The Portland daily press., 1894-01-11
His Natural Demeanor.

His Natural Demeanor.
Indeed, when asked by the court if he
wished to cross-examine the witnesses
or make explanation, he answered in the
negative, and said that those who had
seen the act could state the facts. AT
the conclusion of the trial, when asked
if he had anything to offer, he said that
he could not contradict what had been
given in evidence. In the midst of the
excitement and anxiety which prevailed
around him Lawrence appeared perfectly
calm and collected.
Before the Attack.
The President in speaking of the event
remarked that Lawrence's manner from
the moment his eye caught his was firm
and resolved until after the failure of
his last pistol, when he seemed to
shrink rather than resist. Lawrence
was handsome young man of about 35
years, small in stature, with pale COM
plexion, black hair, dark eyes and gen.
teel department and was we'll dressed.
The keeper of the rotunda stated that
he had frequently observed the man
about the Capitol, SO often that he had
tried to draw him into conversation, but
had found him taciturn and unwilling
to talk. On the day in question he kept
proving about, but did not come within
the railing near the mem bers seats; his
hand was held inside his vest, as if
grasping something, and his lips were
pale and quivering.
On his pistols being taken from him
they were found to be very elegant
pair, in excellent order and loaded with
powder and ball almost at the muzzle
The barrels being about six inches long.
It..was most astonishing circumstance,
almost reaching to the miraculous, that,
loaded as they were and Of such perfect
mechanism, both pistols missed fire. 1t
was dual lottery of life and the hero
of New Orleans, with his usual good
luck, drew prize each time!
There was probably in our native his
tory no more interesting test of firearms
than that made Immediately after the
affair by District Attorney Key and Gen,
Hunter, the marshal of the District, on
Lawrence's pistols. This was done with
some of the remaining powder. balls and
caps of the prisoner, and the result
showed that loaded in the ordinary man
ner the discharge of the weapons took
place every time, and their power was
such that the bullet would pass through
an inch board at distance of nine Yards
and early bury itself in the second board
at further distance of about as MANY
yards
So great was the excitement produced
by the affair that some of the most
eminent opponents of the President, in
Guiding such men as Calhoun, CLAW.
Poindexter and White, were, in the
frenzy of the moment, suspected of hav-
ing conspired in plot to get rid of the
President
The Real Cause.
But in this affair there was woman
in the case" it appears
1t was ascertained that some time
previous Lawrence had formed an at
tachment for young lady and frequent.
'ly told his sister that he could by his
industry soon be enabled to buy corner
lot and build on it good house, when
he would marry the object of his at
tachment.
With this view he labored day and
night until he had about $500. But he
was disappointed, and became extremely
pensive, quit all employment and wopld
Stand for hours gazing upon the snot
which he had selected for his f1,tnre
residence. He became hopelessly insane
This was shown at his trial. when If
was developed that he had claimed his
right to the crown of England and had
called on the President and demanded
money! threatening death to IT., ;f ~