Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-16
THE ASSASSINATION.
EXAMINATION oFLAwRENcE

IHE ASSASSIN ALTON.
EXAMINATION OF LAWRENCE.
he undersigne9, having been requested by the
MARSHAL II the District of Columbia to visit Richard
.rw,ehce,now confined IN the jail of the county of
w ashhgton,fo an attempt to assasinate the Pres-
dehl OF the United States with view TO ascertain
as lar as practicable, the present condition of his
oou'iy heaiih and state of mind and believing that
oe.a'i OF the examination will be more satisfacto.
man an abstract opinion upon the subject, we
therefore give the following statement On enter
ing ms room, we engaged in a free conversation
with him, in which he participated apparently, in
me most artless and unreserved manner The
hrst interrogalory propoueded was, ms to his own
ase-which question alone he sportively declined
answering. We then inquired into the condition
VI u heaIth, Tor several years past--to which he
replied that II had been uniformly good and that he
had never laborod under any mental ietan cement
nor did ho ADM, the existence of any OF those
symptoms OF physical arrangement which usually
attend mental alienation. He said he was born in
England, and came to this country when twelve or
thirteen years of age, and that his father died in
"ns D'sHct, about SIX or eight years since; that
las father was Protestant and his mother Meth.
odist and that he was a professor of any roli-
gion, but sometimes read the bible and OCCASION
ally attended church. He stated that he was
painter by trade, and had followed that occupation
to the present time but Of late could not 6ud stea-
oy eInployment-whchh had caused much pecuna-
ry embarrassment with him that no had been gen
orally temperate IN his habits using ardent spirits
moderately when at work but for the last three or
Tour weeks had not taken any that he had never
eambled, and in other respects, had led a regular
sober life
Upon being Intercepted as TO the circumstances
connected w'th the attempted assassination he said
That he had been celebrating on il for some time
past and that he had called at the Presidents house
about week previous TO the attempt and being
conducted 10 the President apartment by the pot-
ter, found hln in conversation with n member of
Congress, whom he believed to have been Mr.
Sutherland, of Pennsylvania that he stated to he
President that he wanted money TO take him to
England, and that he mus, give him a check the
bank, and The President remarked, TINT he too
much engaged 10 attend to him must call ano-
Their time, for Mr.. DIbLe was IN waiting for an IN
tcrview When esked about the pistols which he
had used he stated that his father had left him
pair, but not being alike about four years since he
exchanged one for another, which exactly matched
the best of the pair; these were both flint locks,
which he recently had altered 10 cusslon locks,
by M. Booler that he had been frequently in tho
habit of loading and firing these pistols AT marks,
any other occasion, and that, at the distance OF
ten yards, the ball always passed through an inch
plank. He also stated, that he had loaded these
pistols three or four days previous, WITH ordinary
care, for the purpose attempted bu, that he used
pencil INSTEAD of a ran rod and that during that
period they at all times carried in his pocket
and when asked why they failed TO explode he C.
piled, he knew no cause. When asked why he went
to the Capitol on that day, he replied that he ex
pee ed the President would be there lie also
stated that he was in the Rotundl when the Pre-
sidtnt arrived, and on being asked why no did not
then attempt TO shoo him. he replied that he did
not wish to interfere with the funeral ceremony,
and therefore waited ill was over He also OBJ
served that he dlJ not enter the Hall, but looked
through window from the lobby, and saw the
President sc ted with members Of Congress AM
then he rcturned 10 the Rounda, and waited ill the
President again entered It, and then passed. through
and took his position in the cast porco, about two
yards from the door, drew his pistols from his m
side coat pocket, cooked them. and held one IN each
hand, concealed by his coat, lest he should alarm
the speclators-and states, that soon as the one
IN the right hand missed fire, he Immediately drop
ped or exchanged it, an attempted to fro the &c
con before he was sezed he further stated TINT
he aimed eacn pistol al the Presidents heart, and
intend Il If he FIRST pistol had gone off, & the Presi
dent had fallen, to have defended himself with the
second, tdefcnce had been necessary.
On being asked il he did not expect 10 havo been
killed on the spot, if he had killed the resident he
replied he did not and that he had doubt but
tina, he would have been protected by the specta'
tors. He requently questioned Whether he
had any friends present from whom he expected
protection. To this he replied that he never had
mentioned his intention TO any one, and that no one
in particular knew his design but thot he inond-
ed to put The President out of tho way. lie fur
ther stated, that when the President arrived at the
DOOR near which he stood, finding hum supported
OF. the left by MIR. Woodbury., and observing many
persons in bis rear and being himself raiheeto the
right of the President in order TO avoid wounding
MIR. Woodbury., and those IN the rear, he stepped a
little 10 hs own right, so TINT should the ball pass
through The body Of the Presiden 1t would be re-
ccved by the Joor-framc, or stone wall. On being
asked If no felt no trepldalon during the attempt
he replied not the slightest until he found tha' INC
secoad pistol hed missed fire. Then observing
that the President was advancing upon him, win
an uplifed cane, he feared il contained a sword,
which might hnvc been thrust through him before
he could have been protected by the crowd And
when interroga,ed to the motive which induced
him to attempt the assassination Of the President, he
| REPLIED that he had been told that the President
| had caused his loss of occupation, and the conse-
ouent want Of money, and he believed that to put
him on, Of the way, was the only remedy for this
evil but to the interrogatory who told you this
| he could not identify any one, bu, remarked that
his brothcr.in.law, Mr.. Redfern, told him that he
| would have no more business, because he was OPP
,ased IN the President--and he believed REDEEM TO
| he in leaeue with the President against him.. a
| -; -, ouastioned whether he had often at