Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-16
they had put him where potOtoes would not

tney had put him where pototoes would not
/ freeze"
Numerous witnesses testified TO the contra
dlctory declarations of the Boorns in regard to
the disappearance or death of Colvin; but the
testimony of Silas Merrill, to the confession of
Jesse Boorn, was perhaps the most extraordI-
nary feature OF the trial. He testified that as
Jesse was returned to prison from time to time
from the Court of Inquiry, that he had been
urged TO confess; that one night, in the prison,
they got up, and Jesse said that Stephen knock
ed CoIvln down twice. broke his skull, and the
blood gushed out; that his father came up there
several times, and said "d-n him." that all three
OF them took the body and put ii into the old
cellar, where father cut his throat; that he knew
the jackknife to be Colvin S; that Stephen wore
Colyln's shoes; that about year and half af-
ter they took the bones up, and put them under
barn that was burned, then pounded them up
and flung them into the river; that father put
some OF them into an old stump, dc.
Much evidence was introduced which was re-
Jected by the Court as being irrelevant. The
case was given TO the Jury, after short, judi
cIous and impressive charge by his Honor.
Judge Doolittle, which was followed by a
Lengthy and appropriate one by the Hon Judge
Chase. The Jury retired, and within about
one hour returned; and in compliance with a
request OF MIR. Skinner, they were severally in
quIred OF whether they had agred upon YER
diet; and each agreeing that they had found
| both of the prisoners guilty of the murder
charged against them. The verdict was then
publicly read by the Clerk. After short re-
cess, his Honor, Judge Chase, with the most
tender and sympathetic emotion, which he was
unable to suppress, pronounced the awful SEN
| tenee, that the criminals be remanded back to
prison, and that on the 2Sth day of January,
between the hours of 10 and 9 o'clock, that
they should be hanged by the neck till they
were deadi praying the Lord to have mercy on
| their souls.
None can express the confusion and anguish
into which the prisoners were cast on hearing
their doom. They requested, by their counsel,
liberty to speak, which was granted. In sighs
and broken accents, they asserted their inno-
cence. The convulsions of nature attending
Stephen was SO great as TO render him unable
to walk, but he was supported by others and
carried to prison. The compassion OF some was
excited, especially towards Jesse, which in
clined them Immediately to send petition to
the Legislature, then sitting at Montpelier pray
ing that the punishment of the criminals might
be commuted to that of imprisonment for life.
But few, however. signed the petition in favor
of Stephen. The Assembly spent several days
on the subject and finally granted the request
of Jesse, yeas 104, nays 81. The request of
Stephen was negatived in the House, yeas 42,
Hd . Jfs luc ueClSlO1 Oh Iue dSSeIllDly WAS
brought to Manchester by his Excellcncy, Gov.
Galusha, and Immediately communicated to
the prisoners. Jesse received the news with Pc
euliar satisfaction, while Stephen was greatly
depressed, being wholly left without hope
Jesse lamented that his brother could not share
the same comparative blessing with him, and
that they could not be prisoners together.
Little did these brothers think that the fate of
Stephen would terminate more favorably than
that of Jesse, and be the cause of a more speedy
deliverance. 'Tis often the case, that the dark
est dispensations of Providence are presages of
the rising morning. This should always teach
US to trust in the Lord, and consider that al
though clouds of darkness are round and about
him, justice and Judgment are the habitation of
His throne.
On the 29th of October, Jesse took final
farewell of his brother, of his friends, and FAM
lily at Manchester, and was carried to the State
Prison at Windsor expecting to spend the re-
mainder of his life there. None can express
the melancholy situation of Stephens, the poor
prisoner; separated from his parents and friends,
under the sentence of death, without hope. Mr..
Haynes visited him frequently, with sympathy
and grief, and endeavored to turn his mind on
the things of another world; telling him that,
as all human means had failed, he must look to
God, as the only way of deliverance. He ad-
vised him to read the Holy Scriptures, to which
he consented, if he could be allowed candle.
as his cell was dark. This request was granted;
and he was often reading, being at times calm,
and again impatient. The interview of Mr..
Haynes with him few days before the news
came that Colvin was alive, was very affecting.
One day he said to Mr.. Haynes, 81 see no way
but must diel everything works against me;
but l am an innocent man; this you will know
after am dead" He burst into flood of tears
and said, "What will become of my poor wife
and children? they are in needy circumstances,
and / love them better than life ITSELF" Mr..
Haynes told him that God would take care of
them. He replied, 81 don't want to die. l
wish they would let me live, even in this situa-
alton, some longer; perhaps something will take
place that may convince the people that am
innocent" Mr.. Haynes was about to leave the
prison, when he said, will you pray with me?"
He arose with his heavy chains on his arms and
legs, being also chained down to the floor, and
stood on his feet during prayer, with deep and
bitter sighings.
Mr.. Taber Chadwick of Shrewsbury, Mon
mouth county, N. j., brother-in-law of Mr..
VIM. Polhamus of Dover, in the same State,
where Colvin had lived ever since April 1913,
seeing the account of the trial of the Boorns at
Manchester, wrote that Colvin was still alive,
and with his brother-in-law Polhamus, in Do
yer, forty miles from Shrewsbury. When the
letter came to town, every one was truck with
CONSERVATION. few partly believed, but the
main doubted. at cannot be that Colvin is
alive" was the general cry. Mr.. Chadwick's
letter was carried to the prison, and read to
Stephen; the news was so overwhelming, that
to use his own language, "nature could scarcely
sustain the shock" but as there was some doubt
as to the truth of this report, it tended to pre-
vent an immediate dissolution. He observed
that he "believed, had Colvin made his appear
ance, it would have caused immediate death:
even now falntness was created, that was pain
full to endure" Soon letter was received from
New York, stating that the man who was sup
posed to be murdered was probably still alive
and that Mr.. Whelply, formerly of Manchester,
and who was intimately acquainted with Col
vim, had actually gone to New Jersey in quest
of him. Thus there was increasing evidence
in confirmation of the letter. As soon as Mr..
Whelply had returned to New York, he imme-
diately wrote that he 'had Colvin with him."
New York paper announced his arrival also.
and that he would soon set out for Vermont
Notwithstanding all this, many gave no credit
to the report, but considered it a mere decep-
tlon. Large bets were made. Colvin was un-
willing to return to Vermont, with Mr. WHEEL
ply, who was obliged to have recourse to STRAIT
agem. young woman of Colvin's acquain-
tance agreed to accompany him, pretending
that she only designed a visit to New York.
While there she was missing, which excited
some uneaslness in the mind of the exile While
staying few days in New York to prevent
his returning, Mr.. Whelply told him that there
were British men-of-war lying in the harbor,
and that unless he kept within doors he would
be kidnapped, This had the desired effect