GMALL Presents – America’s First Wrongful Conviction: The 1819 Boorn Murder Trial
Thursday, November 5th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Northshire Community Courthouse
Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning is excited to partner with the Manchester Historical Society to present this talk about the Boorn murder trial. Manchester was consumed by the hysteria of the 1819 Boorn murder trial, as the community demanded the execution of Stephen and Jesse Boorn for a murder that never happened. The brothers were defended by a formidable legal team led by Richard Skinner and Leonard Sargeant, men who would later become the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Meanwhile, Reverend Lemuel Haynes, the nation’s first ordained Black minister and a veteran of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, served as the brothers’ spiritual advisor in the face of intense public pressure. This talk delves into the bizarre disappearance of Russell Colvin, the psychological pressure of false confessions, and how Manchester’s leading citizens navigated one of the most infamous legal precedents in American history. This program is free and open to all – or pay what you wish and support local history at a level that feels right to you. For more information or to register, please call 802-867-0111 or visit our website at greenmtnacademy.org.
