Topics in Chronicling America - The Arrest and Trial of Lizzie Borden

Lizzie Borden is arrested for the murder of her father Andrew and stepmother Abby on August 11, 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Following a grand jury indictment, Lizzie Borden went on trial for the murders in June of 1893. Although acquitted of the charges against her, the question of whether Lizzie Borden committed the murders remains to this day. Read more about it!

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• August 4, 1892: Andrew and Abby Borden are murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts.
• August 11, 1892: Lizzie Borden is arrested in Fall River for the murder of her father and stepmother.
• June 5, 1893: The trial begins in New Bedford, Massachusetts and lasts fifteen days.
• June 20, 1893: Lizzie Borden is found not guilty and acquitted.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.]  Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden, Abby Borden, Emma Borden, Bridget Sullivan. Include terms such as killing, murder, arrest, and trial.
• To narrow results to articles related to the murder and Lizzie Borden’s arrest, try searching August 1892; to narrow results to articles about the trial, search in June 1893.

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "Their Murderer Stole In," The Sun (New York, NY), August 5, 1892, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Man and Wife Killed," Pittsburg Dispatch (Pittsburg, PA), August 5, 1892, Page 1, Image 1, col. 6.
• "Lizzie Borden Arrested," The Sun (New York, NY), August 12, 1892, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3.
• "A Mystery No More," Pittsburg Dispatch (Pittsburg, PA), August 12, 1892, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "Held for Murder," The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), August 13, 1892, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4.
• "A Break By Bridget," St. Paul Daily Globe (St. Paul, MN), August 14, 1892, Page 6, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Burning That Dress," The Evening World (New York, NY), June 8, 1893, Last Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Lizzie Borden's Trial," The Daily Herald (Brownsville, TX), June 9, 1893, Page 1, Image 2, col. 2.
• "Lizzie Borden on Trial," The Washington Bee (Washington, DC), June 10, 1893, Page 4, Image 1, col. 1.
• "The Defense Rests," St. Paul Daily Globe (St. Paul, MN), June 17, 1893, Page 1, Image 1, col. 5.
• "Fighting Hard for a Life," Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha, NE), June 20, 1893, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3.
• "Free From Guilt," The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), June 21, 1893, Page 2, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Not Guilty," Arizona Republican (Phoenix, AZ), June 21, 1893, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4.
• "Spectators Go Wild," The Stark County Democrat (Canton, OH), June 22, 1893, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.