Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-18
UNDERWRITERS.
SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK.
HOmicidal Circumstances In Several
Thrilling Cases.

HOmtctdal Circumstances In Several
Thrilling Cases.
From the Baltimore Sun.
At Benton, ILL.,, in 1866, a skeleton was
found in the woods and identified as that
Of Henry Mahorn, who had been long
missing under circumstances that seemed
to point to one Daniel Williams as his
probable murderer. Williams was indict-
ed and put On trial. The evidence against
him was strong and his conviction seemed
likely, but just as the prosecution had fin
ished its case Henry Mahorn walked into
the court room and explained his long alb
Sence.
A most tragic case of this kind occurred
at Gibraltar In 1S41. James Baxwell a
respectable merchant there. was charged
with the murder of his daughter, Elezia
The girl was missing. and in cave near
her fathers house some of her hair and
clothing were found stained with blood
Witnesses testified to hearing the father
say angrily that he would rather see her
dead than see her married to certain man
Who had asked for her hand. Wild shrieks,
as OF woman in mortal agony, were
heard on certain day by other witnesses
issuing from the cave where the clothing
was found. And, to clinch the case, no.
body had ever seen the girl alive since
that day. Baxwell was convicted and sent
to the scaffoid. Just as he was about to
be launched into eternity the girls lover,
William katt, cried out to stop the exc
cution. as the girl was still alive. He had
married her and kept her in hiding ever
since, and had fabricated the evidence in
tie cave, including the cries of mortal
pain, for the vinGictive purpose of hang
ing her father. The lack cap was remoy-
ed from Baxwelrs face. but he was dead.
The excitement of the ordeal had Killed
him.
Most extraordinary Of all such cases,
however. was that of two brothers, Ste
phen and Jesse Bcorn. of Vermont. con-
nd nj In -
vim in 1872. They had undoubtedly quarrel
ed with Colvin and assaulted him They
had some fear that they had killed him.
for when brought to trial they both con-
fessed to the murder. They did so, ap-
parently, hoping to escape the death pen-
atty One brother was reprieved; the other
was left for execution. Then 1t was that.
Ieenng doubtful whether Colvin had been
reeuy Killed AT all. the doomed brother
caused an advertisement to be put In a
local paper, describing Colvin, and calling
on any enc who knew where he was to
bring him forward and save the life of
Newspapers all over the country were
asked to please copy" Many Of them
did so. and. among others. the New York
and read aloud In New York hotel par
ior A gentleman present named Whelp-
ley said he had known Coivin. and de-
scribed his peculiarities more particular
" As he did so another gentleman in the
company was impressed with the idea that
he had lately seen Colvin at work on a
farm in Dover. N. ]. Mr. Whelpley went
to the farm In question, and there found
the long missing Colvfn. He had much
trouble IN getting the man to 70 back to
vermont In time to save the condemned
Boorn's lite. but be did %.
Thee Observation-Disclosures cases show
sometimes truth IL stranger than 10
don.S and fully justify the rule Of lAw
which demAnda IN all murder trials. that
the actual eommission Of Q murder shah
drst of al he clearly estAhaiahed.