Who was Lizzie Borden?
The clock at City Hall in Fall River, Massachusetts, had just struck eleven. It was August 4, 1892, and Adelaide Churchill was on her way home from the market. At that time, no one had a refrigerator in their home. Food spoiled quickly, especially on a hot summer day. Adelaide was carrying the groceries she needed to make a midday meal.
She turned the corner onto Second Street. As Adelaide neared her house, she saw a woman run across the road. Women at the time wore long skirts and petticoats that reached the ground. They weren’t easy to run in, and it was unusual to see anyone try. Adelaide recognized this woman as Bridget Sullivan, who worked as a maid for Adelaide’s next-door neighbors, the Bordens. Bridget looked upset—maybe even scared.
Could something be wrong at the Borden house? Adelaide grew uneasy as she carried her groceries into her kitchen. She had lived next to the Borden family for years. Andrew Borden was a respected man in Fall River. His wife, Abby, was quiet and sweet-tempered. The Borden daughters, Emma and Lizzie, the children of Andrew’s first wife, were polite and did charity work.
Adelaide had seen Andrew Borden leave the house at his usual time, around nine o’clock. Andrew was retired, but he often ran errands in the morning and returned home at noon. An hour or so after Andrew left, Adelaide had seen Bridget washing the windows. Emma was out of town visiting friends.
All in all, it was a completely ordinary day. So what could have frightened Bridget? Adelaide looked out her kitchen window at the Borden house.
Lizzie Borden was standing at the back door. She was leaning on the door frame, as if she couldn’t stand on her own, and covering her face with her hands.
Adelaide threw open the window and called out, “Lizzie, what is the matter?”
When Lizzie looked up, her face was pale and frightened. “Oh, Mrs. Churchill, do come over,” she said. “Someone has killed Father.”
Copyright © 2026 by Meg Belviso; illustrated by Stephen Marchesi. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
