been found he knew to be those of Russell Colvin.
Upon this evidence, after an hour's absence, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against both prisoners, and they were sentenced to be hung on January 28th, 1820.
From this period, both Stephen and Jesse constantly asserted their innocence. They said they had confessed as their last hcpe. Compassion began t» be felt for their fate. Doubts of the justice of their sentence were suggested. A petition for their pardon was presented to the General Court. The evidence was reviewed. Strong appeals for pardon were made. But beyond the commutation of Jesse's sentence to imprisonment for life, nothing was obtained. Ninety-seven noes to forty-two ayes left Stephen to the fate of a malefactor.
On the 26th of November, 1819, the following notice appeared in the Rutland Herald:
"Murder! Printers of newspapers throughout the United States are desired to publish that Stephen Boorn, of Manchester, in Vermont, is sentenced to be executed for the murder of Russell Colvin, who has been absent about seven years. Any person who can give information of said Colvin, may save the life of the innocent by making immediate communication. Colvin is about five feet five inches high, light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, and about forty years old. Manchester, Vt., Nov. 26, 1819."
Let the reader now turn to another chapter of this strange history.
In April, 1813, there lived in Dover, Monmouth County, N. J., a Mr. James Polhamus, a farmer in moderate circumstances, better known for charitable deeds than hard bargains. During that month a wayfarer, begging food, stopped athis door. His hunger being appeased, he asked leave to stay all night, which was granted. The next morning, with out request, he turned into the field with the farm-hands, and held the plow. Being shifty at work, good-natured, ready to help the women- folk, quiet and obedient, apparently homeless, poor and weak in intellect, Mr. Polhamus encouraged him to stay. Here the poor vagrant had lived for seven years, and had been called by the name he had given, Russell Colvin.
Not far from Dover lies the town of Shrewsbury, a quiet hamlet, now invaded by cottages and villas of Long Branch pleasure-seekers, but at that time scarcely known out of its county. In Shrewsbury lived Taber Chadwick, brother-in-law of Polhamus, and intimate in his family. Accidentally reading, one day, the New York Evening Post, he met, not with the notice of the Rutland Hera/d, but with an account of the trial of the Boorns. Convinced that the Russell Colvin, alleged to have been murdered, was the very man then living with Mr. Polhamus, he wrote the following letter, which two days afterward appeared in the same newspaper:
" Surewssury, Monmouth Co., N. J., December 6, 1819.
"To the Editor of the New York Evening Post:
Sir—Having read in your paper of November 26th, last, of the conviction and sentence of Stephen and Jesse Boorn, of Manchester, Vt., charged with the murder of Russell Colvin, and from facts which have fallen within my own knowledge, and not knowing what facts may have been disclosed on their trial, and wishing to serve the cause of humanity, I would state as follows, which may be relied on: Some years past, (I think between five and ten) a stranger made his appearance in this county; and, upon being inquired of, said his name was Russell Colvin, (which name he answers to at this time) and that he came from Manchester, Vt. He appeared to be in a state of mental derangement, but at times gave considerable account of himself. Among his relations, he mentions the Boorns. He is aman rather small instature, round-favored, speaks fast, and has scars on his head. He appears to be between thirty-five and forty years of age. There is no doubt that he came from Vermont. If you think proper to give this a place in your columns, it may save the lives of innocent men.
"Taner CHADWICK."
Upon the arrival of the Evening Post
containing this letter, little commotion
