Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-08-17

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ter, in the State of Vermont. They were
the parents of son and two daughters be-
side the unhappy Stephen and Jesse, who
figure in the story we are about to narrate.
Sally, one of the daughters became the
wife of Russell Colvin, by whom she be-
came the mother of several children, all of
which were dispersed among their rela-
tives, owing TO the mental arrangement of
their father, which rendered him incapable
of attending to his family concerns, and of
providing for them necessary support.
Mr.. Colyin was in the habit of frequent
ly absenting himself without giving any
previous information, and rambling in va
rious parts Of the country. At one time
he was absentas long as nine or ten months,
after which he was found in the State Of
Rhode Island.
About eleven years after his marriage to
Miss Boorn, he was again missing; which,
at the time, caused little or no alarm, as it
was expected he would return as on for
mer occasions. But after lapse of seve-
raj years, nothing having been heard of
him, surmises were circulated that he had
been murdered; and suspicion rested on
his bnothers-in-law, Stephen and Jesse
Boorn, as his murderers. This suspicion
was created by reference to the frequent
alterations that had taken place between
Colyin and the Boorns previous to the dis
appearance Of the former; and to some
unguarded expression Of the latter, after
wards intimating that Colvin was dead
and by their occasionally showing some
signs of compunction.
A Mr.. Boorn, uncle to Stephen and Jesse
gentleman Of responsibility and unim
peachable character, dreamed that Russo
Colvin came to his bedside, and told hin
that he had been murdered, and he mus
follow him and he would lead him to tht
spot where he was buried. This was re
peated three times. The deposi. was /
place talked of previous TO the dream
which was where house had formerl,
stood, and under it was hole about fou
feet square, which was made for the pur
pose Of barying potatoes, and then fillet
up. This pit was opened and nothing dis
covered but large knife, penknife, anC
button. Mrs. Colyin, anterior to thei
being presented to her, described then
accurately, and on seeeing them, said the.
belonged to her husband, excepting tn
small knife.
, A lad walking from Mr.. Barna Boorn'
at small distance, with his dog, hollow
stump standing near the path, engaged the
notice of the spaniel, which ran to the plac
and back again, several times, lifting up hi
, feet on the boy, with whining notes, a
though to draw the attention Of his littl
master to the place, which had the effect
, A cluster of bones were drawn from tn
roots of the stump, by the dogs paws
Further examination was made, and in tn
cavity of the stump were found two toe
3 nails, to appearance belonging to huma
| foot; others were discovered in a crum
5 bled state, which to appearance had passe,
D through the fire. It was now concluded b
many that some fragments of the body Q
, Russell Colvin were found. The cluster c
: bones were brought before the Court Q
Inquiry. They we're eyamined by q mum
I Der OF physicians who thought them TO b
4 human one of the profession, howevel
! thought otherwise. a Mr.. Salisbury, abou
d four years previous, had his leg amputatet
: which was buried Eat the distance Of fou
or FIVE miles. The limb was dug up, ant
i by comparing, it was universally deter
: mined that the bones were not human
4 However, it was clear that the nails wer
! human, and SO appeared to all beholder
# The bones were in degree pulverize'
: but some were in tolerable state of pres
n ervation. Suspicious were excited tha
;. the body was burnt, and some part not cor
J sumed cast into the stump, and other bone
f put among them for deception. Some tim
;. after the departure of Colvin, barn bt
q longing to Mr.. Barna Boorn was consume
!. by fire, accidentally; it was conjecture
: that the body was. talea. nfs-ana eonoeale
!. under the barn, and mostly consumed
:. About that time log heap was burn
! by the Boorns, near the place where til
# body was supposed to be deposited it wa
4 thought by some that it was consume
f there.
: The subject occupied the attention {
e almost every mind in the neighborhoot
!, 1t seemed as if the age of ghosts and hot
5 goblins had revived, and that every hous
: was haunted by the ghost of Colvin. A
e length the murdered Colvin actually ar
f 2eared in dream, TO connection {
r Boorns, and declared that he had been mur
e dered by them, and pointed out the plac
: where he was buried. Upon this miracu
7 lous revelation, all the human passions wer
called into operation. Everybody rushe
forth to behold the bones of Colviu. Th
+. valleys poured forth groups of WANDERING