Lizzie Borden: Part 1 | My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

You're listening ad-free on Apple Podcasts.

Erin Moriarty (0:03)

Hi, 48 Hours listeners, it's Erin Moriarty. As you may know, true crime fans are once again being introduced to the story of Lizzie Borden, the Massachusetts woman who was once acquitted of the hatchet murder of her parents in 1892

In 2019, we covered the Borden case in a two-part series in the first season of my 48 Hours podcast series, My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty. Here's part one in its entirety, and be sure to follow the series, My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty, wherever you get your podcasts.

SPEAKER_1 (0:49)

Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother forty-one. Once she seen what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.

Rick Bertoldo (1:06)

This is Abby's autopsy photo.

Erin Moriarty (1:08)

I mean, we're talking about that's inside her skull.

Rick Bertoldo (1:11)

She was struck in the back of the head seventeen times. Andrew was struck eleven times to the face.

Erin Moriarty (1:21)

I'm Erin Moriarty, 48 Hours, and this is My Life of Crime. So I'm on a train on the way to Fall River, Massachusetts. Now, if that name sounds familiar, it's because Fall River is where one of the most sensational crimes of the nineteenth century took place, or in the vernacular of the day, one of the most dastardly and diabolical crimes of the nineteenth century.

SPEAKER_1 (2:04)

Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother forty-one.

Erin Moriarty (2:10)

If all you know is what is the Lizzie Borden nursery rhyme, When she seen when she had death, she gave her father forty-one. Then you don't know anything. That's what we've been learning as we decided we were going to re-investigate the Lizzie Borden case. Did she do it? Did she not? And I thought I knew everything about the Lizzie Borden case from that nursery rhyme. It turns out it was completely wrong.

Charles Osgood, you may remember him from CBS Radio, can help set the stage for us, as he did for a Sunday morning piece back in 2002

Charles Osgood (3:01)

Andrew Borden, a leading businessman, was found murdered on his downstairs sofa, the victim of multiple blows to the head. His second wife, Abby, was found murdered in similar fashion upstairs.

On the basis of largely circumstantial evidence, 32-year-old Lizzie Borden was arrested and charged with her father and stepmother's deaths.

Erin Moriarty (3:22)

The murders actually occurred in August of 1892 Think about that. And yet, what's odd is, who hasn't heard the name Lizzie Borden?

127 years later, 127 years, her name has become part of the popular culture.

Ronnie Graham (3:42)

Yesterday, an old fall river, Mr. Andrew Borden died. Now, they got his daughter Lizzie on a charge of homesaw.

Erin Moriarty (3:48)

You're listening to Ronnie Graham.

Ronnie Graham (3:50)

Others say, of course she did.

Erin Moriarty (3:51)

He's singing in the film New Faces of 1954

Ronnie Graham (3:54)

Cause you can't chop your papa up in 566, not even if it's planned as a surprise.

Erin Moriarty (4:01)

Now, I don't remember that movie. You probably don't either, but you may remember Elizabeth Montgomery. She was the witch from Bewitched. She also played Lizzie in a TV movie, The Legend of Lizzie Borden, back in 1975

Leanne Wilbur (4:17)

Mrs. Churchill, do come in.

SPEAKER_1 (4:22)

Someone has killed father.

Erin Moriarty (4:26)

More recently, Chloe Seventy played her in a 2018 film named simply enough, Lizzie.

Rick Bertoldo (4:35)

To your knowledge, did your father have any enemies?

Cara Robertson (4:41)

This is America, sir. Every man with a pulse has enemies.

Erin Moriarty (4:47)

With so much written about Lizzie, what's left to learn? I have a feeling we may have some surprises for you. So let's start. First, I need to separate fact from fiction. So like any good reporter, I'm actually going to take you to the scene of the crime. Believe it or not, the real Lizzie Borden House, where she grew up, still exists. And it doesn't just exist, it's actually a bed and breakfast. And here's the best part. We're all going to spend the night there.

The actual Lizzie Borden House is kind of nondescript. It's a frame house right across from a courthouse in Fall River. It's painted dark green, looks like any other mid-19th century house. Green shutters, green paint, two stories. But the side door is what they still use. When you go into the dining room, you definitely go back in time.

Inside, the rooms are small, with flowery wallpaper everywhere. There are delicate white-laced curtains and tablecloths, and armchairs covered in dark blue velvet. None of the original furniture actually exists, just reproductions. And there is now electricity in the house, and that was something the Bordens didn't have.