Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-10-19
THE USE OF ADVERTISING.

| From the New York Evening Post1
Mr.. Leonard Sergeant, of Manchester,
Vermont, formerly active in politics,
and once ieutenant-governor of that
State, has published "a pamphlet con-
tanning narrative of and the evidence
In famous murder case which occurred
early In the present century. Mr.. Sar-
geant was one of the counsel for the de-
Tense, and his account of the incidents,
which covered a period of eight years,
is very interesting. The pamphlet is
printed for the purpose of giving to law
yers the points in case which has often
been quoted; but additional importance
is attached to it from the prominent part
taken by the newspapers, even at that
early day, in public affairs. In 1872
there lived in Manchester a man named
Barney BOorn, who had two SONS,
Stephen and Jessie, and a son-in-law
named Russell COlvin, all living with
him. COlvin was an eccentric man,
supposed to be insane at times,
and frequently absented himself for
days without notice and without giving
any account of his adventures. At last
he was missing so long that people be-
gan to make inquiries, and suspicious Of
foul play were aroused. Months and
years passed, and yet there was no ex-
PLANTATION Of Colvin's absence. Some
of the neighbOrs remembered that
tie BOorn brothers, very shortly after
his disappearance, had declared that
COlvin was dead, and that they had
:" pat him where potatoes would not
freeze" They hal not been on good
terms with him, and this added to the
prejudice against them. Singularly
enough, other circumstances began to
accumulate against the brothers. Some
children found a dilapidated hat,
which was recognised as the one
Colvin wore at the time Of his disap-
pesrance. Search was then made
for the bones of the supposed
murdered man. Soon afterwsrd
a dog uncovered some bones
beneath an old stump, which at first
were pronounced TO be human bones,
but subsequently were found not 10 be.
An uncle of the boys had dream in
which Colvin came to his bedside and
told him that he had been murdered. a
barn in the neighborhOod was mysteri-
ously burned, and it was at once con-
iectured that the murdered man bad
been buried under if, and that the fire
was intended to destroy all traces of the
NIlLlEs All luCSC GlACuuENauECG duuEh
to the excitement against the Boorns. |
Stephen was then out of the State, but
Jesse was arrested. He confessed that |
short time previously that he and Col |
killed COlvin by blow on the |
head. The people of the neighborhOod |
and for miles around spent the next |
In arafhar fr.rT TA1,v, ,11
bones, but none were found. Stephen |
BOorn was brought home. He denied |
the statement of Jesse and asserted his |
innocence. The brothers were impri- |
soned TO await the meeting Of the gland |
jury. The principal witness before that
body was forger, who had been con-
fined in Jail with the Boorns. He re-
ported in detail a confession Of the muir
der of Jesse Boorn, and both the boys
were indicted. This was in September, |
1919, more than seven years after the |
of Colvin. In November |
the trial took place. Meanwhile Stephen |
was induced by the remarks upon the
Of their case to confess th
crime, in the expectation Of mercy from
the court. This confession was
the chief evidence against them.
that it was drawn
out by hope of obtaining a more
favorable verdict, and that nobody had
been found as proof OF the murder, or
even that Co!vin was dead, the brothers
were convicted and sentenced to be
hanged on the twenty-eighth Of Janu-
ary, 1890 The character of the evidence
upon which they were convicted will al
.ract the attention OF lawyers At this
time as showing what remark
able changes have taken place in
jurisprudence. So decisive did
he testimony against them appear to be
hat the mother OF the convicts was ex-
Delled from the Baptist church, and the
ather was held as a prisoner for time,
lpon the suspicion that they must have
Jeen accessory to the murder. A few oil
he citizens who were disposed
o be merciful signed a petition
or tie cOmmUtatiOn of the SEN
ence against the BoOrns. The legis-
ature voted to change the sentence
# Jesse to imprisonment for life, bu
'efused to interfere with that ofStephen.
L occurred to Stephen, in an interview
With his counsel, that it would be good
llan to advertise for COlvin in the news
papers. Up to that p lint his counsel
lad believed him guilty, but he assured
hem that confession was untrue, and
hat be was innocent. The following
lotice was, therefore, printed in the
Rutland Herald:
MURDER.-Pnntersof newspapers through
ut the United states are desired 20 publish
hat Stephen BoOrn, OF Manchester, In Yer ,
nont, IS sentenced 20 be executed for the
murder OF Russell COlyin, who has been alb
ent about seven years. ANY person who can
i've Information of said Col vim may save the
fe Of The iunocent by making immed ate
Colvin IS about five feet fVe
n hes high, light complexion, light colored
air, blue eyes, aqout forty years OF age.
MANCHESTER, VI, November n, 1913
Newspapers Travelled slowly then,
md Stephens friends had but little
rope that this would save him even if
lis story was true. Three days after
yard says Mr.. Sargeant's pamphlet,
he New York EUening Pet copied il,
md "the next day It happened that the
l1tice was read aloud in one Of the ho
els in New York. Another man stand
ng near, named Whelpley, said be had
ormerly lived IN Manchester, and was
we'll acquainted with ColvIn, and re-
A.