The Borden Murders: A Chronology of Violence

The Borden murders, which occurred on August 4, 1892, involved the brutal slaying of Andrew Borden and his wife Abby in their Fall River home. Both victims were attacked with an axe or hatchet, resulting in Abby being struck 18 times and Andrew 11 times, with neighbors hearing nothing in a respectable neighborhood. The violent nature of the murders suggested a crime rooted in intense fury rather than robbery, particularly since there was no apparent motive and the Borden family had some wealth. This shocking event highlighted not just the immediate fear of a potential axe-wielding maniac in the community, but also pointed to deeper social tensions in Fall River, a town characterized by stark economic divides.