The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-02


lowed up with womanly adroitness. Neigh
bors helped. Beset with directions-toId
there was no doubt in any ones mind but
that Stephen committed the murler-urged
to make clean breast Of it and thus save
both his body and soul, what wonder that
the man confessed, or was alleged to have
confessed, that Stephen Boorn did murder
Russell Colvine
On September 8, 1919, the grand Jury
found a true bill of indictment against
Stephen and Jesse Boorn for the murder
of Russell Co,vin. William Farnsworth
testified that Stephen confessed that he
did it, and that Jesse helped him that
they hid tie body in the bushes, then
buried it, then dug it up and burned it,
and then soraped together the few remains
and hid them in a stump. Upon this TN
supported evidence the jury returned a
verdict Of guilty against both prisoners,
and they were sentenced to be hung on
January 2S, 1890.
Aud now the men came to their senses
They asserted their innocence. They said
that they Lad confessed as their last hope.
Some compassion began to be felt for them.
They might, after all, be innocent. A
petition for their pardon was presented to
the Legislature. But it availed only to
obtain Communication of Jesse's sentence to
imprisonment for iifc--ro more. Stephen
was to be hanged.
Let the reader NOW turn to another chap
ter of this strange history.
In April 1913, there lived in Dover,
Monmouth county, New Jersey, Mr..
James Polhamus. During that month a
wayfarer, begging food, stopped at his
door. Being handy, good natured, quiet
aud obedient, homeless, and weak of in
teilect too, he was allowed to stay He
said his name was Russell Colvin, and that
he came from Manchester, Vermont.
Not far from Dover lies the little town
of Shrewsbury, then a quiet hamlet, now
invaded by the cottages and villas of Long
Branch pleasure seekers. Here lived Taber
Chadwick, brother-in-law 20 MIR. Pol
hamus, and intimate with the family. Ac-
cidehtally reading the New York Eyening
Post, he met, not with the notice of the
Rutland Herald, but with ain account of
the trial of the Boorns. Convinced that
the Russell Colvin, alleged to have been
murdered, was the very man then living
with Mr.. Polhamus, he wrote to the Eden-
ing Post letter, which was published
December 0, 1919.
Upon the arrival OF this paper at Man.
chester it excited but little attention. The
letter was believed to be forgery or
fraud. Had not the best people in the
town long believed the Boorns to be guilty ?
Had not one, perhaps both of them, made
| full confession d? The bones of the mur-
dered man, button of his coat, his .jac-
knife-had they not all been found9 Had
not an upright Judge masle solemn clIa1ge
that the evidence was conclusive, and an
intelligent jury found them guilty, and the
Legislature sanctioned the findings? There
was no doubt of their guilt-none what
ever and therefore no benefit of a doubt
had been given by jury, chief justice OF
court of appeal.
Mr. Chadwick's letter was, nevertheless,
taken to Stephens cell and read aloud.
The news was so overwhelming that nature
could scarcely s1rvife the shock. The
poor fellow dropped in fainting fit to
dashes of cold water,
Intelligence came next day from Mr..
Wheipley, formerly a resident of Manches-
ter, that hs himself had been in New
Jersey and seen Russell Colvin. The
members of the jury which had convicted
ha Roorpe f,ouoyer haSitafed IN occopt
anything short of the mans presence, ard
Judge Chase, who had sentenced them,
pointed to Stephen Boorn's confession.
The third day came another letter. 81
have Russell Colvin with me;'' wrote Mr..
Whclpiey. 81 personally know Russell
ColVin,'' sv7ore John Kempton che now
stands before me'' cit is the same Rus
sell Colvin who married Sarah Boorn, of
Manchester, Vermont made affidavit
Mrs. JoiTes, Of Brooklyn. But it would
not answer. Pride of opinion is stubborn.
Doubt of opinion dies hard.
However, Colvin, or Colvin's double; !as
on his way. AS he passed through Pohgh-
keepsie, the streets were thronged to see
him. The news everywhere preceded him.
His story was printed in every newspaper,
and told at every fireside. At Hudson
cannon were fired ; in Albany he was
shown to the crowd from platform and
all along the road to Troy bands of music
were playing and banners were Haunting,
and cheers we're given as Colvfn passed by.
Some men become famous from having
been murdered. Russell Colvin was IA
nous because he was alive.
Toward evening Of Friday, December
%, 1879, double sleigh was driven furious
ly down the main street Of Manchester to
the tavern door, It contained Whelpley,
Kempton, Chadwick, and the bewildered
| Russel C,oivin fn,ma4;afeIv a crowd of