The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-07-07


stay all night, and finally seemed to come
to the conclusion that he had right to
stay, from the fact that he was some one
that had been attending to his affairs du-
ling his long absence-for such the de-
ranged man considered it. And in this
position the now conner not only installed
himself, but continued for several long
years valuable laborer asking as his
only recomponse, his food and clothes a
privilege Of calling everything his, al
though willing to allow the real owner to
transact all the business and handle all
the money. The only name he was
known by was Richard, and he utterly
refused to give any clue to who or what
lie was or where he came from, and he
soon ceased to be wonder. 1t was re-
marked that be had scar Of severe
cut on his head, and whenever any allu-
sion was made to it, he showed some ex-
citement, and sometimes anger. Other
wise, he was docile, contented and quiet,
never desiring to 60 anywhere off the
farm, This evening, during the reading
of the murder trial of the Bownes,hs had
shown more interest than ever observed
before upon any subject unconnected with
evory day occupations, and this being OBJ
served by Mrs. Smith, led to frequent
consultation and queries, coupled with
attempts to elicit something from Richard
that would connect him with that affair,
but all without success
1t was about this time that Wm. Nj.
Price became in some way cogniEant Of
the circumstances connected with this sin
gular individual, and having also read the
account Of the trial and conviction of the
men, as he thought upon insufficient svi-
dence, he made journey on purpose to
see the man Richard, and elicit, if poss-
bic something from him. Undoubtedly it
was through the influence Of Mr.. Price,
that Mr.. Smith took the course he did for
the more he thought upon the strange dis
appearance of Colvin in Vermont and the
sudden appearance of this man in New
Jersey, and his mysterious conduct since,
and coupled that with scar upon his head
he determined to act, perhaps to save the
life of an innocent man at all events, to
satisfy himself, that he had not been GRIM
inally negligent in permitting man to be
executed whom he could save. But how
was he to carry bis plan into execution ?
This was, without letting another party
into the secret, so as to bring ridiculs on
himself, if he were mistaken in his suppo-
sition, to take Richard to Manchester, and
see, if any one there, particularly his wife
would recognize him after a seven years
absence, changed as he undoubtedly WAS
in his appearance. Our phiIanthropist,
was convinced from all that he could get
of Richard that it would not do to make
any direct proposition to him on the sub
ject,but the more he thought upon the mat
ter the more determined he was to act,
and there was no time to lose, as only three
! weeks now remained to the condemned
man.-We forget what strstagem was used
to induce the deranged man to make an
unwonted journey; though we are i'm
pressed with the opinion it was to purchase
an addition to the farm, which he had
long desired, that lie consented to make
a journey by mail stage-there were no
railroads forty years ago--traveling day
and night into some unknown region, with
out exciting suspicion that their ultimate
determination was plan concerning which
he never would hold any conversation.
In the mean time, the discussion Of the
innocence or guilt Of the man about to be
| hung had broken out afresh as he had re-
acted his confession, and insisted that il
had been obtained by false pretenses, and
that he vas innocent. Besides, he had
dream three times repeated, that Colvin
was alive, and would make his appearance
though, as he said not until after he was
hung"
During this state of things there was
crowd at the public house in Manchester,
discussing this topic, one evening, when
the stage from the south drove up.-A-
mong the crowd which always gathers
around the door when the stage arrives at
a village inn was a man who had rather
firmly maintained that Bovine, was guilty
until the dream came out; but being 3
"belieyer in dreams" his faith was stag
gered and he said he "didn't know about
it." The stage driver reiued up at the
door, and the lantern of the hostler opened
the blaze of tallow candle full in the
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