Fall River Tragedy

The chilling tale of Lizzie Borden, the woman alleged to have brutally murdered her parents, has become a haunting piece of American folklore, immortalized in an unforgettable albeit inaccurate playground jingle. This podcast unravels the real story from the perspective of the local police reporter who not only attended the trial but lived just a few streets away from the Borden residence. Seemingly vanishing after the trial, Porters disappearance sparked rumors of murder or bribery in an attempt to silence his story. His eventual reappearance debunked these theories, but his untimely death at 39 from tuberculosis led to new speculation. The trial itself was a media sensation, setting a precedent for todays nationwide press coverage of high-profile trials. The case also featured a notable cast, including prosecutor Frank Moody, who later served as the U.S. attorney general and Supreme Court justice, and Lizzie Bordens defense lawyer, ex-governor of Massachusetts, George Robinson. The introduction of an expert witness, Professor Wood from Harvard University, was an innovative move that forever changed the process of trials.