Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-03-08
1nterestin9 5torn,
The MYSTERIOUS Confession.
BY JOHN ROSS DIX.

|
singular history-I will not call it story
as every word Of it is strictly true. My
informant was an elderly lady, who, when
q young woman, was present at the trial
and knew personally all the parties con-
cerned. About three months since public
attention was in q measure recalled to the |
strange affair, by the recent apprehension
of one of the principals in the alleged mur-
der, on charge of coming somewhere out
West; and by another confession, which
it was alleged he had made, adding a still
deeper mystery to that already connected
with the affair.
About thirty years ago, there resided
in the above named village two brothers,
named Bourne, Slas the elder, was a
hard featured, morose man, not greatly
liked by his neighbors, and Thomas resi-
ded with him as farm laborer Silas had
in lis employ half witted fellow, named
William Colvin, who was chiefly engaged
in field work his wife was also occasion,
ally employed in the farm house, but lived
with her husband away from it,
Suddenly and without any reason what
ever being assigned, William Colvin was
missing. No one knew whittier or why he
had departed from Manchester. All his
wife could say was, that he had left her
in the morning for his worl: ,and since then
she had never set eyes upon him dead or
alive. The Bournes asserted that on that
morning he had labored as usual in the
field, and that they left him there when
they went home to dinner he, Colvin JUS
ually having his dinner brought to him by
L little girl. On thoig return he was gone.
AS Colvin had, on more than one occasion
when in fighty moods, gone off for sea-
sou, it was supposed he had only tempora.
rarily absentod himself now and after a
E. time, all search was given up in the expec.
tation that by.and-by he would again make
his appearance. But no more was ever
- heard of him; several years elapsed, and
he was almost forgotten.
But after eight Or nine years had gone
by, public curiosity was again excited il
re the Colvin matter by the declaration OF
lg his wife that she had twice dreamed that
le he had been murdered by the brother:
ar Bourne, and his body buried, Every ont
Us but few credulous people laughed at this
~ the Bourues especially; but by degrees
ne people generally came to suspect that al
en- was not right. This feeling was increased
- by Mrs. Colvin appearing before justice
rr and making an affidavit that she believed
a her husband to have been the victim o
od foul play In support of this she brough
C. forward the little girl who had been in thu
r. habit of taking William Colyin his dinner
ot in the field, and she deposed that at moor
ed of the day on which Covin was missed sh,
ed went to nim at his place of work as usual
- and there saw him in violent altercatiol
ze with Sias Bourne, who threatened to "d
E. for him. Why she never mentioned thi
s. before was explained by the fact that 81
ed las threatened to damage her in some wa,
TX if she ever said anything ofit.
or Mrs. Colyin now declared that she hat
he dreamt another dream-that her husban,
ed had been murdered by the Boprnes, an,
ia that it was now revealed to her that hi
or body was buried under certain tree, anC
RS; that some of his clothing had been conceal
,r, ed under the foring of Bourne's barn.
he search was made, and sure enough, unde
he the tree, in hole, were found bones, anC
m beneath the barn floor some fragments o
iia clothing and an old knife. The button
y, en- the clothing and the knife were sworl
he to by Mrs. Colvin as belonging to her de
mp ceased husband, and public indignation be
re- ing now aroused by what was .considere
IA to be special interposition cf Providence
it, the brothers, who stoUtly asserted their in
in nocence, were arrested, and in due tim
- committed for trial. as the doctor of tn
S. neighborhood unhesita tingly declared tn
up exhumed bones to be those Of human be
nd ing.
'ed Some months afterwards, the Bourne
viii were brought up for trial, and after a Ion
ng- investigation. were found guilty and sen
ere fenced to be hanged. Although they sti
ons asserted their innocence no one believe
on. them; and throughout the country rcun
great anxiety was ovinced to witness tt
ast execution, the day Of which was fixed abol
our two months after the trial.
'w- Meantime the utmost exerions were use
eks by the clergy of the district to induce the
to confess, but all Of no avail. AT lcng