Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-08-31

J
the Rutland (Vt.) Herald the
following notice:
MURDERi
Printers of newspapers through
out the United States are de-
sired to publish that Stephen
Boorn of Manchester, in Yer
mont, is sentenced to be execu-
ted for the murder Of Russell
fColyin, who has been absent a.
bout seven years. Any person
who can give information of
said Colvin may save the life of
the innocent by making imme-
diate communication. Colvin
is about five feet five inches
high, light complexion, light
hair, blue eyes,. and about forty
years old. :.
MANCHEsT'R, VT, Nov, ,26, 1918
This communication was
copied very generally by news
papers, and created a great deal
of interest. Before describing
events that followed, let us 90
back to the year 1912, and to
the little town of Manchester,
Vermont.
Barney Boorn, an old man,
had two sons, Stephen and Jes-
Sc, and a daughter Sarah, wife
of Russell Colvin, a hal-witted,
half-crazed day laborer. They
were a bad lot-poor, ignorant,
and in doubtful repute for hon
esty. Two miserable novels
served for shelter, and few "a
cres Of pine barrens constitu-
ted all their possessions. They
raised few potatoes and gar
den vegetables, and'eked out a
scanty livelihood by days work
for the neighboring farm.
In May, 1912, Colvin was at
home. In June he was miss
ing. At first this occasioned
no remark. He was always a
tramp. But this time he did
not come back. AS weeks
grew into months inquiries be-
gan to be made among the
neighbors about the missing
man. There are no tongues
for gossip like those that wag
in Yankee village. One spoke
to another. Excitement grew.
Wonder, like a contagious dis
ease, affected everybody.
It was known that there had
long existed between the old
man and his boys a grudge a.
gainst Colvin; it was in proof
that the last time the missing
man was seen he was at work
with the Boorns, clearing stones
from a field, and that dispute
was going on; and that Lewis
Colvin, a boy, son of Russell,
had stated that his father had
struck his uncle Stephen, and
that the other had returned the
blow. and that he (the bow be-
coming frightened ran away.
Again, a Mr.. Baldwin had
heard Stephen Boorn, in an
swer to an inquiry as to where
Colyin was, say, He's gone to
hell, [ hope"
''1s he dead, Stephen?" pur-
sued Mr.. Baldwin.
81 tell you again." replied the
man, "that Colvin has gone.
where potatoes won't freeze. " '.
For several years the wonder
grew. Colvin's ghost haunted
every house in Bennington
county. There was no known
proof that the Boorus were
guilty, and yet everybody be-
lieved it. A button and jack
knife were found, which Mrs. @.
believed to have belonged to
Russell; dreams, thrice repeat
ed, were had by old women and
kitchen girls-and ten thou
sand stories were in circulation.
Five years after Colvin was
missing, Stephen Boorn removed
to Denmark, New York, while
Jesse remained at home. Af-
ter the former had left, some
bones were accidentally found in
the decayed trunk of a tree near
his house, and, though all sur
geons said to the contrary, it
it was universally believed that
they were part of a human skel-
eton. OF course then, they
must be Colvin's bones. Jesse
was arrested, Stephen brought
back from Denmark, and both
were held for examination. Af-
ter all the testimony was sifted
lit was found to be worthless,
vet the two brothers were re-
manded back to Jail, and Jes-
Sc was worked upon to make
him turn States evidence. The
taller tormented him with sug-
gestions, which his wife followed
nm with womonlv adroitness.