The Tragedy of Lizzie Borden

It's a jump rope ditty surviving over 110 years: “Lizzy Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. And when the job was nicely done, she gave her father forty-one."
Lizzy Borden entered the world of infamy on August 4, 1892 when her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother Abby were killed in savage axe attacks. Lizzy, then 32, lived in the back of the upstairs part of her father's house with Emma, her older spinster sister. The house was also occupied by the family's maid, Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan.

The Fall River, Massachusetts, murder case became an immediate "whodunit" national obsession. Emma had been out-of-town, Maggie in her bed from a migraine headache, and Lizzy in the barn looking for fishing sinkers when the crime occurred. Because Lizzy was the only person readily available to commit the murders, she was the target of investigations.

Some little-known facts of the case:

• The District Attorney begged several times to not pursue the case against Lizzie, citing a tremendous lack of evidence.
•  Police officers were caught in several lies during court testimony, specifically concerning the presentation of the would-be weapon (which was proven to be the wrong size hatchet blade with no trace of blood) and the absence of footprints in the barn (when several others had already been there).
•  The assailant was left-handed, the opposite of Lizzie.
• The jury took only 10 minutes to acquit Lizzie.
• There was no blood evidence incriminating Lizzie. None of her clothes were blood-spattered.
• Abby Borden was killed 60 - 90 minutes before Andrew. She was murdered in the upstairs guest bedroom; Andrew was murdered while taking a daytime nap on the sofa.
• The house was only 20 feet wide with no hallways. How 200-lb. Abby Borden fell with no one hearing has always been part of the mystery.
• Andrew Borden had once been a coffin maker.
• Lizzie had a dream team for a defense including former Massachusetts Governor George D. Robinson.

Although acquitted, Lizzie Borden remained a virtual prisoner the rest of her life in Fall River. She purchased a large, 3-story Queen Anne home christened "Maplecroft," and became a social pariah to the end of her life 34 years later:  never married, shunned by her church, and reclusive to avoid the perpetual staring and pointing when she was in public. She changed her name from Lizzie to Lizbeth, dying of pneumonia in 1927 at 67 years. Her sister, Emma, died 10 days later.

Our Top 20 Horror Films

Everyone who reads this blog undoubtedly appreciates a good horror story. Here is a list of our Top 20, taking into account that we're biased against zombie flicks, lean towards psycho-thrillers and have certainly missed some good ones along the way. (Those are on our "To Be Seen List!") The following are in no particular order.

* Friday the 13th (1980). The first time that freakish twist(ed) ending was used so dramatically. Well worth the scream and jump from the chair.

* Halloween (1978). Considered the first slasher film. Jamie Lee Curtis' break-out movie.

 * Psycho (1960). The movie was based on a real-life murderer.  Director Alfred Hitchcock used chocolate syrup for filming the blood in the shower scene.

* The Amityville Horror (1979). There is still controversy as to whether this story was based on true events or an entire sham concocted by a family greedy for fame and fortune.

* The Exorcist (1973). What kind of parents allows their 13-year-old child to star in such severely disturbing movie?!

* The Omen (1976). First in a 3-movie trilogy. Multiple deaths and serious incidents happened on the set, leading many to consider the movie a cursed endeavor.

* Rosemary's Baby (1968). Director Roman Polanski showed genius in weaving a complex tale disturbing on many levels.

* The Shining (1980). Filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood in Oregon, Director Stanley Kubrick would strangely call Stephen King at 3:00 a.m. to inquire if he believed in God.

* Poltergeist (1982).  Real cadavers were used as props in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II.

* When a Stranger Calls (1979). Who wanted to babysit after watching this?!

* The Sixth Sense (1999).  Haley Joel Osment got ripped of an Oscar. Amazing acting, uber-creative script, surprise ending. Truly a treat of a film.

* 1408 (2007).  Always liked John Cusack's acting. Always enjoyed Stephen King taking me places I was scared to go. Cusack + King = What's not to like about this film?!

* Silence of the Lambs (1991). The character, Hannibal Lecter, was a composite of 3 real-life serial killers: Ted Bundy, Ed Gein and Gary M. Heidnik.

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).  Despite claims the movie made, the story was NOT true. Director Tobe Hooper defended the lie by saying "the government lied about Vietnam, the oil crisis, and Watergate too."

* Jaws (1975). Not the stuff of typical horror film fare but, at 13-years-old, I was petrified and millions of Americans were afraid to go in the water for a long, l-o-n-g time.

* Salems Lot (1979). Not as good as the book by a long shot, but at least non-readers got the story. I wore a cross 24/7 for months.

* The Others (2001). The delightful twist at the end made it all worthwhile.

* Ghost Story (1981). Haunting at the viewing, haunting for days afterward. A cautionary tale of youthful indiscretion.

* It (1990). You will thank God on bended knee for your comparatively La-La Land childhoods.

* Carrie (1976). A whole new take on the possible consequences of bullying!

Honorable Mentions:,
* War of the Worlds (2005)
* The Blair Witch Project (1999)
* Seven (1995)
* Interview with The Vampire (1974)