The LIzzie Edition Part V.a

Episode 256 we return to the mother of all murder mysteries, the case of Lizzie Borden in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the verdict in her sensational trial, June 20, 1893. We again turn to the godfather of American True Crime, Edmund Pearson, the librarian who wrote slyly humorous takes of famous murder cases. His landmark essay, simply titled The Borden Case, makes up the first 119 pages of Pearson’s Studies in Murder, from which this episode is adapted.

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The Lizzie Edition: Part IV

While Lizzie Borden waits in the Taunton jail for her preliminary hearing to see if she is to go on trial for the murder of her father and stepmother, the community’s sympathy is expressed in interviews to people close to her and the appearance of “a wild-eyed man” ready to take the blame from her shoulders.


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The Lizzie Edition: Part III

Still in the middle of the inquest, Fall River officials finally feel as though they have enough evidence to make an arrest for the murder of Andrew J. Borden. She is sent to the jail in Taunton, Mass., where the matron turns out to be an old family friend.

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The Lizzie Edition: Part II

The surviving members of the Borden household are being held as prisoners in their own home, even while officials literally take it apart searching for clues. Yet they remain mum on the contents of the ongoing inquest, leaving ample room for speculation.

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Murder Of The Mythical Helen Johnson

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Episode 288 goes out to True Crime Historian patron Aisha B., who requested a murder from her hometown of Pleasanton, California. Although a lot of these historic stories have humorous elements when considered in modern light, I don’t normally treat them as comedies. There may or may not be any actual murders in this one, but there are plenty of accusations and much ado about Mrs. Amador’s allegations that makes it a comedy of errors that would make Shakespeare proud. Wait ‘til they get to the bones.

Also, since this story came up a little shorter on time than most episodes, stay tuned after the credits for a bonus short short story.

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The Ridde Of The Grinning Skull
She led police to the body of her husband, but when she saw the mocking skull they dug up, a second murder came to light.

By Frederic O. Schultze

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Adapted from True Detective Mysteries, V. 7; No. 4; July, 1927

Episode 287 is a first person account from a police reporter who admits to unethical snooping in trying to get to this story. But it’s the tale of a triangle so twisted, that I’ll forgive him for his indiscretions.

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The Lizzie Edition, Part I
Episode 166

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True Crime Historian brings you “The Lizzie Edition,” an in-depth look at the murder of Andrew J. Borden and his wife in Fall River, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1892, and the trial of his daughter Lizzie Borden the following June....

Theme music “My Ain Countrie” by Mary Lee Demarest, 1861, performed by Davide Severi with Plava Kuca on Violin....

Media Management by Sean R. Jones...
Production assistance by Emily Simer Braun...
Dedicated to Rachel Michelle Jones, whose enthusiasm for the case prompted this monumental treatment.

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The Heinous Crime Of Carl Wanderer

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Episode 286 relates one of the most reprehensible double murders we’ve yet to encounter. They’re all reprehensible, but there’s no question that the act of Carl Wanderer was spawned by truly evil intent.

More stories of "Pregnicide"



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Episode 140.

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“The Bigamist And Her Murderous Husband: The Sweetwater Double Homicide” is the sordid tale of a love octangle (or something like that) when the suspiciously widowed husband of a girl married five times without a divorce gets fed up from the legal harassment from his wife’s elderly suitor. Culled from the historic pages of the Abilene Reporter and other newspapers of the era.

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Bonus Stories:

“The Storybook Taxi Bandit” begins with a fidgety stranger walking into an Indiana cafe, soon to be followed by an interstate manhunt. Adapted from Master Detective, April 1935.

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“Stalking The Tiger Girl” tells of a Los Angeles detective’s pursuit of a sassy, auburn-haired hold-up artist who suddenly finds repentance after her arrest. Adapted from True Detective Mysteries, November 1929.

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Episode 193 exposes two tales, one of lust and passion, one of lust for power.

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"She Shot To Kill" is composed of two stories from the 1893 Omaha Daily Bee that tells of a deadly love triangle. There's a great contrast between the first day's coverage and the second.

"The Woman In The Wall" comes from the vintage pages of True Detective Magazine (vol. 56, no. 4), the story of a woman so consumed by ambition that she turns on the people who helped her on her journey. But you gotta know that like most of the journeys we discuss on this show, this one's not going to end well. 

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