The 1893 Lizzie Borden trial was built largely around circumstantial evidence and disputed testimony. The jury acquitted Borden, and the historical record does not establish who killed Andrew and Abby Borden.
The Basic Timeline
Andrew and Abby Borden were killed on Aug. 4, 1892. Lizzie was arrested Aug. 11. Her trial began June 5, 1893, in New Bedford, and she was acquitted June 20, according to the Library of Congress.
The Prosecution's Evidence
Prosecutors relied on testimony, household circumstances and physical evidence to argue their case. Historical newspapers preserved in the Library of Congress show that a hatchet was produced during the trial and that the prosecution argued over other evidence connected to the investigation.
The Prussic Acid Evidence
One important dispute concerned testimony about prussic acid. Contemporary trial coverage preserved in the Library of Congress records the court excluding testimony related to that issue. This illustrates why the prosecution's case cannot be reduced to every allegation reported in newspapers: some evidence was challenged or excluded.
Was There a Murder Weapon?
The trial included a hatchet presented by the prosecution, but the existence of a hatchet in evidence is not the same as proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Lizzie used it. The legal question was whether the prosecution's entire case established guilt.
Why the Case Was Difficult to Prove
The killings occurred inside a private home, and there was no eyewitness account that simply resolved who committed the attacks. The prosecution therefore had to assemble a narrative from separate pieces of evidence and testimony.
What the Acquittal Means
Lizzie was found not guilty. That verdict means the prosecution did not establish guilt to the required legal standard; it does not identify another perpetrator or prove that the murders were solved.
What Monster Changes
The Netflix series can dramatize private conversations and present a coherent theory of motive. The surviving trial record is less certain and contains disputed evidence, competing interpretations and gaps.
Quick Answer
Why was Lizzie Borden acquitted? The jury found her not guilty after considering the prosecution and defense cases. The historical record still does not establish who committed the murders.
Sources
Library of Congress: Arrest and Trial of Lizzie Borden · Library of Congress: Contemporary trial coverage
Fact-check note
This article distinguishes the Netflix dramatization from documented history. Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893; claims about guilt, private relationships, motives and events not established by surviving records are described as fictionalized or disputed rather than settled fact.
Netflix Tudum: The True Story · Netflix Tudum: Ending Explained · PEOPLE: Fact vs Fiction · PEOPLE: Emma/Lizzie Fact Check
Related: Lizzie Borden After the Trial: What Happened From 1893 to 1927
Related: Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Ending Explained — What Happens in the Finale
