Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-13
The late shooting Case in Svashingtons- [
Singular COf1c5deucs.

...ss..s.----s-
The late Shooting Case in Evashiagtons-
Singular COincsdezacs.
We copied paragraph fromia Washington letter
few days since, IL which it was stated that apa-
sane max, German by the name Of What strain,
q body of MasOns as they we're lesving
their Hall in Washington City, severely 1ounalng
two gentlemen The Washington Union gives he
following account Of Strain:
che first came to Washington in December, but
has not permanently resided here since theD "hist
in California, at Mokolumne Hill, they say ne DC
came acquainted with the secrets Of abe Masons ana
since that time the members have persecaieo Nun
and ''made fun" Of him He seems TO De IN great
fear Of the power of the Masons, ard declares thet
they have put a spell upon him, from when pc =
very anxious 10 escape. He alleges this as mo'lys
for his attack upon the Masons and au9S 'neI Ne
was DESTROYS of killing one of them, IN orueF 10 pro
woke them to take his life and thus remove MIN De
yond heir power. This IS somewhat nereht ron
the story he told at the magistrate once WheIe nc
sgniied his i6Eention OF taking the AVes Of All .y
MasOns. This shows The wandering o. ms m.u~
when conRsrAing HpOR-this sueJesi. AAhols ssrst
sin aalar sf0rins he relates an peryeE N geeeA osE
last with the President, whose protection ne was
anXioustO gain Before going 70 lhe Hl4's 49,
he had armed himself ard evo vs. thatit- was us III
enti0n to have shorthe President II ne aao no'
posed heWas kindly disposed towards p N nEeply
TO the inquiry Of what he would nave uOhe "lI .ne
President told him he did rot want 10 nave anything
to do with him. he replied emphatically that he
''would have shot him. If he real J nad the IN
tervievg it.iI be seen at once that ne Presidents
life was in Imminent danger, for the man seems 10
act wholly regardless Of consequences
This incidents alls 10 miada thrilling scene which
vas Witnessed on stern Portlco of theGapitOl
at Washington in The vinler of 1884, when Rn at.
tempt was made by an insane man, By the na@e OIL
LAWRENCE 10 assassiuate Cea JAcKseE. Itwasonthe
occasion Of the funeral of the Hon. WARRhE D DA-
vIs. OF South Carolina The funeral procession, in
which we're the President and Heads Of Depart
ments. Foreign Ministers, Senators and Represen-
tativeg. was passing from the Hall of Representa-
lives 10 the Eastern Portico. Gen. jackson, legn-
ing on the arm Of Hon. LEVI WOODBURY., then Secs
rotary of State, was near the head of the process
sion. immedislely in the rear Of the mOurners
among whom were several ladies Of Mr.. DA
Wis family. When the mourners had reached the
Porico and SIS the President passed out Of the green
door leading it, LAWRENCE stepped cut from behind
one of the columns of the pOrioO where he had con-
cesled himself, and instantly, without word pre-
scented large horse pistol within three feet of the
Presidents beast and exploded the cap. Quick as
thought Gen. Jackson raised his hickory cane and
aimed blow at the assassins head but missed him,
LAWRENCE snapped the second pistol before he was
seized and borne to the ground by those near him.
Gen Jackson without retreating an inoh had raised
his cane for q second blow, when it was seized by
those Immediately round him, who, protecting him
from further assault with their persons, urged him
to retire into the 1otunds which he vehemenly re-
fused to do On being Informed that it was proba-
bly, conspiracy, and that there might be more
than one assassin, he still refused to be led from
the portico, and expressed his determination to
maintain his position where ne stood.
The scene presented was most exciting. Ladies
faintiDg and seresmiDg-the crowd, composed OF
the distin guished men of the country, hurriedly
gathering around the President, surprise depicted
in every conference.-the rush for the would-oe
assassin, and the exertions Of those who had taken
him in custody to prevent him from being torn to
pieces by the excited multtude-the babel OF voices
altogether made most novel and impressive
spectacle. The Sergeant alarms having removed
the prisoner order was soon restored, and the funs-
raj obseques were concluded.
On investigation it was found that LAWRENCE was
an insane man, who had been seen lurking about
the capitol for several days. According to his own
story, he was aboring under the strange hsllucina-
ton that be was the rightful heir to the crown Of
Great Britain, and his object in killing Gen. jack
SON was that he might obtain cnmmand Of the
United States Army and Navy, with which he in
tended to enforce his right the British throne. 1t
is singular that LAwREECE, like STRAIN, was car
penter by trade.
The pistols used on the occasion were large horse
pistols which were found to be heavily loaded The
weather at the time was fOggy and damp, and the
pistols having been loaded for several days and
kept in his carpenters chest, whilst he was awaiting
favorable opportunity for the accomplishment Of
his purpose, the powder in the tubes had absorbed
sufficient moisture TO prevent ignition from the
cars. Tc that circumstance alone, under Provi-
dence, the country owed the preservation of the life
of President JACKSON.