National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-10
ASSASSINATION.
ATTEMPTS MADE IN THIS COUNTRY.
How President Andrew Jackson Came Near Losing
His Llfe-The wings Charged with the Crime
Lawrence the Assassin. Tried and
Acquitted in Five Minutes.

The first attempt made upon the life OF
an American President was by fanatic named
Richard Lawrence, who tried to murder President
Andrew Jackson in 1895. The political contests OF
the Jacksonian period were marked by Intense
bitterness. The assaults Of the Wing press upon
the Democratic idol were extremely aggressive,
and the Wing orators denounced without stint
Jacksons presidential policy. Party rancor has
seldom been greater in this country than II was
about the year 1891 In the fall Of that year, at q
public meeting in New York city, one
HENRY GOULD,
an orator Of considerable note, made n very violent
speech, in which he urged that the people organ.
iZe, arm, march in body TO Washington, and force
President Jackson to change a policy which, he
charged, could only result in ruin. MI. Gouds
Wing associates of course councnanccd no such
movement, and, as for Mr. Gould himself doubt.
less his appeal was intended only as somewhat
extravagant form Of political emphasis. But the
speech was not without It's effect, and IL intensified
The bitterness, which was already so great that the
supporters of Andrew Jackson acknowledged their
fears at the growing spirit of violence.
ANTI ASSASSINATION CAUCUS.
When Congress assembled in December, 1884, the
Democrats called n caucus to consider the pro-
briefly Of forming body guard for the protection
Of the executive. Any one who knows anything
OF General Jacksons spirit or methods knows that
that was without his advice or consent and when
he hend OF the purposes of his party associates he
swore his conventional by the Eternal that II
should not be, and It was not
ATTENrT TO AsSAssISATE GENERAL JACKSON
on January 10, 1885, Hon. Warren r. Davis
Representative from North Carolina, died in
Washington, and had his state funeral from the
Capitol. The services had been concluded IN the
Chamber Of the House OF Representatives, and
the procession was formed, headed by Andrew
In md MI oth on 4
moved through the rotunda to the east front OF
Che Capitol, down the marble cast steps, and out
upon the plaza, the principal military band of the
day playing dirge ne the procession appeared
at tho eastern portico. Detectives do not
seem to have been keeping close watch In
those days, notwithstanding the open threats
OF personal violence to the oxecutivet
As the head OF the procession reached the door
leading TO the eastern portico a tall man sepa-
rated himself from the crowd Of spectators. Cen
eral Jackson was near the head OF the procession,
and as he approached the spot where the tall per.
son stood the unknown man quickly drew pistol
nom under his cloak, placed II at the very face Of
the President, and pulled the trigger. The cap
exploded, but the weapon failed Ia be discharged
Throwing his pistol away, madly, the assassin
drew second one, presented 1t rs before, and was
about TO fire. when naval officer, Lieutenant
Gedney standing near saw the madman's act.
rushed upon him, and disarmed him before the
second pistol could be used
ALMOST A MOB.
This was in the presence probably Of ten thou.
Band spectators. Yet but few saw It, and few knew
about It until afer the assassin had been seized
and handed TO the police. Directly the fuct be-
same known the rage of the masses was beyond
bounds. The dead man in his coffin was forgotten,
me, procession was broken up, and excited men
rushed In all directions. ifbeyond control while
many gathered around the prisoner aud shouted
XIII him" xiii him" Those having him In
charge alarmed at the threats Of violence hurried
him hastily from the scene.
CABINET OFFICER BARELY ESCAPES.
Secretary Woodbury. stood in nearly the same
relation TO President Jackson ut that time
that Secretary Blaine did on July Q last to
President Garfield when Guitcau fred the fatal
bullet. Mr.. Woodbury. was on President Jackson's
len, and they were walking arm-in: arm through
the rotunda TO the eastern portico OF the Capitol
MI: Woodbury. did not release his arm from that
Of President Jackson until the first cap had ex-
ploded, when he seized Lawrence by the collar,
and at that moment the second explosion took
place. Mr.. Secretary Dickerson was Immediately
In the rear of the President aud saw the assassin
AFTER Lieutenant Gedney had him by the throat
and was trying TO overpower him. Directly the
ceeded In forcing Lawrence, who was strong
man, TO the stone flooring.
