Lizzie Borden
was Lizzie or Bridget, the Irish maid. Bridget, however was outside washing the windows at Mrs. Borden's behest, leaving Lizzie alone in the house with Abby (Andrew had gone upstreet (upstreet was the term used at that time instead of downtown. Only those with less social class said the gauche word, downtown)to transact some business). The door to the guest room was closed and Lizzie gave several explainations to that. She said that Mrs. Borden had received a not asking her to tend a sick friend. Lizzie did not know whom or where, as she stated that she knew of the arrival of the note, but had never actually seen it. Abby had closed the door until she could continue her cleaning of the room. Lizzie stated that Abby had told her that she was expecting guests and closed the door to keep it clean until then (supposedly some few days later). Lizzie stated that Abby had told her that she was going to make some new pillowcases on the sewing machine which was in the guest room. When Abby was found, the door was not closed.
Andrew was killed in the sitting room on a couch where he had been taking a nap. Again, with at least one hour and perhaps more between the two killings (determined by stomach contents)Lizzie is the only person who could have done either crime. There are many surmises as to why Lizzie killed her father. She adored her father, and he, her. He wore her class ring on his pinky, but the motive for his murder may have been that because she looked for and needed his approval and would have known that Lizzie killed Abby and would let Andrew down, Andrew was killed. Better he would be dead and think highly of her, than alive and think poorly of her.
Lizzie came down to breakfast in a rather elaborate dress for a day planned to stay at home. It was also a very warm dress, rather for winter than summer and certainly not appropriate for the incredible heat of that August day and Lizzie admits that she was doing some ironing, but was having trouble keeping her flat (iron) hot. Again, this dress would have been inappropriate for such household duties on a hot day. The only explaination put forth is that Lizzie did have summer dress of a similar color and pattern and
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