Timeline of Events Around and During the Borden Murders

It’s almost that time of year when focus on Fall River, MA is dominated by Lizzie Borden and the unsolved hatchet murders of her father, Andrew, and her stepmother, Abby on August 4, 1892.

A regurgitation of media mentions, short site and sound bytes, videos of the “murder house” (a Bed & Breakfast Museum since 1996) accompanied by eerie music and bloody graphics, and the gratuitous recitation of that inaccurate quatrain, “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her father……” (please, don’t make me go any further) will surely play out on various TV channels throughout the country.

So…. before you indulge yourself in the hash and rehash (pun intended) put down the bong and get a focus on what was going on in Lizzie’s Fall River and her life in general before, during and right after the crimes. 

Below is an extract from my “Lizzie Borden Historic Timeline” which is a comprehensive document focusing on local,  U.S. and world events from 1610 to 2010.  The Timeline was developed over a number of years involving comprehensive study and analysis of the primary source documents.   The more expanded Timeline book – which I self-published in 2010 – was sold exclusively by the Fall River Historical Society and has long been sold out.  (That book cited sources).

Let’s take a look specifically at what was going on starting just two weeks before the murders.  The window of time that the killings could have taken place for first Abby, and then Andrew, are shown in RED. 

Visualize the events at 92 Second Street in a different way – factual details that won’t be shown or reported on TV.

