Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-01-11

and Colvin disappeared. Whenever the
Boorns were questioned upon the subject
they generally stated that he ran oil to me
woods. They had, however, threatened
him previously; and sometime afterwards
said, he had gone to the devil, 10
He'll" &c.
1t seems, however, that about four years
ago, the wife of Colvin found herself ~
delicate situation, but could not make a
certain oath unless her husband was abso-
lutely dead. Stephen Boorn told his Sis
ter, g that she could swear, for Colvin was
dead, aud he knew it." Although we are
not told SO in the trial, yet we think itpro-
bable that while this affair was IN aglta-
|tion, something fell from The brothers which
fixed suspicion upon them. The hat worn
by CoIvin, had been found 10 the fields,
long after his absence, and was satisEacto-
rily identified. A jack knife, said to have
been his, was found in an old cellar, ard
also button, which his wife swore ne bad
worn for some time. Various circumstan-
ces, in relation TO the quarrel, and the diff
|lerent conversations OF the Boorns, are gi-
ven: but we do not find what circumstan-
ces caused the arrest Of The supposed cri-
minals. The sou of Colvin, now seven
teen years Of age, testified TO the particu-
lars about the quarrel. He had never
heard either Stephen or Jesse say what
had become Of his father: thought the for
mer had threatened 10 kill him, if lac told
of the quarrel.
While in prison, Jesse Boorn made a
full and particular confession Of The MUIR
der to fellow prisoner. He walked the
prisoner up; and pretended to make the
confessio 10 consequence OF fright; ne
supposed something came in at the window
and was then behind him, Oh the bed. He
stated the particulars of the quarrel, as a.
foresaid, According to this relation, Ste
phen Boorn gave Colgin several blows
with small club-brought him Is the
ground-broke his scull, aud the blood
gushed out. BY this confession the father
Of the Boorns was made party. Jesse
Boorn stated that before Colvin was dead,
he took him by his legs, Stephen, by the
shoulders, and the old man then cut bis
throat with penkniie, and they buried
him in a cellar, between day light and
dark, and one Of them kept watch.
, Ia about eighteen months afterwards, he
stated iha; they took UP the bones, and hss-
ried them under the floor Of barn. The
spring following, the barn was burnt, and
the bones we're then again taken up,pound-
ed to pieces, and thrown into the river
The father scraped up few pieces, and
put them into the hollow Of stump, near
the road. 1t appears by the testimony OF
another witness, that some fragments OF
bones we're found 10 the stump, and some
pieces supposed to be thumb, and finger
nails. Stephen made written confession,
not materially differing from the foregoing
These confessions were rejected by the
court, as it appeared that some induce.
ments had been offered to the prisoners TO
confess but they doubtless had power
full effect on the minds Of the jury. 1t APP
pears that bones had been found in the Gel
lar last spring but, they proved not 10 be
human bones.
There is nothing said 10 the trial of the
dream which has been SO frequently men,
toned in the papers; and we are therefore
led to believe it hoax played off upon
some of our brother Editors, by one Of
those vastly witty people who deem it the
ne plus ultra Of ingenuity to impose upon
publisher.
The two Boorns were sentenced TO be
executed on the 28th Of January Instant
but the general assembly Of that state being
then in session, petition for pardon, or
communication of their punishment was
Immediately sent to that body, together
with ample notes of the trial. On the
18th Of November, by vote of lO4 to
81. the punishment OF Jesse Boorn, was
changed to Imprisonment for life; and Ste.
phen was left to suffer agreeabIy TO SEN
tence, by a vote Of 81 to AZ.
Immediately after, notice was publish
ed in the Rutland papers, requesting in
formation of said Colvin, If alive; and the
manner of his discovery has been made
known to our readers. Colvin arrived at
Manchester on the 22d of December. On
his entrance into that town. the asscmblage
Of people was immense, and the firing OF
cannon echoed the JOY and satisfaction
manifested on the occasion. Stephen
Boorn was immediately taken from prison
and introduced TO his old acquaintance.
Some communication passed between them,
but Colvin was TOO much confused to hold
regular conversation with any one. 10
regard to the quarrel, he appeared to be a
stranger. Both Of the prisoners will doubt
less be hcnorably released, aud returned
TO their rights and privileges.
On careful examination Of this trial,
we must confess that we find very little
to surprize us in the verdict of the i,ry.