Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-06-21

same instant he edrew them from his
pocket, and in a voice of thunder,
whilst his eyes flashed fury, he ex-
claimed "by the eternal !-go, sir,
tell the Senate that Andrew Jack
son has the evidence of the guilt
of George Poindexter, and is re-
sponsibie to God, and to his coun-
try. Take them, sir, if you de-
sire to do SO, and sustain yourself!"
But, upon after consideration, he
made up his mind to retain the
originals, and suffer copies to be
taken.
The names of the original in
formers were now surrendered to
the Senate, and a select commit
tee of investigation was ordered,
composed of Mr.. Silas Wright, of
New York, Mr.. Nathan Smith, of
Connecticut, Mr.. Willie Mangum,
of North Carolina, Mr.. Thomas
Ewing, of Ohio, and Mr.. John
Tyler, of Virginia.
The committee were in session
six days, and examined a multi
tude of witnesses. 1t proved that
Lawrence was a maniac, who had
taken it into his head that he was
the monarch of England, and had
come over to this country to sub
due and re-possess himself of his
revolted provinces. That he re-
garded General Jackson as an
usurper, and had made up his
mind to assassinate him himself.
and thus win an imperishable
renown. On all other subjects,
save this of being entitled to the
thrones, and the possession of
Kingdoms and provinces, he was
perfectly sanel He was a painter
by occupation; and, when seen
about Governor Poindexter's hotel,
was actually engaged in painting
the building. All these facts were
abundantly proved, and the COM
mittee reported a full acquittance
of Governor Poindexter,
Lawrence, after his arrest, went
through an examination before
Mr.. Justice Cranch, who ordered
him to find bail for his appear
ance at court, to answer for the
assault, with attempt to assassin
ate. The sum demanded for his
appearance was fifteen hundred
dollars, which was deemed too
small by eager and sycophantic
partisans; but it was equivalent
to eternal incarceration, as the
poor fellow could not have found
any one to be responsible for him
in the sum of fifteen shillings.
Al the time of the arrest of
Lawrence, it was doubted, by
many, if his pistols were loaded,
as neither of them went off. To
ascertain the fact, they were placed
in the hands of Major Donelson,
and a company of gentlemen, who
examined them. Theywere found
to be loaded with ball, slug, and
buck-shot, and, being recapped,
went off, and perforated two inch
oak plank at the distance of some
ten yards. They were brass bar
relied, connected nearthe breech, or
chamber, by a screw.
Why they did not explode when
placed at the breast Of General
Jackson, of course no one could tell,
but is was supposed, as Lawrence
had carried them in his bosom
many days, and as the weather
was very warm, for the season,
that the warmth of his body had
destroyed the percussion caps.
Lawrence was committed to
Jail in the month of February,
1885, and remained there many
years when, think, he was con-
veyed to the Lunatic Asylum in
Baltimore. When ! last saw him,
he appeared to be contented and
happy. and was very busily en-
gagged in parcelling out crowns and
kingdoms, while he originated
monarchies and despotisms.
II