July 18, 1892	Emma and Lizzie deed back house on Ferry Street to Andrew and receive $2,500 each.
July 19, 1892	Lizzie’s 32nd Birthday.
July 20, 1892	Grover Cleveland passes thru FR enroute to NYC for Democratic Convention.
July 20, 1892	Lizzie supposedly sees a stranger at the back door when she returns from being out that evening.
July 21, 1892	Lizzie & Emma leave Fall River; Emma stopping at Fairhaven to visit the Brownell’s.
July 21, 1892	Lizzie travels on to New Bedford, staying with Mrs. Poole and her daughter at 20 Madison Street.
July 23, 1892	Lizzie went on the street alone (New Bedford) to buy some dress goods gone from rooming house 30 minutes.  (Did she buy a new hatchet?).
July 25, 1892	AJB writes letter to Morse telling him to wait about getting a man to run his farm in Swansea.
July 25, 1892	Lizzie visits the girls at Marion at Dr. Handy’s cottage.
July 25, 1892	FR Daily News reports on ladies (including Lizzie)  vacationing in Marion.
July 26, 1892	Lizzie, Mrs. Poole & Mrs. Poole’s daughter ride to Westport to visit Mrs. Cyrus Tripp (Augusta, old schoolmate).
July 26, 1892	Lizzie takes train from Westport to New Bedford to connect with Fall River.
July 30, 1892	Fall River Board of Health reports 90 deaths due to extreme heat, 65 are children under age 5.
July 31, 1892	Bridget prepares first serving of the infamous mutton for Sunday supper.
August 2, 1892	Andrews tells associate there is “trouble” in the Borden household.
August 2, 1892	Swordfish is served for supper and served again warmed over for dinner.
August 2, 1892	Andrew and Abby vomit during the night.
August 3, 1892	THE DAY BEFORE THE MURDERS
8:00 am	Abby goes across street to Dr. Bowen; tells him she fears she’s been poisoned.
9:00 am approx	Dr. Bowen crosses street to check on the Bordens; Lizzie dashes upstairs; Andrew rebuffs his unsolicited visit.
10:00-11:30 am	Lizzie attempts to buy prussic acid from Eli Bence at Smith’s pharmacy on Columbia Street.
12:00 Noon	Lizzie joins Andrew and Abby for the noontime meal in the dining room.
12:35 am	Uncle John Vinnicum Morse leaves by train from New Bedford for Fall River.
1:30 pm	John Morse walks from train station & arrives at Borden house; Abby lets him in front door.
2:00-4:00 pm	John Morse and Andrew talk in Sitting Room; Lizzie hears their conversation.
4:00 pm	John Morse hires horse and wagon at Kirby’s Stable and drives to Swansea in late afternoon.
7:00 pm	Lizzie visits Alice Russell in the early evening, states her fear “something will happen”.
7:00-8:00 pm	John Morse visits Frederick Eddy at Borden farm in Swansea, brings back eggs.
8:45 pm	Morse returns from Swansea, talks in sitting room with Andrew and Abby.
9:00 pm	Lizzie returns from Alice Russell’s, locks front door, and goes upstairs to her room without speaking to father or uncle.
9:15 pm	Abby Borden retires to bed.
10:00 pm	Andrew and Morse retire for the night.  Morse sleeps in the guest room next to Lizzie’s room.
August 4, 1892	THE DAY OF THE MURDERS  (Note: Times given are based on various testimonies taken primarily from the Preliminary Hearing held August 25-September 1st, 1892, and are approximated as close as possible).
6:15 am	Bridget goes downstairs, gets coal and wood in cellar to start fire in kitchen stove, and takes in milk.
6:20 am	Morse goes downstairs to Sitting Room.
6:30 am	Abby comes downstairs, gives orders for breakfast to Bridget
6:40-6:50 am	Andrew goes downstairs, empties slops, picks up pears, and goes to barn.
6:45 am	Bridget opens side (back) door for the ice man.
7:00 am	Bordens and Morse have breakfast in dining room.  (Lizzie is still upstairs).
7:15 am	Bridget sees Morse for first time at breakfast table.
7:30 am	Bridget eats her breakfast, and then clears dishes.
7:45-8:45	Morse and Andrew talk in sitting room; Abby sits with them a short while before beginning to dust.
8:30 am	Morse sees Abby go into the front hall.
8:45 am	Andrew lets Morse out side door, invites him back for dinner.
8:45-9:00 am	Morse leaves for Post Office and then to visit a niece and nephew at Daniel Emery’s, #4 Weybosset Street.
8:45-9:00 am	Andrew goes back upstairs and returns wearing collar and tie, goes to sitting room
8:45-9:00 am	Abby tells Bridget to wash windows, inside and out.
8:45-8:50 am	Lizzie comes down and enters kitchen.
