came in. (p. 68).
Lizzie swears she did not see him go up stairs (to his room). (pg. 84, 85).
Lizzie did not see “Maggie” after she let Mr. Borden in. (pg. 69).
Lizzie “might have seen her [“Maggie”] and not know it.” (pg. 70).
Lizzie doesn’t know when Mr. Borden came home. (pg. 69).
Lizzie went right out to the barn-not less than 5 minutes [after Mr. Borden returned]. (pg. 84).
Lizzie got some pears first. (pg. 72).
Lizzie stayed under the pear tree 4 or 5 minutes. (pg. 88).
Lizzie was 15 or 20 minutes in the barn “trying to find lead for a sinker”, and ate pears. (pg. 69, 77).
15 or 20 minutes after Mr. Borden came home Lizzie found him on the sofa. (pg. 69).
Mr. Borden was lying down on the sofa. (pg.78).
Lizzie noticed that he had been cut.
Lizzie…”did not see his face, because he was all covered with blood.” It made her “afraid.”
Lizzie called “Maggie” and told her Mr. Borden was “hurt.”
Lizzie did not know whether or not he was dead.
Lizzie did not search for Mrs. Borden.
Lizzie thought Mrs. Borden was out.
Lizzie sent “Maggie” for Dr. Bowen. (pg. 78).
*(pg.80)
Questioning by Knowlton:
Q: “Miss Borden, I want you now to tell me all the talk you had with your mother, when you came down, and all the talk she had with you. Please begin again.”
A: “She asked me how I felt. I told her. She asked me what I wanted for dinner. I told her not anything, what kind of meat I wanted for dinner. I told her not any. She said she had been up and made the spare bed, and was going to take up some linen pillow cases for the small pillows at the foot, and then the room was done. She says: “I have had a note from somebody that is sick, and I am going out, and I will get the dinner at the same time.” I think she said something about the weather, I don’t know. She also asked me if I would direct some wrappers for her, which I did.”
Source: Bridget’s testimony at the Preliminary Hearing held from Thursday, August 25 – Thursday, September 1, 1892. Preliminary Hearing in the Borden Case before Judge Blaisdell, August 25 through September 1, 1892. Fall River, MA: Fall River Historical Society. Timeline of Bridget Sullivan © 2002 Kat Koorey
6:15 a.m. — Bridget got up. Did not see anyone else. Started her fire. Opened the back door. Took in the milk. (pg. 2).
6:30- 6:40 a.m. — Abby came down stairs. (pg.4 ).
6:30- 6:45 a.m. — Getting breakfast. (pg .5).
6:45 a.m. — Opened the door for the ice-man. (pg. 3).
6:50 a.m. — “Ten minutes after her [Abby]”, Mr. Borden came down in his shirtsleeves. (pg. 5, 6).
7:15 a.m. — Bridget first saw Morse at breakfast. (pg. 7).
7:15- 7:45 a.m. — Breakfast: Abby, Andrew and John Morse. (pg. 7).
7:45 a.m. — Abby, Andrew and Morse went into the sitting room. (pg. 7).
8:45 a.m. — Morse went out. Mr. Borden let him out; asked him to return to dinner. (pg. 8).
8:45- 9:00 a.m. — Mr. Borden went back upstairs. Came down with his collar and tie and went into the sitting room. (pg. 9).
Lizzie came down to kitchen. (pg. 11).
Bridget went outside to vomit, “10 to 15 minutes”. (pg. 11).
Did not see Lizzie when she came back in from outside. (pg. 11).
9 a.m. — Bridget saw Mrs. Borden in the dining room dusting. (pg. 10).
Mr. Borden “was gone then”. (pg. 10).
Bridget did not see Mrs. Borden after that. (pg. 10).
9- 9:30 a.m. — Bridget cleaned her kitchen. (pg. 13).
Shut 1 sitting room window and 2 dining room windows in preparation of washing windows. (pg. 15).
Did not see Lizzie. (pg. 15).
Did not go in the parlor at all. (pg. 15).
9:30 a.m. — Bridget started to get her implements together to wash windows outside. (pg. 13).
