Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-23
: F,om The .N,s,v. York National .4duoeass.

Stephen and Jesse Brown, convicted IN yer
mont. OF the supposed murder of Russell Col
vim, requesting information OF the supposed
deceased, who disappeared from Manchester,
Vermont, in mysterious manner, some time
s;oer. This letter of the Browns was also
published in the New York Evening Post,
ami produced the following reply:
Shrewsbury, Monmouth, W. ~ Dec. 8.
$40 the editors of the n. York Evening Post
Sir-Haying read in your paper OF Nov.
90 last, of the conviction and sentence Of
Stephen and Jesse Brown, OF Manchester
Vermont, charged with the murder OF fussei
CoIyin. and from facts which have fallen
within my knowledge, and not knowing what
facts NAV have been disclosed on their trial.
and wishing 10 serve the cause OF humanity,
I would state as follows, which may be re-
lied ON. Some years past,' think between
Ave and tenl stranger made his appearance
in this county, and upon being enquired OF,
said that his name was Russell Colvin, (which
same he answers to at this time) that he came
from Manchester, Vermont; he appeared to
% be in state Of mental arrangement, but at
times gave considerable account of himself,
his connections, acquaintance, &C.; he men,
tions the name of Clarissa Rufus, &c. among
his relations he has mentioned the Browns a.
boye, Chase, as judge, Il think} &c. &c
He is a man rather small in stature, round Ia
yored, speaks very fast, has two scars on his
head. and appears to be between 30 and ~
wears Of age. There is no doubt but that he
came from Vermont, from the mention that
he has made Of a number of places and per-
sous there, and probably is the person sup.
posed to have been murdered. lie is now liy-
ing here, but SO completely insane as not TO
be able to give any satisfactory account OF
himself, but The connections OF Russell Colvln
might know by seeing him. II you think
proper 10 give this place in your colun ms,
itmay possibly lead TO discovery that may
save the lives OF innocent men; it so, you
will have the pleasure, las well as myself Of
having served the cause OF humanity. ifyou
give this an insertion in your paper, pray be
so good as to request the diferen, editors OF
Newspapers in New York and VeImoat to
give it place in theirs.
lam, sir, with sentiments Of regard, yours
sc. TABER CHADWICK"
An accurate report of the trial and consic-
lion Of The Browns wall excite the greatest III
terest, add will furnish an additional warning
to jurors not TO give sentence that will take
away the lie OF fellow creature, without the
plsnest and most positive proof.
We understand that the Brow lis were bro
10 trial in consequence of dream of some
person, in which it appeared that Russell Col
vim was alleged 10 have been murdered, the
place designated where his bones were to be
found, and that the Browns were the perpe-
traitors OF the deed.
"Colyin was man of inexperience, of lit
tie talent or capacity to earn his living, he
married sister of those Browns, who BAD TO
support him, aud to whom he was very ob-
noxious was in the habit of stIaylng
away from hrs home, and keeping away for
length Of tine-he took his final departure,
and nothing was heard of him, or suspected
ofh;m, until the dream. 1t turned out that
in field OF these Browns, large hole was
usually kept open for preserving potatoes du-
ring the wiater-t was suddenly closed. In
this old hole skeleton of man was found,
barlow penkniie. bloody, and another knife,
rusty, lay along side OF him. Colyin's wife
declared that they had belonged to Der bus
band-she swore also TO the buttons on bis
cloths, and for the first time size suspected he
had been murdered-the two Browns were
arrested-the younger one was imprisoned,
and in the same prison man was confined
who bad been arrested on suspicion OF forgery
but subsequently, was honorably acquitted
TO this man Brown confessed that he and his
brother had murdered CoIyin, and buried
him in the potatoe hole--this confession was
given in evidence against them. which. toge-
ther with ether circumstances, led 10 their
conviction. This is the stor, told TO us-Col-
! vim is alive, and these men are innocent-but
TO whom does that skeleton belong? Some
one was murdered in Browns field, and Sc
cretly buried there-the two brothers when
quarrelling. were frequently heard to threa-
Tan Il, ofhar ,,nvs,arsn,sIx, Tha MOVE cf