This film, one of many more to come by Garden Bay Films, is a tribute to Eli Bence. You may or may not know who Eli was, but you should. He almost caused the conviction of Lizzie Borden! Mr. Bence was the man who testified at the inquest and preliminary hearings that he saw Lizzie Borden come into D.R. Smith’s apothecary, where he worked, the day before the murders on August 4th, and asked to purchase some prussic acid.
Bence’s testimony was ruled inadmissible in the trial. Had he been allowed to testify, Lizzie Borden might not be known as the woman who was tried and acquitted of the double murder of Andrew and Abby Borden.
You can read all about Eli Bence’s life in a wonderful piece by Shelley Dziedzic in the latest issue of The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies. By the way, Shelley is the star of this Lizzie Mini film.
Bence’s final repose is in the lovely Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, MA.
