The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-24
CHAS. LEvERING.
LOUISVILLE, KY. March 2.
I'D

LOUISVILLE. KY, March "a.
Murder will out.
Chas. lowering, who was too
clever to be caught, will have
lplenty Of time to let this world
old truth sink home In his brain.
For lowering is now serving life
sentence nthe Kentucky state
|penitentiary.
Murder will out.
Tom Merrifield and Dave
Broderick, two Of Louisville's
lshrewdest detectives-Leveri
attorney Gals them human blood
hounds"-held fast to this truth
during quarter of century
chase. When they despaired che
thought - murder will out
lspurred them on.
The two sleuths have grown
gray in their pursuit of lowering,
but they have never given up.
They have logged the man
through fair weather and ill; they
have followed him year after
year. Now they've got him.
The story, remarkable in GRIM
inal annals, ended when the
state court of appeals affirmed
the verdict of the lower courts,
and lowering was marched off to
prison to spend the rest of his
life.
lowering was a shrewd, clever
man. He never did any wrong.
Things just happened. If crimes
were committed repeatedly when
he was around, it was a coinci-
dence, nothing more. His defense,
his alibis, were perfect. Lots of
people believed him a criminal,
but the state must be assured be-
yond reasonable doubt. This the
state for more than 20 years could
not do. lowering, confident in his
strength and craft, thought he
could go on forever. He would If
it had not been for the bulldog
lpersistency with which Mortified
and Broderick logged him.
Here Is list of strange things
which happened when lowering
was around-things which he per-
|suaded people he had nothing to
do with.
1884-Levering owned a mill,
insured for $4,000. He dismiss
ed all his hands except one negro
Waterman. One night the mill
burned, and the watchman's body
was found floating in the river.
lowering got the insurance,
there were no arrests. Only Mer-
rifield and Broderick, young pa
trolmen on the Louisville force,
suspected. They swore a vow they
would "get" lowering. The vow
was to be long in realization, butt
the two men never forgot it.
1891-Levering owned a saloon
on Merifield's beat. 1t caught
fire and burned to the ground.
Merrifie1d helped Mrs. Leveringl
out Of an upper room. She rel
fused to return to her husband,
and sued shortly after for divorce.
The insurance companies werel
but could get no evil
dence to back up their suspicious,
though the two detectives worked
night and day.
1898-Levering got Tom Mel
Caffrey, an old man and a drunk
ard, to insure his life for 100000
in Levering's favor. One night he|
sent the old man to deliver a note.
While crossing the railroad tracks,
McCaffrey was seized by two men
who tried to throw him under al
train. McCaffrey escaped. The
note was only blank paper. More
suspicion, but no proof.
1900-Levering went to work
for w. p. Conn, wealthy Shelby
Vile farmer. One day Conn was
found shot dead. His rifle was 1 s
feet away, but the Jury could find
no verdict but suicide. lowering
not only cleared his skirts, butt
married the widow year later.
1905-Mrs. Conn-Levering was
found dead of strychnine poison
ing at her home while her hus-
band was at the farm 80 miles
away. She left note saying she
was going to commit suicide. Also
"a will in Levering's favor.
This was the new basis for Mer-
|rifield and Broderick to work on
The last tragedy, though the most
of all as far as their,