Lizzie appeared at back screen door to inquire if Bridget was about to wash windows, while Bridget was just outside. (pg. 12).
10:20 a.m. — Bridget “got (back) in the house”. (pg. 17).
“Got the hand basin and went in the sitting room, and started to wash the sitting room windows inside.” (pg. 18).
“Part of 1 window washed when Mr. Borden came.” (pg. 18).
10:30- 10:40 a.m. — Mr. Borden at the front door. (pg. 19).
“It might be later than half past ten; I could not tell.”- Bridget. (pg. 19).
Bridget heard Lizzie laugh from up the front stairs. (pg. 19).
Previous to this, had not seen Lizzie or Mrs. Borden during the intermediate time. (pg. 19).
10:35- 10:45 a.m. — Bridget saw Lizzie 5 to 10 minutes after Mr. Borden came in. (pg. 20).
“She (Lizzie) came through the front hall…She came through the sitting room, I was in the sitting room.” (pg. 20).
Lizzie then went into the dining room, where Mr. Borden was. (pg. 20).
Bridget heard Lizzie” telling her father very slowly that her mother got a note . . . and had gone out.” (pg. 20).
10:45- 10:55 a.m. — Mr. Borden went up to his room. (pg. 21).
Mr. Borden returned to sitting room. (pg. 21).
Lizzie got out ironing board and put it on dining room table and started to iron while Bridget was finishing the last window in the dining room. (pg. 22).
While both were in the dining room, Lizzie asked Bridget if she was going out that afternoon. (pg. 24).
Lizzie followed Bridget to the kitchen as she hung up her cloths and threw out her water, and told her about a sale of dress goods at Sargeants. (pg. 24, 25).
10:55 a.m. — “4 or 5 minutes to 11” a.m., Bridget went upstairs- knew by the length of time she was upstairs when “it struck 11 o’clock.” (pg. 25).
11:10 a.m. — Lizzie “halloed” to Bridget . . . “so loud . . . Come down quick”, that her father was dead. (pg. 27).
“I might be upstairs ten or fifteen minutes, as near as I can think, after I went up stairs.” (pg. 27).
Source: Morse’s testimony at the Preliminary Hearing held from Thursday, August 25 – Thursday, September 1, 1892. Preliminary Hearing in the Borden Case before Judge Blaisdell, August 25 through September 1, 1892. Fall River, MA: Fall River Historical Society. Timeline of John Morse © 2002 Kat Koorey
Aug. 4, 1892, Thursday
6:00 a.m.
Got up in the morning “about 6, if I recollect right.” (pg. 239).
<6:20 a.m.
Came down stairs after “I made my toilet.” (pg. 239).
Found no one down stairs. (pg. 240).
Did not see the servant “until about breakfast time.” (pg. 240).
6:35 a.m.
Saw Mr. Borden “I do not think more than 15 minutes” after Morse got down. (pg. 240).
>Mr. Borden came down to the sitting room where “I was opening the windows at the time.”
Morse stayed in the sitting room -Mr. Borden was “backwards and forwards into the kitchen several times.”
6:55 a.m.
“15 or 20 minutes after Mr. Borden came down,” Mrs. Borden appeared.
7:05- 7:25 a.m.
Ate breakfast “I think about 7, it may have been a few minutes after.” (Morse, Mrs. Borden, Mr. Borden). Did not see Lizzie.
The servant came “in and out.” (pg. 240).
“. . . we were there not more than 20 minutes.” (pg. 242).
“While we were at breakfast”, Bridget was given directions “. . . That she was to wash the windows.” (pg. 251).
7:25- 9:10 a.m. (?)
Sat in the sitting room after breakfast “probably an hour and 3/4.” (pg. 242).
Had general conversation; we sat there “. . . in the sitting room.” (pg. 240, 241).
Mrs. Borden “sat there a little while” with them in the sitting room after breakfast, before she began to do her work. (pg. 241).
“Mrs. Borden was backwards and forwards through the room; she was in and out.”
“. . . in the kitchen way, and saw her go in the front way, once.”
Mrs. Borden “was dusting the room when I went in the sitting room, when I was there”. . . “with a feather duster.”
