Lizzie Borden Society Forum

With the murders happening with both Lizzie and Bridget in the house, do you think that maybe Lizzie might have known and seen the murderer and was too afraid to say anything?

I mean it just seems odd to me that Lizzie claimed to have been downstairs at the very time her mother was biolently murdered upstairs and yet didn't her any noises. And this depsite her mother having been struck mulitpe times with and axe and falling to the floor.

This would indicate to me that she either did the murder herself, or saw the murderer and was to afraid to say anything.

I have always felt that if Lizzie did not do the killings herself then she worked with the killer. Making sure the coast is clear, helping him hide, etc. If she worked with the killer I doubt she was afraid. If she was not working with the killer and saw him it would seem reasonable that Lizzie would have said something to the police rather than take a chance on hanging.

-1bigsteve (o:

I agree with BigSteve.

There is a quote from Lizzie in one of the Lizzie books (if I knew which one I'd look it up). I think a friend was relating this to a reporter and said she said she (Lizzie) knew who the murderer was and wanted to stick around Fall River to see his/her unveiling. Personally, I don't think she ever said it.

I wonder how she would be able to motivate someone else into killing 2 people ? It would be hard to sit in jail facing a possible hanging knowing that someone else was free, and could just go off and vanish. And what if the person sneezed, or coughed from the hiding place as Bridget walked by to let in Mr Borden ? 'splain that one, Lizzie ! Of course, Bridget could have been in on it, but she wasn't cool as a cucumber like Lizzie was. (if Lizzie was really cool, and calm)

stargazer @ Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:34 pm wrote:I wonder how she would be able to motivate someone else into killing 2 people ? It would be hard to sit in jail facing a possible hanging knowing that someone else was free, and could just go off and vanish. And what if the person sneezed, or coughed from the hiding place as Bridget walked by to let in Mr Borden ? 'splain that one, Lizzie ! Of course, Bridget could have been in on it, but she wasn't cool as a cucumber like Lizzie was. (if Lizzie was really cool, and calm)

I think she could have gotten someone to kill Andrew because although he was very well respected, he wasn't well liked. As for Abby, wrong place, wrong time. Have to kill her because she was there and didn't want to leave a witness. As for not saying anything, maybe the person was blackmailing her, so she kept her mouth shut.

As too that point, maybe she did get Bridget to do it because she was mad at the family calling her Maggie and Lizzie knew this. Then she started blackmailing lizzie.

Boy, if I'm not letting my imagination running away with me!

Snokkums, I think it was Lizzie and Emma who called Bridget 'Maggie'.

Most of the time when someone's been murdered, the cops ask themselves: "Who would benefit the most from the death/s?" And here the answer is clearly Lizzie and Emma.

I don't think Abby was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think she was purposely killed first. If she had died after Andrew, Abby's relatives would have gotten the larger share of Andrew's money.

I think the killer was paid to do it.

OMG--I just had an epiphany.

if Lizzie were truly determined to have complete financial freedom, she's have to make sure that Abby CLEARLY died before Andrew; if the time was very close, it might have been argued that Andrew was killed first.

I still don't think she wielded the hatchet herself, but I do think she orchestrated the murders.

If Lizzie wasn't the killer, and saw the person who was, why would she send Bridget to summon help and remain in the house, knowing that person could still potentially be inside? The fact that she didn't leave with Bridget gives me the impression that she wasn't exactly too fearful for her own safety, despite what had just happened.

The only way the above scenario would make any sense is if she was in on the whole thing and had someone else do it.

goddessoftheclassroom wrote:OMG--I just had an epiphany.

if Lizzie were truly determined to have complete financial freedom, she's have to make sure that Abby CLEARLY died before Andrew; if the time was very close, it might have been argued that Andrew was killed first.

I still don't think she wielded the hatchet herself, but I do think she orchestrated the murders.

I think Massachusetts law provided for the widow the proceeds from a portion of a deceased husband's estate for the rest of her life. Lizzie and Emma would have gotten the bulk of Andrew's estate if he died before Abby and Abby would have gotten the interest from a part of the estate. The principal set aside for Abby would have passed to Lizzie and Emma after Abby died, by law. So, I don't think it made much difference who died first if it was a matter of a couple of hours.