Lizzie Borden Took an Ax Page #6

Miss Borden.

What did you tell them?

Emma!

What's happening?

Is Lizzie guilty?

It was a terrible crime.

An impossible crime.

But it was committed.

Mrs. Borden had been slain

by some sharp

and terrible instrument,

inflicting on her

defenseless head

18 blows,

13 crushing through the skull.

The prisoner

before you at the bar

is a woman.

It is hard to conceive

that a woman could be guilty

of this crime.

I need say nothing

with regard to the blood,

for there was no blood found.

I need say nothing with regard

to the physical evidence,

because there is no physical evidence.

There is not one particle

of direct evidence

linking Lizzie Andrew Borden

to this crime.

No thief did this.

No random assailant.

There was nothing in these blows

but hatred, hatred

and a desire to kill.

We have heard testimony

of a stranger

who was seen about

the household

on the day of the murder.

They have produced no suspect.

But the mere fact that

persons unknown had

access to the property

is more than enough

to introduce

an element of doubt.

If you can even conceive

of any other hypothesis

in which it is possible

that someone else did this deed,

then you

have a reasonable

doubt in your mind.

Lizzie Borden, loving daughter,

ever went up those stairs, never

went up those stairs that morning.

Something else went up those stairs.

Something unholy and devoid of feeling.

Something we cannot fathom

with our own minds.

That was the Lizzie Borden

who pursued that poor woman

up the stairs to her death,

and then waited, weapon in hand,

for the appropriate moment

and did the same to her father.

To find this defendant

equal to that enormity,

her heart so blackened

with depravity,

her very existence

such a web

of violence and crime

is to find this tender young lass guilty.

But to do that, you, gentlemen of the jury,

you must allow your minds

to consider her

not just a brute,

but a deeply, pathologically

depraved butcher.

Miss Lizzie Andrew Borden,

although you have now

been heard from fully

through your counsel,

it is your privilege to add any words

you may desire to say

in person to the jury.

I'm innocent.

I leave it to my counsel

to speak for me.

Very well.

Now, gentlemen,

the case is committed

into your hands.

This court nowstands adjourned

until verdict.

An hour and 10 minutes.

They must have known

all along.

She will hang.

All rise.

Is it a bad sign that

they are back so soon?

We must maintain our composure.

Lizzie Andrew Borden, stand up.

Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed

upon your verdict?

We have.

Please return

the paper to the court.

Mr. Foreman, look upon the prisoner.

Prisoner, look upon the foreman.

What say you, Mr. Foreman, of the

charge against Lizzie Andrew Borden?

Not guilty.

Order! Order, please!

Business of this court

is concluded.

Them black-eyed dogs

are out

Go in ahead

I just seen you

In the eye of the storm

Will you stay in this town?

Morning, Marshall.

You are not welcome.

"Take courage,

my children, cry to God

"and he will deliver you

from the power and hand

of the enemy.

"For I have put my hope

in the Everlasting

to save you,

"because of the mercy that

will soon come to you

"from your everlasting Savior.

"For I sent you out

with sorrow and weeping,

"but God will give you

back to me

"with joy

and gladness forever."

Drink up, everyone. It's almost New Year.

Nance, I'm so gladyou made it.

How could I miss it?

I've missed you.

Ten...

Nine, eight, seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one!

Happy New Year!

Is this really the life you want?

Why are you so upset?

I just can't believe

how cavalier

you can be sometimes.

What am I being cavalier about?

Those people, they're not

your friends, Lizzie.

Nonsense.

They aren't here

because they like you.

You're a carnival attraction

to them.

They think you got away

with murder.

What do you think?

Please.

Do you want to know?

Lizzie, stop.

Lizzie?

Miss Lizzie?

Is something the matter?

Father is dead.

Someone came in

and killed him.

When she saw

what she had done

Gave her father 41

Lizzie Borden took an ax

Gave her mother 40 whacks

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