Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-13
a srAHrLINe CONFESSION.

Friend, Or. LevcrinR-Ihe senan-
tiOnal Mystery Oh 1856 solved.
NoRRIsTowN, Pa, March 5.-Aiter "a
years Of mystery shrou1ing the senss-
tional assassination OF Dr.. Joseph Lever
ing of near Rosemont, Montgomery
county, the veil has been lifted and the
story OF ths crime has been told. It re-
quired death-bed confession, though,
to clear up the mystery and at the same
time ease the mind of John q. Hender-
son before he could close his eyes in
death. The confession was made to only
Q few persons gathered about his bedside
and when the attending physician an
nounced that the siek man could have
only q few hours e. the most, the dying
man summoned all OF his strength, and
with his last breath briefly told the story
how he had decoyed DR.. lowering from
home by false message, and then am
hushed him near his own stable and left
his hfeiess body within a few yards of
his house.
John G. Henderson has been one OF
the most widely known and respected
citizens Of Lower Merton township, aad
for years conducted q general country
store near Er. Levsring's residence. At
the time Of the tragedy he and his victim
were the dearest Of friends, aud no one
ever suspected that any enmity existed
between them. During the war Dr. Lev
ering was drafted, and, not desiring to 20
upon the field, secursd Henderson as his
substitute. lowering looked after his
business affairs in his absence. and was u
frequent visitor at the store. This set the
tongues Of scandal wagging, and so3n
the names OF DR.. lowering and Mrs.
Henderson were coupled in a compromis-
ing manner. The stories increased with
the lapse of time, and soon letters were
sent to Henderson telling MIN that DR..
lowering had visited his home.
He returned at the expiration Of his
term Of enlistment, and settled down to
his former business, applying himself
closely, and never giving any indication
that he would perpetrAte the terrible re-
vengs that he subsequently did. His
plans were well laid, and his escape from
detection shows how thoroughly they
were carried out.
Late on Tuesday afternoon OF Febrn-
AIRY 18th, 1855, DR.. lowering Was called
tfway from home by decoy message to
treat a patient come miles distant lie
returned to his home some time after Z
O'Clock in the evening, and drove directly
TO the barn, which was situated short
distance from his residence. An over
shoot roof extended out in front of the
structure, at one end Of which there was
stone wall, distant abcu. 10 feet from
the stable door.
Back OF this wall Henderson secrete1
himself and waited until lowering ha J
unhitohed his horse and was leading it IN
the stable. He was but 10 feet distant
from the door Of the stable, and as the
doctor got opposite to him he fred a
charge of buckshot and bullets into his
breast. He dropped TO the ground, dead,
and few minutes later his family found
bis lifeless and bleeding body where il
had fallen. A bullet and four buckshoi
had penetrated his body, any enc OF
which would have been sufficient to have
caused death.
The assassin e'caped in the darkness
and so completely covered his tracks
that no clue to the murder has ever been
found until Hen tersoR revealed il him
self.
The country was Immediately aroused,
ard searching parties were set afoot in
every direction in an effort 10 disoove,
sore trace Of the murderer. Henderson
was among the number. and eginced the
keenest interest to unrevel the myBtery
His name appeared along with that Of
number Of ether prominent citizens
OF Lover Merton, offering a reward o.
81. 900 for the apprehension OF the muir
dsrar.
The assassination was the sensation o.
the hcur because DR.. Leverin9's famil,
connections we're OF the very best and
moved in the best Hoclal circles. Imme
Gistely after the murder John Henderson
took sick, and for five years atterwarG
ves an inyalid--through the pangs OF re.
morse it is said now-and was compelled
to retire from business. He moved t.
Philadelphia, where he remained fol
several years; but, like Eugene Aaron, re
turned to the scene OF his crime whici
aesmed to have strange infatuatIon 70
him.
Some weeks ago he was taken i'll aut
gradually wasted away until it becam
apparent that death would soon CLAIM
HIM. He guarded his secret jealouBly
though, and only confessed when tn
time OF death sduonishsd him that hi
time was short in which to make repara
tion fol the past.
The story is sensation that hes dumb
founded the few persopH Who hay
learned Of the confession aud who wer
the friends and neighbora Of the deat
man.