The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23

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Lawrence was a handsome young man
of about 35 years, small in statue
with pale complexion, black hair, darl
eyes, and genteel department, and wa:
well dressed.
The keeper of the rotunda stateo
that he had frequently observed the
man about the Capitol, so often thai
he had tried to draw him into conver
sation, but had found him taciturr
and unwilling to talk. On the day in
question he kept prowling about, but
did not come within the railing neal
the members seats. His hand was
held inside his vest, as if grasping
something, and his lips were pale and
quivering.
T.. On his pistols being taken from him
after the affair, they were found to
be very elegant pair, in excellent
order, and loaded with powder and
ball almost to the muzzle, the barrels
being about six inches in length. 1t
was. "a 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 death, and the hero of New
Orleans, with his usual good luck,
drew prize each time!
There was probably in our native
history no more interesting test Of
firearms than that made Immediately
after the affair by District Attorney
Key and General Hunter, Marshal Of
the District, on LawIence's pistols.
This was done with some Of the re-
naming powder, balls and caps of the
prisoner, and the result showed that,
loaded in the ordinary manner, the
discharge of the weapons took place
every time, and their powder was
such that the bullet would pass
through an inch board at a distance
of nine yards and nearly bury itself in
a second board at a further distance
of about as many yards.
So great was the excitement pro-
duced by the affair that some Of the
most eminent opponents of the Presi-
dent, including such men as Clay,
Calhoun, Poindexter, and White,
were, in the frenzy of the moment,
suspected of having conspired in a
plot to get rid of the President.
But in this affair "there was a wo-
man in the case" it appears. 1t was
ascertained that sometime previous
Lawrence had formed an attachment
for young lady and frequently told
his sister that he would, by his in:
dustry, soon be able to buy a corner
lot and build on it good house, then
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 ex,
tremely pensive, quit all employment,
and would stand for hours gazing
upon the spot which he had selected
for his future residence. He became
hopelessly insane. This was shown
at his trial, when he had claimed his
right to the crown of England and had
called on the President and demanded
money, threatening death to him if il
was not soon forthcoming.
The jury, after being out five min
utes, rendered a verdict Of "not guilty
he having been under the influence OF
insanity at the time of committing the
act"
But before the trial and it's termi'
| nation the intense excitement pro
duced by the act throughout the coun
try had about wholly subsided. As fol
Lawrence, he was sent to a lunatie
asylum, where he remained an in
mate the rest of his life, nearly forty
| wears,