8:45-9:00 am	Bridget goes outside to vomit.
9:00 am	Andrew leaves the house.
9:00 am	Bridget returns, does not see Lizzie, sees Abby dusting in dining room, does not see Andrew.
9:00 am	Abby goes up to guest room.
9:00-9:30 am	Bridget cleans away breakfast dishes in kitchen.
9:00-10:00 am	Abby Borden dies from blows to the head with a sharp instrument.
9:30 am	Abraham G. Hart, Treasurer of Union Savings Bank, talks to Andrew at Bank.
9:30 am	Morse arrives at #4 Weybosset Street to visit his niece and nephew.
9:30 am	Bridget gets brush from cellar for washing windows
9:30 am	Lizzie appears at back door as Bridget goes towards barn; Bridget tells Lizzie she need not lock door.
9:30-10:05	Andrew visits banks.
9:45 am	John P. Burrill, Cashier, talks to Andrew at National Union Bank.
9:40 am	Morse arrives at the Emery’s on Weybosset Street.
9:50-10:00 am	AJB deposits Troy Mill check with Everett Cook at First Nat’l Bank; talks with William Carr.                                                         (
9:30-10:20 am	Bridget washes outside windows, stops to talk to “Kelly girl” at south side fence.
10:00-10:30 am	Mrs. Churchill sees Bridget outside washing NE windows.
10:20 am	Bridget re-enters house from side door, commences to wash inside windows.
10:29 am	Jonathan Clegg (fixed time by City Hall clock) stated Andrew left his shop heading home.
10:15-10:30 am	Andrew stops to talk to Jonathan Clegg, picks up old lock; Southard Miller (at Whitehead’s Market) sees AJB turn onto Spring St; Mary Gallagher sees AJB at corner of South Main & Spring; Lizzie Gray sees AJB turning north on Second Street.
10:30-10:40 am	Joseph Shortsleeves sees Andrew.
10:40 am	James Mather sees Andrew leave shop
10:30-10:40 am	Mrs. Kelly observes Andrew going to his front door.
10:30-10:40 am	Andrew Borden can’t get in side door, fumbles with key at front door, and let in by Bridget.
10:30-10:40 am	Bridget hears Lizzie laugh on the stairs as she says “pshaw” fumbling with inside triple locks.
10:35-10:45 am	Bridget sees Lizzie go into dining room and speak “low” to her father.
10:45 am	Mark Chase, residing over Wade’s store, sees man on Borden fence taking pears.
10:45-10:55 am	Lizzie puts ironing board on dining room table as Bridget finishes last window in the dining room
10:45-10:55 am	Lizzie asks Bridget in kitchen if she’s going out, tells her of note to Abby & sale at Sargeant’s.
10:50-10:55	Mark Chase observes man with open buggy parked just beyond tree in front of Borden house.
August 4, 189210:55 am	Bridget goes upstairs to her room to lay down.
10:55–10:58 am	Bridget goes up to her room; lies down on her bed.
10:55-11:00 am	Andrew Borden dies from blows to the head with a sharp instrument.
11:00 am	Bridget hears City Hall clock chime 11:00.
11:05-11:10 am	Hyman Lubinsky drives his cart past the Borden house.
11:05-11:10	William Sullivan, clerk at Hudner’s Market notes Mrs. Churchill leaving the store.
11:10 am  APPROX.	Lizzie hollers to Bridget to come down, “Someone has killed father”.
11:10-11:12 am	Lizzie sends Bridget to get Dr. Bowen.
11:10-11:13 am	Bridget rushes back across the street from Bowen’s, tells Lizzie he’s not at home.
11:10-11:13 am	Lizzie asks Bridget if she knows where Alice Russell lives and tells her to go get her.
11:10-11:13 am	Bridget grabs her hat & shawl from kitchen entry way and rushes to Alice Russell’s.
11:10-11:13 am	Mrs. Churchill observes Bridget crossing street, notices a distressed Lizzie and calls out to Lizzie who tells her “someone has murdered father.”
11:13 am	Mrs. John Gormely says Mrs. Churchill runs through her yelling “Mr. Borden is murdered!”
11:10-11:14 am	Mrs. Churchill goes to side door, speaks briefly to Lizzie, and then crosses street looking for a doctor.
11:12-11:14 am	John Cunningham sees Mrs. Churchill talking to others then uses phone at Gorman’s paint shop to call Police.
11:15 am	Marshal Hilliard receives call from news dealer Cunningham about disturbance at Borden house.
11:15 am	Marshal Hilliard orders Officer Allen to go to Borden house. (Allen notes exact time on office wall clock).
11:16 – 11:20 am	Mrs. Churchill returns from giving the alarm.
11:16 – 11:20 am	Dr. Bowen pulls up in his carriage, met by his wife, rushes over to Borden’s.
