Lizzie Borden Society Forum

We have been talking about the possible connection of certain types of weapons to certain types of people/genders in Kat's "Ax" thread. So that got me to wondering what kind of weapon you would have used if you were Lizzie. Not if you were you, but if you were Lizzie.Of course in this scenario we are assuming that Lizzie is the killer.

Now I am presupposing, in this case, that Lizzie did not have access to a gun and she tried to buy poison but failed. So, as Harry mentioned in the "Ax" thread the weapon would have to be some object in the house, cellar, yard, barn. It would have to be something Lizzie could get her hands on. We all know that a sharp weapon of some sort was actually used but I want us to get into Lizzie's mind and think out the process of choosing a weapon.

So you/Lizzie are lying in bed thinking how you are going to bump off the old folks. You don't have a gun and failed to get some poison, what else can I use? Let us know why.

-1bigsteve (o:

I'd go with the hatchet. Works for me.

I'd go with the hatchet. Works for me.

I'd go with the hatchet. Works for me.

I'm with Snokkums (all three of her).

If I were Lizzie, I would obviously have done exactly as she did, and therefore would have used the hatchet, which, as well as can be determined, is exactly what she did.

The reason I said hatchet was because of the intimidation factor. Plus if for some reason Andrew put up a fight, she had a better chance with a weapon with a longer handle, so he couldn't grab her arm.

Definitely the hatchet. Most of the other items listed would cause blunt force trauma, but not possibly result in death.

oops sorry zapped the submit too many times.

Of the weapons specifically mentioned. the hatchet would be the most lethal with a single blow, or with multiple blows if necessary. It would accomplish the end result more efficiently than any of the other items, no matter who was using it. The only thing more efficient might be a firearm, and a hatchet is a lot quieter than a gun.

I have to go with a hatchet; if murder is the goal, then it wouldn't make any difference if the killer was male or female. Assuming Lizzie was the killer, I think she was desperate and she was determined to get the deeds done. The combination of being determined, rising adrenaline and a hatchet in hand; Lizzie got away with two prefect murders!

I chose hatchet for many of the reasons stated above. It was a common implement in most households. Another reason is even in the heat of passion she might try to make it look like the work of someone else. A firepoker, iron, or something else handy specifically to the Borden's residence would point more towards someone inside.

Lizzie was ironing in the dining room. It's just possible she was using a "sleeve" iron, which has a VERY sharp spear-heded point. I have one in my collection and I shudder when I consider the damage it could cause.
Easy to hide. When the job was "nicely done" just wipe off the blood and chuck it back on the stove with the rest of the irons!