The Fall River Tragedy

On a quiet day in 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the bodies of Abby and Andrew Borden were found brutally murdered with an ax, striking a harsh blow against the quiet stillness of this quaint town. Lizzie Borden, the unassuming daughter of Andrew and stepdaughter of Abby, was charged with the murders in a case that still fascinates audiences to this day. Aside from the gruesomeness of the murders themselves, the fact that Lizzie Borden was a female murder suspect ensured the long-lasting notoriety of the event.

In the more than one hundred years since the infamous murders, there have been numerous accounts of this unusual and controversial case. But in The Fall River Tragedy: A History of the Borden Murders, author Edwin H. Porter provides the very first account of this American tragedy, from a reporter who was present at the scene during Borden’s trial. Porter also gives the reader a complete history of the Lizzie Borden case, from the arrest and preliminary trial and all the way through the Superior Court trial. Porter leaves no stone unturned and includes in-depth information on events like the Trickey-McHenry Affair that reveal the inner workings of the Borden case.

As the Police Reporter for The Fall River Globe, Porter brings his investigative skills and personal connection to the town of Fall River to present the unbiased facts of this case. Fans of true-crime stories will enjoy this fascinating account of the Borden murders and trials. Rigorously compiled from official sources and complemented by professional engraved illustrations, The Fall River Tragedy is a fascinating and well-researched look into one of the most notorious murder cases in America’s history.