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D.A. William Moody's Opening Analysis the Day of the Murders - Step by Step

Author
Kate Lavender
Published
Sun 22 Jun 2025
Episode Link
https://www.lizziebordenaudio.com

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A new experimental podcast where I try out a new format with no background music or host to educate you as two Lizzie Borden Trial experts analyze Moody's compelling two-hour opening statement in 56 minutes, commercial-free. This was Moody's first murder trial at the age of 40. Mrs. Churchill's Inquest is coming soon. Subscribe so you don't miss it! 

TIMECODES:
00:00    INTRO - MOODYS DEMONSTRATES THE TIMELINE of AUGUST 4, 1892 
00:56    The Horror of the Crime
01:26    Classic Opening
02:00    The Difficulty of Acquiring the Transcripts Going Back to Author Ed Pearson in the 1920s 
02:21    A Roadmap of the Prosecution's theory
03:12    Their First Shot of Persuasion
04:37    Old Common Law Language of the Jury's Duty 
05:10    Moody Describes the Crime as Unthinkable
06:45    Moody Tells the Jury to Focus on the Facts & Not Her Character
07:39    Moody Begins to Describe the Family starting with Andrew Borden
09:02     Describes the Layout of the House on a Busy Street in Broad Daylight
10:10     Describes the 3 Exterior Doors of the House
10:40     Moody Describes the Tension & Unkindly Feeling in The House
10:45     He Prepares the Jury for Circumstantial Evidence
11:10     Moody describes the benefaction of property given by Andrew to a relative of Mrs. Borden
11:30     This caused a giant shift in the house between the sisters and Mrs. Borden 
17:55     Who Was In The House the Day Before the Murders?
18:30     Sudden violent illness in the house
18:59     Moody connects illness to Lizzie's attempt to buy Poison the Day Before the illness
20:00     Lizzie Visits Best Friend Alice Russell Evening Before the Murders predicting Doom
21:00     The Day of The Murders 
22:00     Moody Emphasizes the Locked Doors of the House
22:50     Moody Walks Through the Timeline of the Murders 
23:45     Bridget Vomits Breakfast in Back Yard   
24:04     Mrs. Borden Tells Bridget to Wash the Windows While She Goes Upstairs and  tends to                 Pillowcases in the Spare Bedroom that Uncle John Morse Had Slept In during the night
26:56     Moody ascertains that Andrew Borden Arrived at 10:40 am in Contrast to Neighbor who swore she saw Andrew attempting to Unlock His Own Front Door with a Key at 10:32 am
28:55     Lizzie Begins Ironing Handkerchiefs according to herself
30:40     The General Alarm of the Murders Came at 11:15 am to the FRPD Station
34:30     Impossible to Believe Lizzie Eating Pears in the Upstairs Loft of the Barn looking for lead- No footprints in Dust - While Andrew Borden Was Being Murdered according to Officer Medley
35:19     Lizzie suddenly insists she heard Mrs. Borden Come In after asserting All Morning She Was Out to See a Sick Friend  - then Why Was She Sending Bridget Out on Errands To Look For Her?
36:40     Lizzie Changed Clothes While Upstairs into a Prink Wrapper while alone in her room
37:30     Establishing the Order of Deaths - Abby first -cold & clotted - Andrew warm & dripping blood
38:25     Moody Describes the Stomach Contents of Andrew Borden Indicative of Time of Death
39:00     Abby Borden's Stomach Contents Suggest Prior Death by 60+minutes 
40:10     Lizzie disclosed that she turned her clothing over to the police several days after the murders
40:22     Professor Wood descr

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