The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-23

That a man on the rack. with every
nerve quivering, with every nerve
drawn to its utmost tension, with the
pain increasing in intensity n rio-
lence, should confess himself the per-
petrator of crime is natural enough.
The prospect OF relief from actual pain
is a temptation that blinds the sufferer
to the future. But 1t may seem strange
and is indeed one OF the most mex
plicable things in human history, hat
men nave been induced by religious eX-
n%ortation and other means Of persua-
sion to sign their W death warrants
by confessing crimes actually never
committed. such in England vas the
case of John Perry. executed near
Campden in 1861, with hrs mother and
brother, for numbering William HarrI-
son, steward for Lady Campden. The
testimony against them was chiefly the
confession of John Perry himself, but,
to the astonishment OF all, Harrison.
who had been kidnapped and carried
off, returned W years after the exc
cution.
In 1912 a man named Russell Colvin.
living at Manchester, VT, disappeared.
and suspicious Of foul play were enter
tanned. Public opinion attributed his
murder 10 Stephen and Jesse Boorn.
Still, as there was no definite ground
on which to arrest them, the excite
ment gradually drew away. In 1919,
however. a Mr.. Boorn dreamed that he
mad been murdered by two men. whom
he fixed upon as his nephews. Stephen
and Jesse. The ghost OF the murdered
man even specified the place OF the
murder and the old cellar hole where
the mangled body had been thrust.
Here a knife and buttons were found,
which Were Identified as belonging to
Colvin. On his the men were arrested.
Stephen and Colvin had Quarreled Just
before the disappearance of the latter,
and Stephen had been seen 10 strike
him with a club and knock him down.
In a short time Jesse confessed that
he and stephen, with their father, af-
ter Stephen knocked him down. had
carried him to the old cellar and cut
his throat with a jackknife. He further
stated that the next year they made
away with most OF the bones Of their
victim. stephen, after a time, admit
ted the truth of Jesse's confession. on
this they were convicted and sentenced
to be hanged IN the 2Sth of January.
1870. They applied for communication OF
the sentence, and as some believed
their innocence, advertisements were
inserted in various papers for Colvin
Not long afterward a letter appeared
in The New York Evening Post. signed
by a Mr.. Chadwick. and dated Shrews-
bury, y. j.. December s, 1919. stating
tnat a slightly deranged man named
Russell Colvin had been there five.
years before. h was generally look
cd upon as q hoax. III James Whelp-
ley, OF New York, who knew Colvin. re-
solved TO follow up the clue, and actu-
ally found Colvin at the house of WI
nam Poihemus. at Dover. N. J., where
ne mad been since April, 1913.
Mr.. Whelpley o him to New York.
the common council gave him means
TO proceed TO Vermont and ne arrived
at Manchester on the 22nd day Of De-
cember.
Inc whole place was In a state of
Wlld excitement. People gathered in
from all the surrounding country to see
the dead alive. A cannon was brought
out n Colvin was saluted with a dis
charge OF cannon and small arms. Ste
pnen Boom firing the first piece. There
was much discussion as to- the motive
Tor the confession, some attributing II
10 the effect OF imprisonment, and 9th
ers TO the injudicious advice and ex-
nortation of a clergyman.-wonderful
Events.