Morse did not know or hear Mrs. Borden go up stairs into his part of the house while he was there. (pg. 241).
8:30 a.m.
“About 15 or 20 minutes before I left the house” was when Morse saw Mrs. Borden go into the front hall. . . “Somewhere in the neighborhood of half past eight.” (pg. 243).
“I think Mrs. Borden must be up then; she went into the front hall the last I saw of her at all.” (pg. 241).
8:45 a.m.
Morse went away, “I think about quarter to nine.” (pg. 241).
Morse “did not hear her (Lizzie) come down.” (p. 241).
“I did not see her (Lizzie) from the time I came until the time of the tragedy.” (pg. 238).
At the time Morse left: “I suppose Lizzie was up stairs, I did not see her.” (p. 241).
“Mr. Borden came out through the kitchen into the back hall, and unhooked the door, and he hooked it, and the last words I heard him say was “John, come back to dinner with us.” Mr. Borden remained inside. . . the lasttime Morse saw him. (pg. 241, 242, 243).
Bridget “was in the kitchen” when “I went out.” (pg. 241).
When Morse left, “I looked at my watch,” it was. . . “within a few minutes of it (8:45). (pg. 243).
“I came down to the post office”. . . with a card to “I think William Vinnecum” of Swansea. (pg. 243).
“. . . then went from there out to the north door, and went up (walked) Third St.; from there to Pleasant St., up Pleasant St. to Weybosset St., No. 4 to Daniel Emery’s.” . . . “a good mile,” eastward, to see “a niece and a nephew from the west; my brother’s children.” (pg. 243, 244).
11:20 a.m.
Morse started to come away from there “I think about 20 minutes past eleven.” (pg. 243).
Morse fixed the time by looking “at my watch about going back to dinner.” (pg. 244).
The usual dinner hour at the Borden’s was “About 12 o’clock.”
Morse came back “on the car”. . . that comes down Pleasant St.
“I got off the corner of Pleasant and Second Streets”. . . went right up home. (pg. 244).
11:45 a.m.
Got home “about quarter to 12; I do not know exactly.” Did not look at watch. (pg. 244, 245).
Noticed “. . . Nothing that attracted my attention. . . I did not notice anything about the place.” (pg. 244).
“. . . might have been a few men along, the same as generally. I did not see anything unusual about it.” (pg. 253).
Came “Into the north small gate. . . I went around to the pear tree”-(didn’t see anybody in the entry way by the screen door)-stayed out under the pear tree “two or three minutes.” (pg. 253).
11:48 a.m.
First learned what happened “at the door,” by way of “I think the servant girl.” (pg. 244).
Mr. Sawyer was inside the house.
“The first man I saw in there was Dr. Bowen,” and “I think two policemen.” (pg. 244).
“I saw Mr. Borden (body) as I passed through. I went in there and saw him laying on the sofa. I went part way up the stairs. I did not go into the room at all, looked under the bed, and saw Mrs. Borden lying there.” “They told me”. . . she was up in that room. (pg. 245, 254).
Came down through the sitting room, “into the kitchen, from there into the dining room, from there back into the kitchen.” (pg. 255).
When came back through sitting room did not look at Mr. Borden to examine anything. (pg. 255).
Could only tell the direction of one wound upon Mr. Borden, “The one that went down through, and cut through here, and cut through the nose, a long gash it appeared to be”. . . “My impression of it”. . . the cut was diagonal, from the forehead down and towards the nose. (pg. 257).
11:50 a.m.
“After I had been in the house 2 or 3 minutes, I saw her” (Lizzie) “. . . In the dining room, sitting on the lounge.”(pg. 245).
There were some ladies with Lizzie. (pg. 255).
“I was so excited at that time I could not tell you who they were; I was nervous, to tell the truth about it.”
Morse then went out of doors; saw “quite a number” of people then.
While out of doors “I don’t know as (I did) anything.” (pg. 255).
“I was out there 3 or 4 hours”. . . “walking around in different parts”(of the yard). (pg. 256).
“I think when I came from the back of the house, when I got the pears, I think it (the cellar door) was open; I won’t say sure, but I think it was.”
