Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one
WHILE YOU might think that it’s the kind of children’s rhyme that only the Adams Family could love, it’s not. Well-known to millions of people, it still easily slips off the American tongue 117 years after the acquittal of Lizzie Borden, charged with hacking to death her father and stepmother. And while we all seem to know that rhyme, what you may not know is that Lizzie had a sister, and that she, like all sisters, had her own version of the family tale, as well.
Following the 1892 murders of her stepmother, Abby, and father, Andrew, Lizzie (left) and her sister, Emma Borden, lived together until 1904 or 1905, when they had a falling out, though not even remotely over what you might expect. After all, Lizzie had been well-known to hate her stepmother, and her alibi wasn’t much: She claimed she was out in the barn eating pears at the time someone crept up on Abby, and also when someone sneaked up on poor Father, as he napped on the parlor settee. And whack. You might think that such a series of events could cause a sisterly rift.
Instead, sister Emma (who was conveniently away at the time of the infamous murders) appeared quite sanguine with her sister’s story, as well as with the fact that Lizzie was the only suspect, that no one else was ever found to be of even remote interest to the Fall River, Massachusetts, police. Emma’s demeanor was consistent even after the rather brief trial the following year, when Lizzie was acquitted on all counts. Such sisterly devotion.
After the death of their father, the two girls inherited his estimated half-million dollar estate and made plans. And that’s when Lizzie got lively. The first thing she did was change her name to Lizbeth, later having it inscribed on her grave. Then, remaining in their hometown, the scene of the crime, the sisters moved into a newer and larger home that Lizzie named Maplecroft.
All that was fine with Emma (left) apparently, until Lizzie began entertaining, preferring a decidedly theater crowd. That her sister objected to, causing a break in 1904 or 1905, which proved irreparable. Funny what sisters find fault with, don’t you think? A fine timeline of the Borden sisters’ lives and the case can be seen here, or perhaps you prefer a cinematic version? The king of the screen, Alfred Hitchcock, did a nice take on the Borden sisters in his 1956 television series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, entitling the piece The Older Sister.
If that doesn’t satisfy your curiosity, the Lizzie Borden Virtual Museum site has no fewer than 51 separate books on display on Lizzie. Still not sated? By all means, subscribe to The Hatchet. Yes, you read that right, a journal of all things Lizzie. Take along a copy when you check into The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast and Museum. It was recently restored, using vintage police photos, to an exacting replica as the sisters left it. You can sleep over, though the room where Abby was murdered requires a year’s advance booking.
Hey, be sure to take your sister. Tell ‘em The Sister Project sent you.–Marion Roach Smith
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The photos here and many other astonishing ones are in the excellent collection of lizzieandrewborden.com.
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I’ve chanted that rhyme since childhood and briefly as a teenager became fascinated with Lizze and her story. What I did NOT know is that you can stay at the home – in Mrs. Abby’s room (would I even want to? Shiversssssss) or that there was such a publication entitled, “The Hatchet.” Only my brother (my bestest girlfriend) would run, not walk, to get his copy. What’s more fascinating is that Lizzie’s sis was ok with the entire hacking scene. Did she ever think Lizzie may have done it? Was she glad Mom & Pop were gone? IDK
Welcome to Sisterpedia, Lisa. Yes, yikes, it’s all quite shivery, isn’t it? See you soon again we hope.
My grandmother used to recite that macabre poem to me when I was little (she loved giving us a good fright:).
I wonder….
perhaps her sister was a never-proven accomplice?
I know most of my worst debacles involved sisterly hands…perhaps those forty whacks didn’t belong solely to Lizzy….
We’ll never know.
Hey, Sara Sophia: No, we never will know, will we? Great mystery, though isn’t it? Glad you stopped by for a read. Please come back soon for more.
Yeah. That Lizzie Bordon story is freaky. But it is fasinating. I saw a performance tonight that had Lizzie Bordon in it. I didn’t even know who she was. But when mom told me that she killed her family, right when I got home, I looked her up and here I am!
Welcome, Phoenixkid. A very dark tale indeed. Glad to “meet” you and do visit us again — maybe for something more on the bright side? :)
Funny to think of Lizzie Borden. Didn’t even know that she had a sister! BUT I have said to my own 5 sisters many times that I would always (and have always) take their side….and do anything. Even if they did something REALLY bad, I am sure that they would have been justified….plus I would probably bake them a cake with a file in it. Fall out over friends, I doubt it. Okay maybe get a little mad over a crass facebook comment – but that is only temporary. Here is to going to battle for you sisters!