Lizzie Borden has been mentioned twice during the course of Angel. The first time was in 1.14 I’ve Got You Under My Skin while discussing the Ethros demon:
Wesley: “Oh, it can’t hurt you. Only the demon itself is dangerous.”
Cordy: “How dangerous?”
Wesley: “Tends to go in for mass murder. - You’ve heard of Lizzie Borden? She killed her parents with an axe?”
Cordy: “I remember the children’s rhyme. And how come they’re all full of death and cradles falling, and mice getting tails cut off? Anyway, the whole thing needs a ratings system, don’t you think?”
The second mention is from 4.17 Inside Out:
Gunn: “Wait a minute. When Gwen and I came in, faux Cordy didn’t have any blood on its clothes. How’d it abracadabra that?”
Wesley: “Lizzie Borden. It wasn’t wearing any.”
Lizzie Andrew Borden (July 19, 1860 – June 1, 1927) was a New England spinster and central figure in the axe murders of her father and stepmother on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Although acquitted, no one else was ever tried, and she has remained notorious in American folklore. The slayings, trial, and the following trial by media became a cause célèbre; and the fame of the incident has endured in American pop culture and criminology. Dispute over the identity of the killer or killers continues to this day.
The rhyme based on Lizzie goes as follows:
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
One can tour and stay over at the home of the murders. This website provides information on the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast.
Related episodes: 1.14 I've Got You Under My Skin, 4.17 Inside Out
Comments on this trivia
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Meghann on July 6th, 2007 at 11:11 am
If you’re in the area, I reccommend you check out the house. It’s quite interesting. Living in the area, I went frequently during field trips as a kid. *lol*
One of my best friends worked there and had a few experiences of the paranormal variety. :o)
Abby M. on July 19th, 2007 at 8:02 am
My mother actually grew up in Fall River Massuchusettes and I actually have Lizzie Borden’s bed! When Borden was moving out of her house, she had a garage sale and my uncle bought the bed and through the years, it was given to me. It’s kinda weird. It has always given me the creeps.
During the murders her maid was also in the house and to be honest, I think the maid murdered the victims. My uncle claimed when the murders were taking place, he was actually talking with LIzie Borden (of course he was a little boy). Interesting.
ormaybemidgets on July 20th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Abby M., that is the best story ever. You (and your uncle) are awesome!
Meghann on July 21st, 2007 at 7:36 am
I find that most people who live in this area, don’t believe she did it. But with the ryme and media influence, people in other areas are slightly tainted, ya know? I always flip flop. There’s not enough evidence to say she did it. It’s nutty! :o)
Meghann on July 21st, 2007 at 7:44 am
Quick story…
So in my Senior year we did a historical field trip of the area. Lizzie’s house is about two miles away, I’ve been there tons of times, but any excuse to get out of class! *lol*
During the tour, I was in one of the upstairs rooms. The rest of my class had walked out. My back was towards the door and the lights flickered. I bugged out!!! I have spirits in my house (LOOONG story), but this scared the crap out of me.
I shrieked and ran to the door. As I did, a couple of my friends were laughing hysterically. Apparently, one of them had played with the lights to scare me. It was so mean, yet funny at the same time.
The spirits in my house aren’t frightening… more playful. But that house had murders. Murdered spirits scare me.
We Are Gods on January 31st, 2008 at 11:19 am
This line should be added from Inside Out: “It stripped down, then gave Manny forty whacks.” - Angel
Bells on May 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Oh I hate ghosts I had one in my house once, had to get the priest..he kicked it’s ass *smile*