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1892: Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one.
Lizzie Borden (Penguin 60s)
What you need to know before your trail
This work contains two short stories about the famous axe-murderer Lizzie Borden. “Lizzie’s Tiger”, shows her as a four-year-old wandering off to visit the zoo and “The Fall Fiver Axe Murders” presents a chilling picture of the Borden household on the morning of the murder.
Remember the rhyme that was used as a song whilst children skipped in the playground?
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
How true was this?
Travel Guide
Fall River, MA
Borden lived in Fall River in a house which despite the family’s wealth was very run down. It didn’t have indoor plumbing as the father was very frugal.
At the time of the murders, Second street was in an affluent area of the city. Her real mother died and her father remarried and Lizzie was said to think that this new wife, Abby was after the family money. There were several arguments in the family about money before the murders took place and Lizzie and her sister ensured they had a house to live in together.
For several days before the murders, the entire household had been violently ill. A family friend later speculated that mutton left on the stove for use in meals over several days was the cause, but Abby had feared poisoning, as Andrew Borden had not exactly been popular.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Lizzie Borden (Penguin 60s)
Author/Guide: Angela Carter Destination: Fall River Departure Time: 1892
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