The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-02

One of the strangest and most interesting
episodes IN the history Of Vermont is that
of the disappearance of Russell Colyin
from Manchester; the arrest, after the
lapse of many years, trial and conviction
OF Stephen and Jesse Booin for his muir
der, and the disappearance of Colvn in
time to save one of the cOnvicts from the
gallOws, and the other from life imprs-
onment. There was nothing romantic in
the story, as all the parties, their immediate
families, relatives aud connections, were
low, vulgar brutal. and almost swinish, in
their dispositions, character and habits, and
the husband and wife, after their strange
separation of nearly a decade of years, did
not speak tn each nthor, or barely glance in
recognition. Although there is, in fact, no
romantic incidents connected Herewith,
yet we doubt not that, in coming years,
many a tale will be constructed from
the almost tragical part of the case As
matter of history, as, also, to be placed
among the curlosities of criminal literature,
1t has peculiar importance. The case
itself has been cited in nearly everyc riminal
trial which has taken place since, where
the evidence was, in whole or in part,
circumstantial, and on this account it
has, also. acquired an extraordinary i'm
portance. When, therefore, it was an
nounced, few weeks ago, that the Hon.
Leonard Sergeant who had been one of the
counsel in the case, was preparing for pub
LEGATION full, perfect and complete history
of the affair, including the testimony given
upon the trial, the confessions of the
respondents, the subsequent return of Col
win, together with all Of the circumstances
OF the case, we had reason To expect valu-
able historical monograph. We, also, had
good cause TO suppose that the tract would
form an important contribution to the his
torical and criminal literature of Vermont
and the United States, and If something
new was not absolutely brought to light,
yet we should have had all the facts which
had been well known and in print for. at
least, fifty years.
If we understand the nature and object
of such publication, they are of one on
more kinds, All the attainahle facts NAV
be presented as they actually occurred,
without note or comment it NAV De the
reprint of book or paper, long out of
print, and that, too, without note or COM
ment, save by the introduction of any adj
ditional facts brought TO light after the
first publication it may be n reprint with
historical, biographical and explanatory
notes, with the addition of new materials,
il any or,it may be reprint and nothing
more. There may be other objects in such
publications, but they can, generally, be
grouped under one or the other of those
mentioned. In undertaking such work,
every available source of information
should be sought, and the publication made
rs complete rs possible. We believe that
the most satisfactory works of this nature
consist of an exact reprint of the original
document, with notes of historical, bio
graphical and explanatory nature the cir
cumstances, outside of the original publica
"' Wv" ""y ouuitOhui Ibttb, UNKNOWN
originally, fully presented in introductions
and appendices, care being taken To pre-
sent verbatim copies of original documents,
and these annotated In the same way as the
original text. We have received copy of
Mr.. sargeant's pamphlet, entitled :" the
trial, confessions and conviction of Jesse
and Stephen Boorn for the murder of Rus.
sell Colvin, and the return of the man sup
posed to have been murdered :" have care
fully read the same, aud are forced to the
conclusion that 1t Is valueless az a contri-
button to history and useless to the criminal
lawyer. We are sorry for this, for there
were facts, records, documents and publ.
cations extant, sufficient to present the
whole story accurately and correctly. The
pamphlet, however, as issued, does not full
al any of the conditions we have noted II
neither gives rs full an account of the trial
as was attainable, nor nsrrates the facts of
the case correctly, nor Is 1t as full and
complete as the original publications.
Before calling attention to Mr.. Sargeant's
pamphlet, we will as briefly and conclsely
as possible, summarize the main facts In