THE ASSASSIN.
Lawrence, on being conveyed from the Capitol
TO the Jail, said that his reason for the act was
that the President had killed his father; that his
influence was so great that he had induced every
Lawrence, upon being arraigned before the court
immediately after the. attempted assassination,
addressed the judges violently; said that he had
assaulted General Jackson because he had de-
elined give him money from the United States
and said to the SpW % who at
business or ] shall treat. you with sever
iy" The nSd the trial was
Sf the time Insane for three years, and that
his father was deranged and confined frequently
in England be s Of his insanity, while Law;
Columbia The physicians who examined Law
renee stated thathe was still fixed in his purpose
In this country could punish him. because the
attempt would be resisted both by Europe and by
President was only his clerk.
SENATOR PoISDEXTER FALSELY CHARGED WITH
COMPLETELY.
Among those who were the first to break from the
procession and TO start towards the city the Hon.
George PoindeNter United States Senator from
Mississippi, was noticed, He was cripple, on ac-
duel some years before and as tic crowd began 70
ie"fi"E for s,,no Rii E SoSloo safely O%"E
sned to his carringe aud drove rapidly away
His personal relations to the President at that time
rendered him an object ofsuspcion. Years before
friends and had defended him IN the Seminole
war debate IN 1919. But they had quarreed, Gem
eral Jackson had used all the machinery of his
great Office TO Cypress his enemy. Senator Pon.
dexter Ind became so FESTIVE at the presidential
pAoseNuNioh INV lt H1N
CHALLENGED THE PRESIDENT
tomortNl combat. PoindcXter's second was treated
with tie utmost contempt, and was directed 10 in
form Mr. Poindexter "thGt the President of the
with u Iackguard who Is in the daily habit OF
whipping his wife, roindexter, maddencd At
President as liar and q slandCrcr. The memory
Of this occurrence was then fresh in the minds OF
the people. aud IT, perhaps was not surpris-
ing that Poindexters precipilatc flight, directly
after the assassi IN had made his mIrderous at-
tempt, should have excited suspicion. RumOl
wore as many leagued boots in those days as IN
NiTgils time, or now, and when Pondcxter's
enemies, who were also the Presidents friends re-
called his flight, and his quarrel with the Presi-
dent, itdld not take long to reach the conclusion
that Senator Poindexter might have some guilty
knowledge of the assassin.
CIRCUMsrANCIAL EVIDENCE
unfortunately was against the Mississippi Senator.
lie lived on Four and a. half street. u few doors
from Pennsylvania avenue, near where the city
buildings are now located, Opposite his house
there then .tood blacEsmiths shop, owned by
endeavoringt To obtain work the public buildings
but his habits had been against him. Prompted BY
curiosity, on hearing OF the attempted assHssina-
ton, he went TO the jail and recognized In the as
hassin Richard Lawrence, an RnglishmNn by
birth, an old resident of washington, and
Senator POindeNtcr, Michael FOy remembered that
he had seen, he thought, the prisoner, Rchar
Lawrence, about PoudcEter's house, opposite his
shop F0y told neighbor, named Stewart OF
this, and the latter also went and identified The
prisoner as person whom he had also seen, he
claimed around PoindeNter's lodgings. Lewis
Coleman an alderman, somewhat fond OF dstinc.
ton and notoriey, was Informed of this discovery
both by FOy aud Stewart, True to his instructive
love Of not0hety, remembering Jackson's hatred OF
POindeNteT, and possibly, anxious to be consid
cred friend at c3nr! by furnishing such infoma;
ton, Coleman called upon Andrew Jackson and
Informed him OF what had been discovered.
ANDREW JACKSON
was not noted for magnanimity to his enemie,
and he listened with eager interest to the story
Alderman Coleman IIa "A vi