The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-06-10
THE BOORN AFFAIR.
A Strange story OF Circumstantiai kvi-
uenCe.

| dence.
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
On the morning of the Goth of No.
uember, 1919, l read in the Rutland
(Vt.) Herald the following notice:
"MURDER !"
Printers of newspapers throughout
the United States are desired to pub
lish that Stephen Boorn, of Manches-
ter, in Vermont, is sentenced to be ex-
ecuted for the murder of Russell Colvin,
who has been absent about seven years.
Any person who can give information of
said Colvin may save the life of the in.
nocent, by making immediate commu-
nication. Colvin ia about five feet five
inches high, light complexion, light
hair, blue eyes, and abont forty years
old. Manchester, Vt, November, 26,
1879"
This communication was copied very
generally by newspapers. and created a
great deal of interest. Before describ.
ing events that followed, let us go back
to the year 1912 and to the little town
OF Manchester, Vermont.
Barney Boorn, an old man, had
two sons, Stephen and Jesse, and a
daughter, Sarah, wife of Russell Col
win, half crazed, half-witted day la
borer They were bad lot, poor,
ignorant, and in doubtful repute for
honesty. Two miserable novels served
them for shelter, and few acres of
pine barrens constituted all their pos
session. They raised few potatoes
and garden vegetables, and eked out a
scanty livelihood by days work for the
nejghboring farmers.
In May, 1912, Colvin was at home.
In June he was missing. At first this
occasioned no remark. He was always
tramp, absent from home sometimes
for weeks together. But this time he
did not come back. Asweeks grew into
months inquiries began to be made
among the neighbors about the missing
man. There are no tongues for gossip
like those which wag in Yankee VII
lage. One spoke to another. Excite
ment grew. Wonder, like a contagious
disease, affected rybody.
1t was known that there had long ex-
isted between the old man and boys II
grudge against Colvin it was in proof
that the last time the missing man was
seen he was at work with the Boorns
clearing stones from field, and that a
dispute was going on; and Lewis Col
vim, boy, son of Russell, had stated
that his father had struck his uncle
Stephen, and that the other returned
the blow, and that then, he the boy, be-
coming frightened, ran away. Again, a
Mr.. Baldwin had heard Stephen Boorn,
in answer to the inquiry as to where
Colvin was, say, "Hes gone 10 hell, |
hope"
lis he dead, Stephen?" pursued Mr..
Baldwin.
81 tell you again." replied the man,
"that Colvin has gone where potatoes
won't freeze.
For seven years the wonder grew.
Colvin's ghost haunted every house in
Bennington county. There was no
known proof that the Boorns we're guilty,
and yet everybody believed it. A
button and jack knife we're found, which
Mrs. G. believed to have belonged to
Russell dreams, thrice repeated, were
had by old women and kitchen girls
and ten thousand stories were in circu-
lation.
Five years after Colvin was missed,
Stephen Boorn removed to Denmark, N.
Y, while Jesse remained at home. AT
ter the former had left, some bones
we're accidently found in the decaye
trunk of tree near his house, and,
though all surgeons said to the contra
ry, it was universally believed that they
we're part of human skeleton. Oh
course, then, they must be Colvin'f
bones. Jesse was arrested, Stephen
was brought back from Denmark, and
both were held for examination. AL.
though all the testimony when sifted
was found to be worthless, yet the two
brothers were remanded back to Jail,
and Jesse was worked upon to make him
turn states evidence. The jailer tor.
mented him with suggestions, which his
wife followed up with womanly adroit
ness. Neighbors helped. Beset with
preaching and prayers, tracts and ser.
IuUub, ICllRiOuS GNU PiN"e
directions-told that there was no doubt
in any ones mind but that Stephen com.
mitt,d the murder-urged to make q
clean breast of it and thus save both his
body and soul, what wonder that the mau
confessed, or was alleged to have con
fessed. that Stephen Boorn did murder
Russell Colvin?
On September 3, 1919, the grand jury
found bill of indictment against
Stephen and Jesse Boorn for the MUIR
der of Russell Colvin. William Farms.
worth testified that Stephen confessed
that he did it, and that Jesse helped
him that they hid the body in the
bushes, then buried it, then dug Il mp
and burned it, aud then scraped the few
remains and hid them in stump. Upon
this unsupported evidence the jury
| xot,,xn.J a vopdicf of ouiltv apainst both