Lizzie Borden Society Forum

OK, we have pretty much pointed a finger at everybody else, why not Bridget? I have seen it written here and elsewhere, that Lizzie exonerated Bridget early on, but after reading years of posts, I cant find how she did that. Can someone enlighten me?
I'm not sure of motive, maybe just a servant feeling overwhelmed (she was ill and asked to do the windows on a hot day) or some other grievance. she was also alone in the house (opportunity) for some of the time that morning, as Lizzie said she was in the barn. She had as much 'means' as Lizzie, or anybody else, for that matter.

Was her room ever searched?

Miranda, did you read E. Radin? I have not been able to read any book about the case, except that of A. Philips.

Bridget had no alibi for the two murders, it's true, but I have never suspected her. Without considering other aspects of the case, what did Bridget do with the blood and the weapon, if she did it?

I would like to know what other members think.

I have not considered Bridget because while she had Means and Opportunity, she had no motive that I could find. If she kills her employers, she loses her income. She seemed to like Mr. and Mrs. Borden, but not Lizzie and Emma...so why do it? No financial gain, no passionate hatred, she gained nothing. Lizzie could no more give Bridget an alibi for the entire time, than Lizzie could give her one. There was enough time that each was alone to have do both killings. The killer was obviously in need of both Mr. and Mrs. to be dead, otherwise, kill just one of them. If Mr. Borden had been sexually molesting Bridget, and in a fury she decided to kill him...why kill Mrs. Borden? To me the ONLY logical reason to kill both was money.

With Abby dead but Andrew alive, no money would come to either girl.
With Abby. dead FIRST, and clearly so- THEN Andrew dead, the inheritance would go directly to the girls
With Andrew dead, but Abby Alive, the girls had to split the fortune with Mrs. Borden's family.
With Andrew dead FIRST, no matter how quickly the killer then killed Abby, she would have been a widow, even if only a few minutes so PART of the money would go to Abby's extended family!!!!!

Me too I think the theory that Bridget was guilty is weak for the motive, maybe even weaker than Morse.

PossumPie wrote:I have not considered Bridget because while she had Means and Opportunity, she had no motive that I could find. If she kills her employers, she loses her income. She seemed to like Mr. and Mrs. Borden, but not Lizzie and Emma...so why do it? No financial gain, no passionate hatred, she gained nothing. Lizzie could no more give Bridget an alibi for the entire time, than Lizzie could give her one. There was enough time that each was alone to have do both killings. The killer was obviously in need of both Mr. and Mrs. to be dead, otherwise, kill just one of them. If Mr. Borden had been sexually molesting Bridget, and in a fury she decided to kill him...why kill Mrs. Borden? To me the ONLY logical reason to kill both was money.

With Abby dead but Andrew alive, no money would come to either girl.
With Abby. dead FIRST, and clearly so- THEN Andrew dead, the inheritance would go directly to the girls
With Andrew dead, but Abby Alive, the girls had to split the fortune with Mrs. Borden's family.
With Andrew dead FIRST, no matter how quickly the killer then killed Abby, she would have been a widow, even if only a few minutes so PART of the money would go to Abby's extended family!!!!!

I agree Possum. Bridget certainly had no motive, unless she killed in a sudden rage, which seems unlikely. I have never bought into the idea that Bridget suddenly became homicidal because she was asked to wash the windows. Also, from what I have read about Bridget, she seemed to be a simple person (I don't mean stupid) who would probably have fled the scene of the crime if she were guilty, rather than remain in the house. She doesn't strike me as the type who would hang around, hoping that her guilt could not be proven.

I realize this is weak, actually it was just a 'wild hair' idea LOL Im pretty firmly in the "Lizzie did it" camp. It does seem odd that Bridget never came under suspicion at all?

Miranda wrote:I realize this is weak, actually it was just a 'wild hair' idea LOL Im pretty firmly in the "Lizzie did it" camp. It does seem odd that Bridget never came under suspicion at all?

I have always thought that Bridget did come under some suspicion, because she was at the crime scene, but as others have noted, she had no real motive. I think the investigators latched onto Lizzie because they felt that Lizzie had a much stronger motive.