The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-21
Voluntary Surrender Of an English
Soldier for Murder.
PURSUED BY REMORSE.
Strange Story Of the Self-Accused Murderer
in Philadelphia Police Station.
WANTS TO BE PUNISHED.
rnY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]


PHILADELPHIA. August 20 1877.
Thar "conscicnce doth make towards OF Us alp
never received striking or remarkable illustra-
ION than In an incident that has just taken place IN
his CITY For a murder committed seven months
,po n place 8 0OO miles distant, an intelligent and
oreposscssng young has voluntarily surrendered
himself to the police. He was not suspected OF the
crime had successfully escaped, crossed the
Atlantic and need never have been captured
except by his own voiton HIS sole and only reason
for giving himself custody he states is that he
has been constantly troubled with rcmorse with the
phantom Of his victim before him and could no
longer endure the suspense and torture which made
him fear each bush as a pursuing onicer. His only
wish now is to DO sent back 70 the place where tho
murder was perpctrated and there to be tried aud
punished
rHE SURRENDER.
While Sergeant Thompson, of the Sixth police dis
trct duty on Friday night last man presented
himself at the station house and said he had COM
United murder and desired to taken into custody.
The sergeant was first Inclined TO think the man
drunk or a lunatic Bu. finding that he looked and
talked nationally enough he complied with his request
after stranger had related his history. Said he:-
ssMy name is John Henderson. am twenty three
years Of ago and am soldier in tho service OF her
Majesty the Queen OF England, attached to troop +,
Eighteenth Hussars, commanded by Major General
SIR w. Mcmahon. We were stationed ut Colchester,
England, and day in January last was in CON-
pany with the sergeant Of tho troop named Wheeler
rgzszIED
We had been drinking pretty freely during tho day,
and when We reached o of rendezvous or place
for keeping stores we're quito full Here the Ser
geant exhibited to his money when found be had
f16 much more than had which made me mad with
jealousy and N a moment OF drunken frenzy took
nv carbine and struck him the head several times,
from the effects Of which he died very shortly took
money and then realizing what had done, thought
: Of escape. I took the body, dragged It out INTO
the yard and throw It down well. In few days
shipped America. alter hearing that we were sct
down AS desertcrs for the capture OF whom f5 were
offered for me and f25 for the sergeant. reached
New YORK and knocked around there for some time.
About nine weeks ago came 10 this city, and have
s,ncc wandered around looking for something TO do
PURSUED REAoRsE.
During all this time have been haunted day and
night by the ghost of the sergeant making my life
one of constant misery, out OF which can only get
by acknowledging my crime and paying the psnaly.
So want to 60 back TO England"
Before taking any steps In the matter Sergeant
Thompson consulted Mr. George Crums, Vice Consul
from Great Brtuin, who said that a Sergeant OF the
Eignteepth Hussars had been found in we'll, but the
suppos,.on that he had committed suicide or bad
accidentally fallen in while trying 70 desert. This
statement gave color Of truth 10 the voluntary
oner's story and to-day be was taken before Magis-
srate POLL who committed him for fourth hearing on
the Sd Scpembcr order that the proper measures
may DO taken to have him sent back TO England for
trial
THE sELF-AccrsER.
He talks quite freely, and tells his story in a most
stra ightforward aud Intelligent manner, leaving
doubts Ia tho minds OF the authorities as to its boing
true He looks as though he had undergone severe
mental and physical strain; and from his u-burned
face 1t would appear that most OF his time had been
spent in the open air. He this afternoon sent
Moyamensing Prison. where he will be held un y
wanted IN England.