Lizzie Borden's Hometown Museum Wins Rights to Name

Lizzie Borden would be so proud. Merchandise bearing her name is now the exclusive property of her hometown Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, Mass., the Boston Globe reports. The B&B prevailed before the US Patent and Trademark Office in securing the rights to the infamous spinster’s name. The loser, a Salem shop formerly known as The True Story of Lizzie Borden, will have to make do under its new name: The 40 Whacks Museum.

“We wanted to protect our franchise,’’ said the B&B co-owner. “We want to keep the name and Lizzie Borden merchandise local, so people know they are buying something that comes from Fall River.’’ For the record, the 32-year-old Borden was acquitted in her parents' 1892 slayings, but that doesn't stop plastic hatchets and T-shirts with slogans such as "Everything I Need to Know About Anger Management I Learned From Lizzie Borden" from being hot sellers. (More murder stories.)