11:16-11:20 am	John Cunningham checks outside cellar door in Borden back yard, finds it locked.
11:18-11:20 am	Dr. Bowen sees Andrew, asks for sheet; alone with Lizzie for approx. one minute.
11:20 am	Officer Allen arrives at Bordens, met at door by Dr. Bowen.  Sees Lizzie sitting alone at kitchen table.
11:20–11:21 am	Allen sees Andrews’s body at same time Alice Russell and Mrs. Churchill come in.  (Where was Bridget?)
11:20-11:22 am	Allen checks front door and notes it bolted from inside, checks closets in dining room and kitchen.
11:20 am	Morse departs Daniel Emery’s on Weybosset Street, takes a streetcar back to the Borden’s.
11-22-11:23 am	Officer Allen leaves house to return to station, Bowen goes out with him.  Allen has Sawyer guard back door.
11:23-11:33 am	Dr. Bowen returns home, checks rail timetable, goes to telegram Emma, and stops at Baker’s Drug store. Telegram is time stamped at 11:32.
11:25 am	Off. Patrick Doherty, at Bedford & Second, notes City Hall clock time enroute to Station.
11:23-11:30 am	Lizzie asks to check for Mrs. Borden; Bridget & Mrs. Churchill go upstairs, discover body.
11:32 am	Officers Doherty & Wixon leave police station for Borden house.  Reporter Manning on rear steps, Sawyer inside at screen door. (Bridget in inside near sink)
11:34 am	Bridget fetches Doctor Bowen’s wife, Phoebe.
11:35	George Petty, former resident of 92 Second Street, enters the Borden house with Dr. Bowen.
11:40 am	Bowen returns to Borden house.   Churchill tells him they’ve discovered Abby upstairs.
11:35-11:40 am	Officer Patrick Doherty & Deputy Sheriff Wixon arrive at house; see Manning sitting on steps, met at back door by Dr. Bowen, who lets them in.
11:35-11:40 am	Francis Wixon and Dr. Bowen check Andrew’s pockets and remove watch.
11:35-11:40	Officer Doherty questions Lizzie who tells him she heard a “scraping” noise.
11:35-11:40 am	Officer Doherty views Abby’s body with Dr. Bowen pulls bed out to view her better.
11:35-11:45 am	Morse arrives at Borden house, first going to back yard.
11:37 am	Officer Mullaly arrives.
11:39-11:40 am	Officer Medley arrives at 92 Second Street.
11:44 am	Doherty runs to Undertaker Gorman’s shop around corner and phones Marshal Hilliard.
11:45	Dr. Bowen shows Doherty Andrew, then Abby.  They pull the bed out 3 feet.
11:45 am	Doherty returns; Officers Mullaly. Allen, Denny, and Medley arrive at the Borden house.
11:45 am	Dr. Dolan arrives, sees bodies.
11:45 am	Morse talks to Sawyer at side door, later testifies he heard of murders from Bridget.
11:45-11:50 am	Morse sees Andrew’s body, then goes upstairs and sees Abby’s body.
11:50 am	Morse speaks to Lizzie as she lays on lounge in dining room. Lizzie goes from dining room to her room and changes into a “pink wrapper”.
11:50 am-Noon	Asst. Marshal Fleet arrives; sees bodies; talks to Lizzie in her room w/Rev. Buck, says “…she’s not my mother, she’s my  stepmother”
11:50 am	Morse goes out to back yard and stays outside most of the afternoon.
11:50 am –Noon	Deputy Sheriff Wixon climbs back fence and talks to workmen sawing wood in Chagnon yard.
11:50-Noon	Doherty, Fleet and Medley accompany Bridget to cellar where she shows them hatchet in box on shelf.
12:15-12:20 am	Officer Harrington arrives at the Borden house.
12:25 am	Officer Harrington interviews Lizzie in her bedroom (she wears pink wrapper).
12:45 am	Marshal Hillliard & Officers Doherty & Connors drive carriage to Andrew’s upper farm in Swansea.
2:00 pm	Dr. Dedrick arrives at Borden house.
3:00-4:00 pm	Crime scene photographs are taken of Andrew & Abby.
3:40 pm	Emma leaves on New Bedford train for Weir Junction to return to Fall River.
4:30 pm	Stomachs of Andrew and Abby removed and sealed.
5:00 pm	Emma arrives in Fall River.
5:00-5:30 pm	State Detective George F. Seaver arrives from Taunton.
5:30 pm	Dr. Dolan “delivers” bodies of Andrew and Abby to Undertaker James Winward.
5:35 pm	Winward & assistant remove sofa from house and store it in a room at his building.
6:00 pm	Alice leaves 92 Second St. to return home for supper.
8:30 pm	Mrs. Charles Holmes leaves the Borden girls and returns to her home on Pine Street.
8:45 pm	Officer Joseph Hyde, observing from a northwest outside window, sees Lizzie & Alice go down cellar.
9:00 pm	Officer Hyde observes Lizzie in basement alone.