The Lizzie Borden Society archive

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1. "That Dang Hatchet"
Posted by adminlizzieborden on Jan-8th-02 at 9:42 PM

By kat on Monday, 11/19/2001 - 11:44 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Because of the gilt found in the wound of Abby (Knowlton Papers, by Draper, p. 211-12), then that hatchet that killed Abby was nearly new. Could multiple blows into and out of skull and brain, the wiping of, and then the washing of that hatchet removed the remaining particles of gilt? Or would the weapon now be somewhat blunted and needs necessarily be SHARPENED? If so, the 'assailant' could have retired to the cellar to whet and hone the implement, thus removing the last traces of gilt, so that none was found in Andrew's cuts. This would be while Bridget was 'washing windows'. She had been asked if she could see into the windows she washed and her answer was non-responsive. But if the exterior windows of the family portion of the house were too high for her to see into (she had to use a pole and brush), then what about THE CELLAR WINDOWS? No one asked her about THAT!
Maybe from her vantage point she Could see into the cellar...and....?

 
By Stefani Koorey on Tuesday, 11/20/2001 - 03:57 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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The gilt thing has always stumped me. First off, I didn't know what 'gilt' was in relation to a hatchet (having never in my life owned or purchased such a thing). Then there is that pesky factoid that no gilt was found in Andrew's wounds which makes me CRAZY. Could there have really been two different murder weapons? And we can't even find one of them!

Anyway, if whacking a skull almost a dozen times doesn't take the gilt off a hatchet, I don't know what would!

 
By kat on Tuesday, 11/27/2001 - 08:53 am [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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O.K., get out your hatchets, everybody.
Now---HIDE 'EM!
Hide 'em so they can't be found by a swarm of police who think YOU have a weapon hidden!
Wouldn't it be easier to remove the offending article from the premises, especially when you have the confidence to KNOW, then, it can't / won't be found? And so you can go to the funeral on Saturday, leaving the house in Alice Russell's hands, without a qualm?
If someone removed that hatchet FOR a Borden daughter, here is the list of who left the house before Saturday's search:

a).Lizzie claims to have gone to the yard or barn
b).Bridget leaves
c).Bridget leaves
d).Mrs. Churchill leaves
e).Dr. Bowen leaves
f).Mrs. Dr. Bowen leaves
g).Mrs. Churchill leaves
h).Bowen leaves
i).Bridget leaves
j).Alice leaves
k).the Holmes' leave
l).Bowen leaves

Friday:
m).Morse leaves
n).Morse (possibly) leaves again

---Who's got the hatchet?---

 
By raystephanson on Thursday, 11/29/2001 - 06:42 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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Assume the obvious.
Whacking Abby removed the remaining gilt from the hatchet, so there was none left for Andy.
The killer carried the hatchet away with him. Especially if it had his initials on it!

 
By kat on Thursday, 11/29/2001 - 10:18 pm [Edit] [Reply] [Msg Link]  
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So which one of these carried the hatchet away?

 
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