The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-15
DESTROYED HIS SIGHT
Would-Be Suicide W. B. Law
rence's May Recover.
Mystery Of a Note Telling Of Rose
CampbeIl's danger"
1t Was Signed 81. A. Lawrence "
and Found in the Hospital.

W. b, Lawrence, the business man who
attempted to commit suicide at ll.3o
O'Clock last night in front OF the Acad-
envy of Medicine. at Ii West Forty-thlrd
street. and who was shortly afterward
carried into the Century Clubhouse.
and subsequently taken to the Roosevelt
Hospital. was alive at IL o'clock this
morning.
The attendants and officials ut the
hospital We're very reticcnt and would
say nothing about Mr.. Lawrence's con-
dition. except that he was about the
same as when he was brought in.
While THE Evening World' reporter
WAS sitting in the office of the hospital
he noticed Il curious circumstance which
may have bearing upon the attempted
suicide of Lawrence. Lying on the
which was written:
Rose Campbell is in immediate danger
J. A. LAWRENCE.
The city Directory contains the names
of only Two j. A. Lawrences, ana they
are evidently laboring men ana could
have nothing to do with this note.
| At the Century Club a tall colored
| man at the door not only refused In
| formation TO any but club members.
but also refused to carry a message
10 the Secretary of the Club, saying
that he was acting under orders.
| AT tue flIty HIsl street police bta
ton 1T was stated that a policeman
was detailed to watch over Lawrence at
the hospital and that he was under arrest
| for attempted suicide.
| where Lawrence shot himself to the
Century Club was plainly visible on the
sidewalk this morning, although at
| tempts had evidently been made to wash
1t off. DR.. j.. .. Tansley. who lives
nearly opposite the Century club and
who was one of the physicians called
last last night to attend Lawrence, said
this morning:
II was only with the wounded man
, for u few minutes, and was not called
for half an hour after the shooting.
tional. and knew me by my voice. l
don't think he had been drinking.
he could not see me, as his eyes were
The eyellds were bulged out nearly an
| inch, showing that the optical orbits of
both eyes were filled with blood.
,o IL Judged from that and from the
about an inch from the right eye, In
the temple, that the bullet had passed
through the optical cavity. The optic
II should say that even II Lawrence
RECEIVERS he will be totally blind"
f. Wesstrom, the janitor of the Acad.
speak to Mr.. Lawrence before he fired
the shot. He said:
1T was 1l.2O o'clock last evening wher
| i
the shadow. l thought he was a tramp
as they sometimes sneak behind tn,
pillar to sleep.
II was about to order him away. wher
! coming nearer, l saw he was a gentle
man. He looked up and said he wal
just resting for a few moments, Il
which | replied that 1t was all .righ
and told him not to disturb himself.
Then ! went to my rooms on the tor
Of the. building and to bed. did not
hear the shot. I did not notice whether
The clerk of the Hotel Renaissance
opposite the Century Club, said to-day
that he had noticed Mr.. Lawrence re.
Gently spending great part of each day
on the stoop OF the clubhouse He hao
acted as II not quite himself during the
last few days, but was not sufficiently
erratic to excite comment.
Mr.. Lawrence Is about fifty years old
He Is said to be confirmed bachelor
and his ,soldierly figure is well known
among the promenaders on Fifth ave
Century Club since 1874 and has lived
in the building since its erection.
He had desk room In the office of Pau
+. Mohr and Prof. William II. Chandler
} chemical experts, at A Broadway, bu
had not been there, except for his mall
during the past three weeks.
called at the hospital this morning HI
said he thought business troubles hac
led to the rash act. but refused to ente
| into details.
Ofticer William Killduff, of the East
Fifty-first street station, was in the
room at the Roosevelt Hospital with
his prisoner until o'clock this morning
The policeman said that the wounded
man slept part of the time and did no
talk at all during the night His eyes
although they were closed, were bulgini
out under the lids.
At the hospital at o'clock the attend
ants sPid there was nothing new to re
port In Mr.. Lawrence's condition. HI
might recover and he might not Non,
of the doctors who had attended Mr.
Lawrence would consent to be seen, no
ing him.