Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I agree, William. I think she was talking about Starrs. He kind of reminds me of Geraldo and Capone's "vault"...publicity stunt-wise anyway.


Tracy...

The obvious thing would be poisoning. If modern testing showed that Andrew and Abby were being poisoned that would change things a lot when it comes to considering suspects. I think then it would seem most likely to be an inside job.

We see cases on TV where bodies are exhumed years after they were buried to perform second autopsies. I don't see where this case is any different. Any modern examination of the bodies couldn't do much worse to them than what they did in 1892 when they removed the heads.

If the bodies were exhumed and autopsied, there would still be the same verdict re.the cause of death: "Murder by hatchet."

They might find poison in their systems - but this isn't what killed them.

oops

oops

william @ Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:40 am wrote:If the bodies were exhumed and autopsied, there would still be the same verdict re.the cause of death: "Murder by hatchet."

They might find poison in their systems - but this isn't what killed them.

That is true, but the cause of death is not in question. The identity of the killer is the question that is unanswered. A modern autopsy might not tell us who did it, but it could narrow down the list of suspects.

Fargo @ Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:10 am wrote:

That is true, but the cause of death is not in question. The identity of the killer is the question that is unanswered. A modern autopsy might not tell us who did it, but it could narrow down the list of suspects.

I agree with you on that Fargo. If poison was found it might not be what killed them but it would prove someone had been trying to do away with them before that day. I think it's an interesting subject. I also agree that poison points to an inside job.

As a matter of fact, the samples of Abby and Andrew's hair at the Historical Society could be tested for traces of poison.

Fargo @ Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:20 am wrote:The obvious thing would be poisoning. If modern testing showed that Andrew and Abby were being poisoned that would change things a lot when it comes to considering suspects. I think then it would seem most likely to be an inside job.

That's assuming the poison was a heavy metal. The bodies were tested for arsenic at the time. Thallium or antimony might still be present; you'd need to check the formula for the embalming fluid; I know arsenic was widely used as an embalming agent. God (or a forensic chemist) only knows what else was in the fluid. There are also innocent explanations for the presenc of heavy metals in skin and hair.

If it was a vegetable poison, it's very unlikely there would still be evidence of it.

Whoever killed them has long since gone to judgment. I do understand the urge to *know* -- I feel it myself. But I don't think exhumation would help in this case. I would leave the Bordens' bodies undisturbed.

Lynn

It is possible that my own memory is playing a trick on me concerning what she said, but that is the best of my recollection.

........so Lizzie walks into a bar and says "I got food poisoning today. Don't know when I'm gonna use it." ba da bing

...and then she added..."Take this hatchet for instance...no really...TAKE IT"


TRacy...