Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-18
ASTONISHING CONFESSIONS.
MEN HAVE ADMITTED COMMITTING
CRIMES WHICH THEY DID
NOT DO,

That man on the rack, with ever,
nerve quivering, with every nerve drawn
to It's utmos, tension, with the pain In
creasing In intensity and violence, should
confess himself the pespetrator OF crime
Il n>fur-l enough, says writer 10 Won
ierful Ev- MS. The prospect OF relief
from actual pain Ia temptation that
blinds the sufferer to the future. But IL
may seem strange, and Il indeed one of
the most inexplicable things In human
history, that men have been Induced by
religious exhortations and other means OF
persuasion TO sign their own death war
rants by eonfessing crimes actually never
committed. Such In England was the
case with John Perry, executed near
Csmpden in 1861, with his mother and
brother, for numbering william Harrison,
steward for Lady Campden. The testi-
mony against them was chiefly the con-
fesslon OF John Perry himself, but, to the
sstonishment OF all, Harrison, who had
been killed and carried OF, returned two
years after the execution.
In 1919 man named Russell Colvln,
living at Manchester, VI, disappeared,
and suspicious of foul play we're enter
tanned. Public opinion attributed his
murder TO Stephen and Jesse Boorn.
Still, AS there was no definite ground on
which to arrest them. the excitement
gradually drew away. In 1919, however,
Mr. Boorn dreamed that he had been
murdered by two men whom he hxed
upon "a 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
hsd been thrust. Here knife and but
tons were found, which were Identified
as belonging 10 Colvin. On this the men
were arrested. Stephen and Colvin had
qusrreIed just before the disappearance OF
the latter, and stephen had been seen TO
strike him with club and knock him
down.
Ina short time Jesse confessed that
he and stephen, with their father, after
Stephen knocked him down, had carried
him 10 the cellar and cut his throat with
a jsck-knife. He further stated that the
next year they made away with most OF
the bones Of their victim. Stephen, after
a time, admitted the truth OF Jesse's
confession. On this they were convicted
and sentenced 10 be hanged on the 18th
of January, 1870. They applied for COM
mutation OF the sentence, and, as eome
believed their Innocence, advertisements
were inserted In various papers for Col
win. Not long sfterwsrd letter APP
peared In the New York Evening Post,
signed by Mr.. Chadwick. and dated
Shrewsbury, \. j., Dec. 8, 1919, stating
that a slightly dersnged man named
Russell Colviu had been there five years
before. This WAS generally looked upon
"a y hoax, but James whelplev Of New
York, who knew Colvin, resolved 70 fol-
low up the clew. and actually found him
At the house Of william Polhemus, AZ
D,ver. y j, where he had been since
April, 1918.
Mr.. whelplev took him TO New York.
the Common Council gave him means to
proceed To Vermont. and he arrived al
Manchester on tn 22i day Of December.
The whole place was In state OF wild
excitement People gathered 10 from all
the surrounding country 10 see the dead
alive. A cannon was brought out, and
Colvin was ssluted with q discharge OF
cannon and small arms, Stephen Boorn
firing the first piece.