Axe Murder Aftermath: Lizzie Borden’s Post-Trial Life
Posted: 07.16.2025 |
Updated: 08.26.2025
9 minutes
“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’s story is one of mystery, heartbreak, and horror. Even those who aren’t true crime enthusiasts or horror fanatics are still familiar with the popular rhyme and the story behind it.
The trial of Lizzie Borden left many in the Fall River community puzzled. Most of the townsfolk were certain that following her arrest, Lizzie would be found guilty of murdering her father, Andrew, and stepmother, Abby. But to their surprise, she was acquitted of all charges against her and left the courtroom a free woman.
What happened to Lizzie after the trial? How did it affect her life? And did she truly get to live a life of freedom after so much judgment from others?
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What did Lizzie Borden do After She Was Acquitted of Murder?
Although she was declared innocent by a jury of 12 gentlemen, the people of Fall River were not so quick to forget the stigma surrounding Lizzie Borden. She may have had her family’s wealth to fall back on. However, the judgment she received from those in her community continued to haunt her until the day she died.
Was it an unfair judgment? Or was the never-ending scrutiny just the karmic result of Lizzie narrowly escaping the guilty verdict?
Facing the Unforgiving Public
Lizzie Borden may have been declared innocent by the judge and jury, but many in her hometown were filled with doubt. It was devastating when all of her friends abandoned her.
People would refuse to sit beside her during church services, and the children would often prank her, daring each other to ring her doorbell in the middle of the night, only to run away before she opened the door. She was the neighborhood pariah, the one whom everyone pointed and whispered about in the darkness.
No matter what the verdict was or what she did, Lizzie was painted in a bad light. Even Judge Josiah Blaisdell, who presided over her case, said after her preliminary hearing that she was “probably guilty.” An opinion like that carries a lot of weight.
On one hand, Lizzie was free and obviously grateful for her freedom. But on the other hand, she was still seen as a cold-hearted murderer by almost everyone she knew. That, in some ways, was even worse than being found guilty of the crime.
Rebranding Her Identity
Lizzie decided to take a stand. She wasn’t going to allow the people of Fall River to continue viewing her in such a negative way or let their opinions keep her down. She started by changing her name from Lizzie Borden to Lizbeth A. Borden, a name that felt adult and regal, one that was worthy of her father’s wealth and legacy.
Instead of cowering from their whispers and stares, Lizzie doubled down. Using the money she and her sister Emma inherited from their father’s estate. The sisters purchased a large home located in the upscale community of Fall River known as The Hill.
The lavish new property, which Lizzie named Maplecroft was a beacon for wealth. She was determined to maintain her family’s social status, and to remain a visible person in town. No matter how she was perceived. Their negativity only fueled her passion to stand out even more and be true to herself.
Seeking Refuge at Maplecroft
Purchasing the lavish new home ensured that Lizzie was seen by the public, whether they liked it or not. Her new name brought on a new persona that paired well with the image of extravagance that Maplecroft gave off.
The elaborate Victorian-style home in Massachusetts was built in 1887 and sits on a half-acre lot. It has seven bedrooms and 3.5 baths, providing plenty of space for Lizzie and Emma to entertain and host lavish parties.
But even as she tried to cater the high society circles of Fall River, she still felt publicly ostracized.
Trying to ignore the side-eyed glares and snide comments became exhausting for Lizzie, and she slipped into an internal exile. She began avoiding those in high society and opted to live in seclusion at Maplecroft, where she fed birds and squirrels in her backyard. She even anonymously engaged in charitable work, giving back to the very community that turned their backs on her.
Lizzie would only leave her home by coach and, in later years, by a chauffeured car. She’d often visit Boston, New York, and Washington for shopping as well as for entertainment, especially the theater. That is where she met American stage and film actress Gertrude Lamson, also known as Nance O’Neil.
New Friendship Brings a New Scandal
Lizzie’s friendship with actress Nance O’Neil began during a time when acting was still considered a questionable career. And Nance facing her own consistent judgment made her a good partner for Lizzie in more ways than one.
It’s uncertain when Lizzie first saw Nance perform on stage. Many believe it was during a performance of Macbeth in Boston.
Nance portrayed Lady Macbeth, and it’s quite possible that Lizzie was moved by her performance, blood-stained hands and all. While that may not be true, it fits well with Lizzie’s own history and the question of whether she truly had blood on her hands.
Lizzie Becomes a Part of Nance’s Circle
Lizzie was friends with Ricca Allen, who was a part of Nance’s social circle. Ricca arranged for Lizzie to meet Nance at a summer resort located in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1904. From that point on, Lizzie was a part of Nance’s exciting group of theater friends.
Nance and her friends didn’t judge Lizzie concerning her past. They enjoyed her generosity and embraced the grand parties she’d hold for them in their honor both at Maplecroft and in Tyngsboro, another community in Massachusetts.
