Primary Source Documents

 

Witness Statements
This document is a facsimile copy of the statements given to police officers in the hours and days following the murder of Andrew J. Borden and his wife Abby. Witnesses include Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan, Emma Borden, John Morse, Dr. Seabury Bowen, Mrs. Churchill, Alice Russell, and various other passersby and townsfolk. 46 pages of text, 3 page table of contents, and extensive index.

Inquest of Lizzie Borden
This document is comprised of the testimony of Lizzie Andrew Borden presented at the Inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Borden, held August 9-11, 1892. Because Volume I of the Inquest is currently lost to us, Lizzie Borden’s inquest testimony is reproduced here as an exact transcription of The Evening Standard, New Bedford, MA, June 12, 1893, Monday Evening Edition, p. 8 plus 2 unnumbered supplement pages.

Inquest Volume II
This document is comprised of the testimony of Volume II of the Inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Borden, held August 9-11, 1892. The Witnesses include: Eli Bence, Emma Borden, Lizzie A. Borden, Dr. Seabury W. Bowen, Adelaide B. Churchill, Hannah H. Gifford, Hiram C. Harrington, Frederick B. Hart, Frank H. Kilroy, John V. Morse, Alice M. Russell, Charles S. Sawyer, Augusta D. Tripp and Sarah B. Whitehead. Lizzie Borden’s testimony is contained in Volume I.

Preliminary Hearing
This document is comprised of the testimony of the witnesses who appeared in the Preliminary Hearing in the Lizzie Andrew Borden Murder Case, held before Judge Blaisdell, August 25 through September 1, 1892. Six volumes, 641 pages. Available for sale on Amazon.com.

Trial Transcript Volume I
This document is the first volume of testimony in the Trial of Lizzie Andrew Borden. Held before the Superior Court for the County of Bristol. Presiding, C. J. Mason, J. J. Blodgett, and J. J. Dewey. Official stenographic report by Frank H. Burt. Created by Harry Widdows.

Trial Transcript Volume II
This document is the second volume of testimony in the Trial of Lizzie Andrew Borden. Held before the Superior Court for the County of Bristol. Presiding, C. J. Mason, J. J. Blodgett, and J. J. Dewey. Official stenographic report by Frank H. Burt. Created by Harry Widdows.

Trial Testimonies Compared

Lizzie Borden’s Last Will

Lizzie Borden’s Probate Records

Emma Borden’s Last Will

John Morse’s Last WIll


 

Case Related Books

 
Fall River Tragedy (PDF)
Facsimile transcription of Edwin H. Porter’s landmark book, first published in 1893. It was the first major work in the field of Borden studies.

The Mystery Unveiled
By Todd Lunday. The full titled is The Mystery Unveiled: The Truth about the Borden Tragedy: Fresh Light That Must Be Convincing to All Readers. A 56-page pamphlet, published immediately after the trial, in which the writer concludes that, with Lizzie Borden acquitted and no other suspect substituted, nobody committed the murders. “Todd Lunday” is the nom de plume for a writer whose actual identity has only recently been revealed.

Trial of Lizzie Borden
By Edmund Pearson, the most prolific writer on the Borden case. This is another important work that includes great quantities of trial testimony, not generally found elsewhere, but criticized for his one-sided approach which favored Lizzie as the killer.

Borden Murder Mystery
By Arthur Sherman Phillips. This book is an abstract from The Phillips History of Fall River (Fall River, MA: Dover Press, 1944-6, 3 vols.). Phillips was a junior member of Lizzie Borden’s defense team who always maintained a belief in her innocence.