After he
had done so he invited us to the holding cells to see Lizzie. Holmes insisted
that if were to interview her then he would rather it take place in different,
more congenial surroundings. Hogan agreed that it was probably a good idea and
invited into an empty office on the second floor, empty save for a desk and two
chairs.
A short while later Hogan entered the
room with Lizzie Borden who cut an abject figure, manacled as she was to an
officer. Abject, yes, but strangely proud, almost dignified, at least that’s
how I saw her. She was small of stature, but she seemed to dominate the room
somehow. Holmes asked if the manacles could be removed. The officer looked at
Hogan who nodded his silent assent. I invited Lizzie to sit, which she did
hesitantly. I sat in the other chair and Holmes perched on the corner of the
desk.
“Miss Borden, my name is Sherlock
Holmes and this is my colleague Dr Watson. The other gentlemen you know of
course, but they are just leaving.”
“This is pretty irregular, Mr Holmes, I
have to say, this is my case after all.”
“Yes, Chief, and it will remain your
case I assure you, but if you could indulge me just this once, I would be
forever in your debt.”
“Very well, Mr Holmes. I will leave you
to it, Come on, Smith.”
“Now, Miss Borden, can I fetch you
anything? A drink maybe?”
Lizzie did not speak, but shook her
head.
“Very well, now, do you know why you
have been brought here?”
“Yes.” The voice was clear and free of
emotion.
“What is your connection to Sansom
Weinberger?”
“I have none. I do not know the man.”
“Some five years ago you attempted to
purchase prussic acid from his drugstore.”
Lizzie did not respond.
“Do you deny that was the case?”
“I may have done. I can’t remember all
my dealings from that time. If I did, what of it?”
“The police are suggesting that his
murder may be an act of revenge by one who felt they had been wronged.”
“I have nothing to say on the matter.”
“This is a murder investigation; you
would be well advised to keep nothing back.”
“I do not know the man. I am sad that
he has been murdered, I deplore the act, but I cannot help you further.”
“You do not recall attempting to
purchase poison from the man?”
“No,” she answered with an emphatic
shake of the head.
“Very well, perhaps you are more
familiar with the name, Mrs Honoria Walters?”
“I do not recall the name.”
“Miss Borden, just a few weeks ago I am
given to understand that Mrs Walters caught you in the act of stealing items
from the clothing store she manages, perhaps you cannot recall that event
either.”
“It was a misunderstanding. I am prone
to forgetfulness and once I realised the situation I apologised and Mrs
Walters, if it was her, accepted my apology.”
“My understanding of the matter is that
Mrs Walters threatened you with police action. This was in fact overheard by
others in the store.”
“Then I fear you understand very
little. The truth is as I have told it. Why you choose to bring this matter up
I do not know.”
“The answer to that is simple; Mrs
Walters too, has been murdered.”
Lizzie’s face remained blank, her
features unmoved, registering neither shock or surprise at Holmes’s words.
Unblinking, she stared at Holmes.
“I am mighty sorry for the poor woman,
but I cannot help you, you must search for your murderer elsewhere.”
“Elmer Hogan will be asking you to
account for your movements during the night, perhaps you can enlighten us?”
“I do not see I have the need to do so,
but as you obviously feel that you can trample all over my privacy, I can tell
you that I was at home all evening, but when I retired I found I could not sleep
so I rose and left the house and just walked to clear my head. It’s something I
often do, for the good folk of Fall River deny me the freedom to do as I like
and go where I like without fingers being pointed in my direction. And yes, I
hear the comments and the spite in their voices. Is it any wonder I have taken
to parading the streets under cover of darkness?”
“Was you sister aware that you had left
the house?”
“I very much doubt it; she is in
Concord visiting friends of the family. If only I had known I would need an
alibi I would have asked her to cancel her visit,” she responded with a sweet
smile, but devilment in her eyes.
“Your sister, Emma has requested my
help in ascertaining the truth of what befell your father and mother. Were you
aware of that fact?”
“She was NOT my mother, she was my
step-mother” she spat out. Emma is always wanting to know the truth of what
happened that day, she can be rather tiresome on the subject.”
“Do you not want to know the truth,
Miss Borden or do you know it already?” asked Holmes pointedly.
“The dead are dead and buried, leave
them be. They cannot be brought back to life even if anybody wished it.”
“Would you wish it?”
“I have nothing further to say on the
matter.”
“Very well, although I certainly have a
mind to tax your memory of that day at a future date. Do you use perfume, Miss
Borden?”
“Your questions are most amusing, Mr
Holmes. Why in the world would you ask such a thing?”
“It may have a bearing on these current
crimes.”
“As I know nothing of these crimes then
I fail to see the relevance of your question, but as the answer is of supreme
unimportance then I am willing to give you that answer. No I do not use perfume
or any kind of scent.”
“You are not aware of a perfume which
rejoices in the name of ‘Midnight in Paris’?”
“I have never heard of it. Will that be
all? For, as you say, Elmer Hogan will want his turn now.”
“Thank you for your help, Miss Borden,
that will be all for now.”
Holmes rapped on the door and Lizzie
was escorted back to her cell.
“Well?” inquired the Chief. “What do
you think, Mr Holmes?”
“She is,
I believe, a very strong-willed woman, but if you want to know whether I
believe her guilty or not, then you may have to be patient.”
“Thank you Mr Holmes, the evidence
points to her guilt and that is enough for me to go ahead and charge her.”
“Chief Hogan,” I protested, “you have
no evidence to speak of unless it’s a crime for Lizzie to have known these two
people.”
“Not only knew them, Dr Watson, but had
run-ins with them. There were bad feelings and look at how the murders were
committed, with an axe or hatchet.”
“My dear Hogan,” interrupted Holmes,
“on that basis we must attribute every such murder in the whole of the United
States to Lizzie Borden! No, it will not do. Watson does have a point; there is
no evidence as such.”
“As to that, this is my case and you
must allow me to run it as I see fit and I will apprise Marshal Hilliard of my
suspicions and intent.”
***************************************
“Well,”
asked Holmes as we walked towards Second Street, “what did you think of the
infamous Miss Lizzie Borden? Your impressions may be invaluable to me as is
often the case.”
“She brought to my mind the image of a
cobra, poised and ready to strike. I believe her to be a formidable woman who
is capable of anything.”
“Upon my word, Watson, she certainly
made an impression on you and you her great defender too.”
“I am none too sure I should be cast in
the role of defender, Holmes, I have merely noted the incongruity of someone
acquitted of all charges in a court of law, but declared guilty by so many
people. Can anyone really know the truth of what happened that day?”
“That remains to be seen, but who
knows, two old sleuth-hounds like us may yet find a scent which has remained
dormant these last five years.”
As we walked past the Borden house, I
shivered involuntarily, but I was sure I was not alone in that. For everyone
for whom the house held a morbid fascination there were no doubt others who
gave it a wide berth.
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