The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-08-24

wayfarer, begging food, stopped at his
door. Being handy, good-natured, obe-
dent, quiet, homeless, and weak OF intel
lect, too, he was allowed to stay. He
said that his name was Russell Colvin,
and that he came from Manchester, Yer
mont
Not far from Dover lies the little
town of Shrewsbury, then quiet ham,
let, now invaded by the cottages OF
Long Branch pleasure seekers. Here
lived Taber Chadwick, brother.in-law to
Mr.. Polhumus, and intimate with the
family. Accidentally reading the New
York EUening Post he met, not the no
tice of the Rutland Herald, but an ac-
count of the trial of the Boorns. Con-
vinced that the Russell Colvin alleged
to have been murdered was the very man
then living with Mr.. Polhumus, he
wrote letter to the Evening Post, which
was published December 8, 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 of
the town long believed the Boorns to be
guilty? Had not one, perhaps both of
them, made full confession? The bones
OF the murdered man, a button off his
coat, his jack-knife-had they not all
been found Had not an upright Judge
made solemn charge that the evidence
was conclusive, and an intelligent jury
found them guilty, and the Legislature
sanctioned their findings? There was
no doubt of their guilt-none whatever;
and therefore no benefit of doubt had
been given by the jury, Chief Justice, or
Court of Appeals.
Mr.. Chadwick's letter was, neverthe-
less taken to Stephens cell and read
aloud. The news was so overwhelming
that nature could scarcely survive the
shock. The poor fellow dropped in a
fainting fit to the floor, and had to be
recovered by dashes of cold water.
Intelligence came next day from Mr..
Whelpley, formerly resident of Man.
chester, that he himself had been to New
Jersey and seen Russell Colvin. The
members of the jury which had con.
victed the BOorns, however, hesitated to
accept anything short'of the mans pres
ence, and Judge Chase, who had sem
fenced thenf pointed to Stephen Boorn's
confession.
The third day came another letter.
"I have Russell Colvin with me-"
wrote Mr.. Whelpley.
81 personally know Russell Colvin,"
swore John Kempton; che now stands
before me-"
cit is the same Russell Colvin that
married Ann Boorn, of Manchester.
Vermont" made affidavit Mrs. Jones, of
Brooklyn.
But it would not answer. Pride of
opinion is stubborn. Doubt of opinion
dies hard. Manchester intelligence, not
to say piety, was on trial, and it be-
bowed all good residents to hold out
against conviction to the last.
However, Colvin, or Colvin's double,
was on his way. AS he passed through
Poughkeepsie the streets were thronged
to see him. The news everywhere pre-
ceded him. His story was printed in
every newspaper and told at every fire.
side. At Hudson cannon we're fired in
Albany he was shown to the crowd from
a platform, and all along the road the
Troy bands of music were playing and
banners Haunting, and cheers were given
as Colvin passed by. Some men became
famous from having been murdered.
Russell Colvin was famous because he
was alive.
Toward evening of Friday, December
%, 1919, double sleigh was driven flu.
riously down the main street of Man
chester to the tavern door. 1t contained
Whelpley, Kempton, Chadwick, and the
bewildered Russell Colvin. Immedi-
ately crowd of men, women, and chill
dren gathered around, and as the sleigh
unloaded its occupants, and they took
their places on the piazza, exhibiting
the last man to view, "That's Russell
Colvin, sure enough-there's no doubt
about it," came from the lips of scores of
gazers. He embraced his two children,
asked after the Boorns, and started for
the iail.
The prison doors were unbolted, and
the news was told to Stephen Boorn.
"Colvin has come, Stephen" said
Rev. Lemuel Haynes.
Has he?" asked the prisoner.
"Where is hep
"Here l am, Stephen" said his
brother-in-law. "What's them on your
legs?"
"Shack)es," replied Boorn.
"What forP
" Because they say / murdered YOU"
You never hurt me in your life" re-
piled Colvin.
The sequel is soon told. Stephen
Boern was released from prison, as was
Jesse also. Russell Colvin returned to
New Jersey. But the judge, who suf-
fered an innocent man to be convicted
of murder by the admission of extra
judicial confessions; the members of the
jury who deliberated but one hour be-
fore agreeing upon a verdict of guilty,
upon evidence that should not hang
dog; the deacon and church members
who urged confession, and the ninety
seven members of the Legislature, sit
ting as Court of Appeals, who refused
rehearing of evidence-what became of