Becoming friends with Nance seemed to light a spark back in Lizzie’s life that had been gone for too long. It was healing as Nance brought a new sense of peace and acceptance into Lizzie’s life that she’d been missing for so long. As she began hosting parties again at Maplecroft, she started to embrace being around people once again.
But their connection brought on an entirely new scandal, as townsfolk and others who were close to Lizzie believed she and Nance were more than friends and in a romantic relationship. Something that was frowned upon in that time, just as much or even more so than being accused of a grisly double homicide.
Unfortunately, this new lifestyle for Lizzie ended with betrayal and created havoc between her and Emma, who moved out of the house they shared in 1905.
The Ending of Lizzie and Nance’s Relationship
While Lizzie and Nance seemed close, even believed to be lovers, it has been said that Nance’s feelings weren’t mutual, and took advantage of Lizzie’s wealth. Over the years, Lizzie loaned money to Nance several times, and in 1905, she wrote a letter to Ricca, who became Nance’s power of attorney, complaining about the outstanding loans. It is believed that these funds were never repaid to Lizzie, which could have led to a falling out.
Emma and Lizzie rarely spoke after she left Maplecroft; however, she continued to defend her sister. In an interview, she was quoted as saying, “Queer? Yes, Lizzie is queer.” But as for her being guilty, I say no, and decidedly, no.”
A Disturbed Life Comes to an End
In 1926, it was reported by a New England newspaper that a woman named Mary Smith Borden checked into the Providence hospital with gallbladder issues. Mary turned out to be Lizzie, and it has been said that hospital staff described her as a troublesome patient. She endured a year of ongoing health issues before dying at home in Fall River at the age of 66 from complications of pneumonia.
Oddly enough, a few days later, Lizzie’s sister Emma passed away from the same illness in New Hampshire. The sisters never reconciled after Emma left Maplecroft, taking their falling out and the reasons behind it, to their graves.
Lizzie’s friends held a small funeral for her at Maplecroft, and she was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery, just a few feet away from where her father and stepmother were buried. Throughout the last 34 years of her life following the trial, Lizzie never spoke to the public about the case, even though she had numerous requests for interviews. She turned them all down.
Lizzie’s Will and Testament
The only public statement she made following the trial was in her last will and testament, which was executed sixteen months before she died. Of her estate, which was estimated to be worth $265,000, she left nothing to her sister Emma. Lizzie stated, “She has enough to make her comfortable.”
The city of Fall River received $500 from Lizzie’s estate for perpetual care of her father’s burial lot; however, there was no mention of the funds going to her stepmother’s plot.
She was very generous to her servants as well as her friends, leaving behind cash and jewelry for them. But her largest contribution was to the Fall River Animal Rescue League in the amount of $30,000, with a note added that “I have been fond of animals, and their need is great, and there are so few who care for them.”
She signed her will and testament twice, once as Lizbeth A. Borden and again as Lizzie A. Borden, almost as if she were signing for two individuals who had lived two very different lives.
Did She Do It?
While the popular consensus is that Lizzie Borden did indeed murder her father and stepmother, it’s safe to say we’ll never know the truth. She was acquitted of the crimes and was allowed to live out the rest of her years as a free woman, but never truly free. The events of that night haunted her for 34 years, much in the same manner as they continue to haunt the New England community centuries later.
Whether or not Lizzie did it is left up to the opinions of those who have studied the story and analyzed the facts. There was the obvious discontent Lizzie and her sister had for their stepmother. And Lizzie was indeed a peculiar person, but is all of that enough to prove that she was capable of murdering two people, one being her beloved father, in such a cruel manner?
That’s a mystery that’ll never be solved. But one thing is for certain: the story of Lizzie Borden is a true crime tale that will never be forgotten and will continue to pique the interest of fans for many generations to come.
If you would like to learn more about the life of Lizzie Borden and the community she lived in, be sure to check out our blog here at the official website for the Lizzie Borden House. And book your tour or weekend stay at the house to get even closer to the mystery and intrigue of the Borden legacy.
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Sources:
- https://lizzie-borden.com
- https://lizzie-borden.com/blog/
- https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1437-home?.com
- https://www.biography.com/crime/lizzie-borden-life-after-murder-trial?.com
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/81765/how-lizzie-borden-spent-her-life-after-being-acquitted?.com
- https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-lizzie-borden
- https://newengland.com/yankee/history/long-silence-lizzie-borden/#:~:text=For%20the%20rest%20of%20her,%2C%20and%20decidedly%2C%20no.”
- https://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetOnline/queen-of-tragedy-the-career-of-nance-oneil.html
- https://lizzie-borden.com/blog/oak-grove-cemetery/