“I think it (the barn) was open.” (pg. 256).
Source: Moody’s opening statement at the trial of Lizzie Andrew Borden held from June 5 – June 20, 1893
Burt, Frank H. The Trial of Lizzie A. Borden. Upon an indictment charging her with the murders of Abby Durfee Borden and Andrew Jackson Borden. Before the Superior Court for the County of Bristol. Presiding, C.J. Mason, J.J. Blodgett, and J.J. Dewey. Official stenographic report by Frank H. Burt (New Bedford, MA., 1893, 2 volumes). (Micro- text, Boston Public Library: 1971). Timeline of Prosecutor Moody © 2001 Kat Koorey
Aug. 4, 1892, Thursday
“A little after 6 a.m.”
Bridget comes down first. Goes down cellar and gets fuel. Builds fire in stove. Went to the door and took in the milk. (pg.63-64).
“A little before 7 a.m.”
Mrs. Borden comes down. (pg.64).
“Next Mr. Borden comes down…goes out in the yard”, etc. (pg.64).
“A little after 7 a.m.”
Mr. Morse first seen at breakfast. All have breakfast. (pg.64).
“7:45 a.m.”
“After breakfast the first one to depart is Mr. Morse.”
“Mr. Borden lets him out.” (pg.64).
c. 7:50 a.m. (?)
“Soon after Mr. Morse went away” Lizzie came down. While she was there (kitchen) Mr. Borden went upstairs. Bridget went out to the yard to be sick. (pg.64).
“9- 9:30 a.m.”
“When she( Bridget) came back Mr. Borden had apparently gone down town.” (pg.65, 67).
Lizzie “was not in the kitchen.” (pg.65).
“Mrs. Borden was in the dining room.”
Bridget received instructions to wash windows. (pg.65).
“Not far from 9:30 a.m.”
Mrs. Borden “apparently” told Lizzie about making up bed in spare room and would go back up to put two pillowcases on…”and she was killed within a very few moments after she left the room (D.R.), because no living person saw Mrs. Borden from that time until her death, except the assailant.” (pg.65).
“Bridget went into the kitchen and dining room and sitting room to close the windows in the sitting room and dining room and there was nobody there – neither the prisoner nor Mrs. Borden.” (pg.66).
>9:30- 10:05 a.m.
Mr. Borden “was at the banks, between half past nine and a little after ten o’clock.” (pg.67).
10:29- 10:31 a.m.
“I am not quite sure which (time)- he was at the store of a Mr. Clegg, who fixes the exact time.”
10:40 a.m.
Mr. Borden is headed “in the direction of his home,”…”a moment or two’s walk…to his house.”
10:33 a.m.(?)
Mrs. Kelly see’s him at his front door “at 27 or 28 minutes of 11 which cannot be reconciled with the other time that I have stated here,”…”the clock by which she obtained this time was not one which could be depended upon.” (pg.67-68).
10:40 a.m.
“…Real fact is that at 20 minutes to 11 Mr. Borden started to his house, which was but a moment or two’s walk away.” (pg.68).
10:45 a.m.
“…Could not have been far from 10:45 when Mr. Borden returned.” (pg.70).
Bridget “had partly washed one of the two sitting room windows (inside) when somebody was heard at the front door.” (pg.67).
“Bridget let him in.” (pg.68).
“The prisoner from the hall above made some laugh or exclamation.”
Mr. Borden went to dining room.
Lizzie asked if there was any mail.
Mr. Borden heard from Lizzie that Mrs. Borden had gone out; she had a note from “somebody who was sick.”
Mr. Borden took his key and went upstairs.
Mr. Borden came down. (pg.68).
Bridget had finished the sitting room windows and was starting on the dining room windows. (pg.69).
Prisoner again appeared from front part of house, got ironing board and began to iron handkerchiefs.
Told Bridget about note.
Asked her if she was going out.
Bridget finished her work and was about to go upstairs when Lizzie told her of “cheap sale of goods downtown.”
Bridget went upstairs. (pg.69).
11:15 a.m.
Call came to the” Marshal of Fall River”, who gave directions to an officer…(who) looked at his watch and found that it was 11:15. (pg.70).
