The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-07
AN OLD MURDER OoNFHssED.
The Unsuspected Assassin Confesses
on His Death Bed

on His Death Bed.
NoRRIsTowN, Pa, March 6-After
twenty-four years the mystery surrounding
the assassination of Dr. Joseph Levering of
Lower Marion has at last been solved. The
murder was one of the most noted of its
day by reason of the sensational features
surrounding it. The veil has at last
been lifted by the death-bed confession Of
John q. Henderson. who died in that place
Tuesday evening within short distance Of
the scene Of the tragedy. Feb. 13, 1866, Dr.
Levering, who had been making a profes-
slonal call, was in the act Of putting away
his team for the night, aud while
coming out of the stable the re-
port OF a gun was heard from
behind a stone wall within ten feet
of the door in which the doctor stood. The
doctors residence was close to Henderson's
store The unusual report of a gun within
the yard Of thedwelling aroused the family,
and the hfeless body was found few min
utes after the shooting.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
The alarm and excitement drew a large
crowd that evening. and every household
Joined in securing the neighborhood for the
assassin, Henderson assisting his neighbors
An inquest was held. and after a searching
investigation nothing could be found for
ouoBANAOh VI any ODts L NC OC-
casioned by the shooting was slow to
die out. Leading citizens, includ-
ing Henderson, issued a circular offering
$1,000 reward for the apprehension of the
murderer. With the lap of time the mur-
der sank from public attention, but gossip
recounted many interesting incidents in the
relationship which had existed between
Henderson and DIR. lowering. Henderson
was the proprietor Of the village store, and
was Of good repute.
AN INKLING TO THE CAUSE.
When the war broke out DIR. lowering
was drafted, and Henderson went to the
war as bis substitute. Among other con-
siderations for this service the doctor was
to have charge of Henderson's business and
his family. lt was said at the time that
Henderson became jealous of the DOCTORS
attentions to his family, but he after
ward showed no evidence of such a
feeling. Henderson resumed his business,
and five years subsequently illness COM
PEELED him to retire. He moved to Phila-
delphiR, but returned to his former home,
and at once became a leading citizen of
Lower Marion. Fearing that this illness
was to be his last he called in
his family to his bedside Tuesday
afternoon, and In the presence of the family
physician confessed to killing DIR. lowering
in cold blood. He described the shooting,
and also confessed to sending DIR. lowering
a decoy call previous to the firing. Hem
derson expired little before midnight. He
gave no reason for his bloody deed, and the
confession has caused as much excitement
as did the crime itself.
THE STORY DISCREDITED.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 6, 4 p M
The story telegraphed from Norristown,
Pa, of the alleged death-bed confession by
John G. Henderson Of the murder OF DIR. G..
Lowering at Rosemond, Lower Marion,
twenty-four years ago, published here and
in Norristown this morning, was matter of
general talk to-day, but the statements con-
tanned therein are discredted by all who
had known either Henderson or Dr. Lover
ing, because no person could be named who
had ever listened to the confession. Hender-
son died four years ago, and not recently,
as was stated. The rumor of the death-bed
confession has been in circulation in
Montgomery county for several years,
but 1t has never been authenticated. One
man who was seen to-day establishes a
most positive alibi in Hendersons favor.
He says that he, with several others, was in
Henderson's store when the shot that killed
DIR. Lowering was fired. Those in the store
including Henderson, ran to the scene and
hunted for the murderer. Henderson,
therefore, could not have fired the fatal shot.