Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden [Hardcover]

David Kent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992

A reexamination of the Lizzie Borden murder case presents new trial evidence and suspects and describes how Borden was hounded by prosecutors, pursued by the press, and presumed guilty despite her acquittal. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On Aug. 3, 1892, wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, of Fall River, Mass., were hacked to death on a hot summer morning. Presumably Borden's younger daughter Lizzie and an Irish servant woman were the only other people in the house. Lizzie was tried for the murders and acquitted, supposedly closing the case. But speculations about the Fall River murders have refused to subside, prompting dozens of books, short stories, plays, an opera and even a ballet, many of these offering alternative conjectures about the killer. This carefully researched book is one of the best ever done on the case. The late Kent, an actor and fiction writer, lays out the flimsy evidence and comments impartially on the court testimony, making it clear that the verdict of not guilty was justified. And, perhaps uniquely among the writers about the case, Kent presents no theory about mysterious strangers, disgruntled former employees or estranged relatives. He simply confesses, convincingly, that he has no idea who committed the crime--except that it was not Lizzie Borden. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

It is known with certainty that Andrew and Abby Borden were killed in 1892. All else is conjecture. Arnold Braun's Lizzie Borden ( LJ 8/91) presented yet another theory of who the killer might have been, and now Kent reveals new evidence about the case, although he does not point to a suspect. History will not be changed by Kent's findings or by any of the plethora of books commemorating the 100th anniversary of the deed. Still, Forty Whacks gives a good presentation of the social history of the time. It also shows Lizzie as she probably was instead of the way the late Victorian tabloids portrayed her. Kent gives good, crisp images of the main characters and their motives, including those who perjured themselves. The book succeeds best when the author narrates and is less successful when relying on trial transcripts. Overall, though, it is a balanced addition to the body of literature on the Borden murders. Recommended to public libraries and for all true crime collections.
- Lois Walker, formerly with Winthrop Coll. Lib., Rock Hill, S.C.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 231 pages
• Publisher: Yankee Books; First Edition edition (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899093515
• ISBN-13: 978-0899093512
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,192,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just the Facts, Liz, April 25, 2000

By 

Mark C. Daniels (Southeast Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden (Hardcover)

Borden fans should check out this wonderful book which presents "just the facts" of the murder case. As many people know, "Fall River Tragedy" by Porter is considered THE BIBLE as far as Lizzie lore goes...but Kent points out that Porter was a yellow journalist whose book was a re-hashing of his numerous, sensationalized newspaper articles of the day. Furthermore, Porter was one-sided against Lizzie. Let's stop looking to Porter as the definitive text on the case, and give Kent a try...he doesn't offer any solution, but at least he doesn't offer any biases and nonsense either.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Pictures and Background Facts, May 5, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden (Hardcover)

The MOST important new evidence is the fact that a fairly new hatchet was used (the shred of gilt paint in Abby's skull) - not reported in the past; the old hatchet found in the basement could NOT have been the murder weapon! The "Harvard Perjury" was the testimony preceded by "I believe that ..." the old hatchet was the murder weapon. The common sense jury knew that the hatchet head was SAWN off, not broken off.

The chapter on rumors carries the full text of the anonymous letter from Albany (most likely Joseph Carpenter?) sent to both the Prosecutor and the Marshall. The misspelled "Bordon" name is just a sample of "plausible denial", in case somebody (with a hatchet) came to talk to him. The letter that was later found on a Rome NY street pointing to J. Carpenter was a way to get even; somebody connected with the case wasn't fooled.

This book is a very good complementary to Arnold R. Brown's "final chapter" on the case - as good a solution as you can find after a century.

Edward Radin's 1961 book re-investigated the case, and talked to some contemporaries who knew Lizzie. He was the first to show Pearson's biased reporting, and had his own solution (based on his own experiences as a crime reporter).

The 1973 book by Robert Sullivan, lawyer and judge, provides another point of view. His opinion that "there was enough evidence to convict" shows prejudgment of the case. His book quotes Judge Justin Dewey's charge to the jury, as true and important today as a century ago. He interviewed Abby Borden Whitehead Potter, Abby's niece (and Godchild?).

The most important thing about this case was the condition of the blood of the victims. Red and liquid for freshly-killed Andrew, black and clotted for Abby (predeceased for over an hour). Think about that in a more recent case!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want the true facts on Lizzie, read this book!, March 31, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden (Hardcover)

The through research and impartiality of the author makes this book a must on anyone's booklist who is interested in the Lizzie Borden legend. Mr. Kent provides you with testimonies from all the characters involved in this real-life murder mystery and allows you to judge the facts for yourself. A throughly entertaining book which may leave you with the question -- Who really murdered Andrew and Abby Borden