The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-02
TIE BOORN 1FF4YR,
ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASES
OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
ON RECORD.


On the morning of the Goth of Novem-
Der, 1919, read in the Rutland (Vermohtl
Herald the following notice
Murder Printers of newspapers thro'-
out the United States are desired to publish
that Stephen Boorn, of Manchester, in
Vermont, is sentenced to be executed for
the murder of Russell Colvin, who has
been absent about seven years. Any per-
son who can give information of said Colvin
may save the life Of the innocent, by max
ing immediate communication. Colvin il
about five feet five inches high, light COM
pleIion, light hair, blue eyes, and about
forty years old. Manchester Vermont,
November Goth, 1919"
This communication was copied very
generally by newspapers, and created a
great deal of interest. Before describing
events that followed, let us GO back to the
year 1912 and to the little town of Man
chester, Vermont.
Barney Boorn, an old man, had two sons,
Stephen and Jesse, and a daughter Sarah,
wife Of Russell! Colvin, a half-crazed, half
witted day laborer. They were bad lot,
poor, ignorant, and i'm doubtful, repute for
honesty. Two miserable novels served
them for shelter, and n few acres of pine
barrens constituted all their possessions.
They raised a few potatoes and garden
vegetables, and eked out scanty livelihood
by days work for the neighboring farmers.
In May, 1919; Colvin was at home. In
Juno he was missing. AT first this oc-
casioned no remark. He was always a
tramp, absent from home sometimes for
weeks together. But this time he did not
come back. AS weeks grew into months
inquiries began to be made among the
neighbors about the missing man. There
are 10 tongues for gossip like those which
wag in village. One spoke to another.
Excitement grew. Wonder, like a conta-
gious disease, affected everybody.
1t Nas known that there had long existed
between the cid man and boys grudge
against Colvin it was in proof that the
last time .he missing man was seen he was
at work with the Boorns clearing stones
from Il field, and that a dispute was going
on, and Lotfis Colvih, boy, son of Russell,
uncle Stephen, and that 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:
Giles gone to h-l!, hopo ~
els lie dead, Stephen?" pursued NIr.
Baldwin.
az tell you again." replied the man 'that
Colvin has gone where potatoes won't
freeze.'
For seven yeaIs the wonder grew. Col
wins ssghost haunted every house in Ben
hington.couuty. There was no known proof
that the Boorns were guilty, and yet every
body believed it. A button and jacknife
were found, which Mrs. Colvin believed to
have belonged TO Russell dreams, thrice
repeated, were had by old women and
kitchen girls-and ten thousand stories
were in circulation.
Five years after Colvin was missed,
Stephen Bootn removed to Denmark, New
York, while Jesse remained at home.
After the former had left, some bones
were accidentally found in the decayed
trunk of a tree near his house, and though
all surgeons said to the contrary, it was
universally believed that they were part of
human skeleton. OF course, then they
must be Cofvin's bones. Jesse was ar
rested. Stephen was brought back from
Denmark, and both were held for examin-
alton.
Although all the testimony when sifted
was found to be worthless, yet the two
brothers wero remauded back to Jail, and
Jesse was worked upon to make him turn
States evidence. The jailor torHented