10:45- 11:15 a.m.
“Therefore the time between Bridget’s going up stairs and coming down again must be diminished on the one side by the time consumed by the washing of a window and a half in the sitting room and two windows in the dining room and the putting away of the cloth and the water. On the other side the half hour between eleven o’clock and half past eleven must be diminished by the acts of Bridget and the acts of Mrs. Churchill and the acts of Cunningham which I have described.* I shall not attempt to fix that time; you can fix it better and measure it better yourselves when you come to hear the evidence of what was done by Bridget between the time Mr. Borden came and the noise was heard up stairs and what was done between the time when the alarm took place and the alarm reached the station house and the Marshal of Fall River.” (pg.71).
*(Mrs. Churchill is called over from next door, arrives to find Lizzie wants someone to go for a doctor, and she hurries away “diagonally across the street” to the stables to give the alarm and is seen and overheard by Cunningham, who phones the police and newspapers.). (pg.70).
Source: Preliminary Hearing, except where specified. Preliminary Hearing in the Borden Case before Judge Blaisdell, August 25 through September 1, 1892. Fall River, MA: Fall River Historical Society. Probable Sequence of Events © 2001 Kat Koorey
From the moment Lizzie “holloed so loud” to Bridget to “come down quick,” that her father was dead (Bridget, Prelim., p. 27), there was mass confusion: people coming and going, asking questions, contaminating the crime scene, even to the extent of allowing a reporter into the house that morning (Witness Statements, Off. Doherty, p. 4). By afternoon, there was a convention of doctors in the house all in consultation, and with bloodied hands (W.S., Bridget, Dr. Dedrick, p. 22).
The following Sequence of Events is an attempt to sort through the excited confusion and detail who came when according to their summons, even though there is a natural conflict of statements. The interesting outcome of this research was to find how often Lizzie called for assistance only to send that person away again on some errand. This left her (unusually) alone in the several key moments after the first outcry, alone possibly with a murderer loose in the house she refused to vacate.
Aug. 4, 1892
Lizzie calls out for Bridget, approx. 11:10 a.m. (p. 27)
Lizzie sends Bridget for Dr. Bowen (p. 27)
Bridget returns alone (p. 28)
Lizzie sends Bridget for Alice Russell (p. 28)
Mrs. Churchill comes from next door while Bridget gone (p. 281 – 282)
Lizzie was alone (p. 282)
Mrs. Churchill goes for help (p. 283)
Mrs. Churchill returns (p. 284)
Lizzie was alone (p. 284)
Dr. Bowen comes (p. 28, 273)
Bridget returns (p. 273)
Lizzie, Bridget and Mrs. Churchill go into the kitchen (p. 284)
Lizzie mentions cemetery to Mrs. Churchill (p. 278)
Dr. Bowen goes into sitting room to view Andrew’s body (p. 274)
Alice Russell comes (p.30, p. 274, Inquest, p. 148)
Mrs. Churchill and Bridget go up back stairs to get sheets (p. 274)
Officer Allen comes with private citizen Mr. Sawyer (Witness Statements, p. 1)
Officer Allen leaves (W.S., p. 1)
Mr. Sawyer stays at door (W.S., p. 12)
Dr. Bowen leaves to send telegram to Emma, etc. (p. 274)
Bridget and Mrs. Churchill find Abby’s body up stairs in guest room (p. 29, 30)
Bridget is sent for Mrs. Dr. Bowen (p. 84)
Bridget returns (p. 479)
Lizzie, Alice, Mrs. Churchill and Bridget are all in the kitchen (p. 285)
Mrs. Dr. Bowen comes (p. 479)
Dr. Bowen returns (p. 2 75 & W.S., p. 4)
Lizzie, Alice, Mrs. Churchill, Bridget and Mrs. Dr. Bowen all go into the dining room (p. 480)
Mrs. Dr. Bowen is sent home (p. 480)
Officer Doherty comes (W.S., p. 1)
Officer Allen comes right after (W.S., p. 1)
Officer Allen told about Abby’s body found, leaves again (W.S., p. 1)