The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-12-05
MAN NOT MURDERED
And Yet Two Manchester Men Were
convicted of the Crime.

Wilkins Vermont History in the
archives of the public library re-
counts the story of strange murder
trial, that OF Stephen and Jesse
Boorn for the alleged murder of Rus
sell Colvin. In the year 1919 these
men were tried in Bennington county
for the alleged murder oil Colvin in
May 1912, at Manchester.
1t appears that Stephen and Jesse
and Colvin had a quarrel, May 10, at
Manchester, resulting IN GOWNS de-
parture from the State. He was not
again heard from until after Stephen
and Jesse Boorn had Deen tried ana
convicted.
A witness was produced who told
the court that Stephen told him that
he killed Colvin, that there was
quarrel and that Russell struck at
hun, that he struck Russell, put him
into the bushes, buried him and aug
him up, put the remains under the
barn which was burned, the bones
being taken up and put into the river
A written confession was also pro-
duced by which Stephen Boorn trac-
ed every step of the murder.
The jury found both respondents
guilty and they were sentenced to
be executed in 1920 Soon after the
trial ended a petition was sent the
Legislature at Montpelier, asking
pardon or Communication. Stephen
Boorn. on hearing the Legislature
had not granted relief caused a no
tice to be published in the Rutland
Herald as follows;
"Murder-Printers of newspapers
throughout the United States are de-
sired to publish that stephen Boorn
of Manchester, in Vermont, is SEN
fenced to be executed for murder of
Russell Colvin, who has been absent
about seven years. Any person who
can give information may save the
life of the innocent by making imme'
date communication"
The public was astounded after
hearing the confessions of the pri-
soners, that they had murdered Col
win, buried him ond that his hat, but
tor and knife haG been found. Short
ly afterward there appeared letter
in the New York Post dated at Mon
mouth, n. j., indicating that CONN
appeared in that county five or more
years before, said his name was Rus
sell Colvin, which name he answers
to at this time" that he came from
Manchester. Vermont, that he appear
ed to be in state of mental derdnge-
ment but at times gave considerable
account of himself. The letter stated
He still lives here but is completely
insane"
An investigator who knew Colvin,
found the man was the same suppos-
ed to have been murdered and he
was conducted to Manchester.
through New York. Albany and
Troy, where the streets were filled
with spectators. His entrance into
Manchester was announced by the
firing of cannon and Stephen Boorn
was released from his chains.
Colvin came to Monmouth county
in March or April 1913, somewhat
deranged and had lived there for sew
eral years and after staying in Man
chester a day or two returned to
New Jersey. He did not give any
particular account of the quarrel nor
would be own his wife from which
circumstances some supposed he was
not the man supposed to have been
murdered but Colvin was able to call
Manchester people by proper titles
such as esq, captain, uncle etc, and
doubts were removed.
One thing was certain in this my
sterious affair, that stephen and
Jesse Boorn and Russell Colvin had
quarreled and that Colvin received a
bad wound from Stephen. Russell
went off without hat or shoes, UNI
know nto Stephen or Jesse and not
being heard of for a number of years,
Stephen and Jesse were of the opin-
ion that Colvin had died of wounds
received from that
After they were committed to
trial. knowing they had told differ
ent stories about the transaction. and
Colvin not being heard from they
were induced to make the confes-
sions and in such a way as TO make
Colvin the first aggressor and If pos
sible save themselves from the gal
lows