The Lizzie Borden murders of 1892 and the Queen Anne axe murder by James Cushing in 1990 represent two strikingly different yet similarly sensational cases of violent crime that captured public attention in their respective eras.

Lizzie Borden Murders (1892): In Fall River, Massachusetts, Lizzie Borden was accused of the brutal murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, using a hatchet. The case generated immense media coverage, driven by Lizzie’s enigmatic persona and the sensational nature of the crimes. The trial became a spectacle, reflecting societal issues related to gender, class, and morality in the Victorian era. Despite strong circumstantial evidence, Lizzie was acquitted, leading to enduring speculation about her guilt and the dynamics of her family life. Lizzie's story is also one that fascinated James W ...