P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r was staying in nearby Fairhaven after a family dispute. According to Bridget’s testimony, Mrs. Borden (Lizzie’s stepmother) had asked her to wash the windows inside and outside as they were “awful dirty.” Bridget said she didn’t see Lizzie about as she started to her task of cleaning the windows. Once outside, Bridget stated that Lizzie asked her “Maggie, are you going to wash the windows?” Bridget replied. “Yes. You needn’t lock the door; I will be around here, but you can lock it if you want to; I can get water in the barn.” Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan Not long after Mr. Borden arrived home, much earlier than his normal schedule due to the recent illness he and his family were suffering from. Bridget was still busying herself in and out of the house tending to the windows. She testified that she let Mr. Borden in the house as he had to ring the bell because the front door was locked by bolt from the inside. Bridget also testified that she overheard Lizzie and Mr. Borden’s conversation once inside. She heard Mr. Borden ask Lizzie where Abby (Mrs. Borden) was, and Lizzie replied that she had gone out to visit a sick friend. Bridget then said that she too had felt nauseated like the rest of the family, and she went outside to vomit. When she came back into the house, she headed up to her room in the attic for a rest. She states this was about 10:55 am because she heard the town’s bell ring at 11:00 am only a few moments later. The next thing Bridget heard was Lizzie calling from downstairs, “Maggie, come down! Come down quick; father’s dead, somebody come in and killed him.” Lizzie wouldn’t allow Bridget in the sitting room to view the body, she instead sent her to retrieve the doctor. Dr. Bowen pronounced Mr. Borden dead and requested a sheet to cover his body. Lizzie then asked Bridget to please go upstairs and check on Mrs. Borden as Lizzie was sure she’d heard her come in. When Bridget entered the upstairs guest bedroom, she found Abby Borden’s lifeless body. Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother after they were found hacked to death. The Borden murder inquest began on August 9th and lasted for three days. It took the jury about an hour and a half to come up with a not guilty verdict. Bridget Sullivan gave important testimony at the hearing. What really happened at the Borden residence on that fateful summer morn? Was Bridget involved somehow? Did she help? Was she silenced by Lizzie? Was she paid off? Was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? We may never know the answers to these questions, but we do know where she would end up living out her days…Montana.
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