The evening world., 1894-08-15
DESTROYED HIS SIGHT
Would-Be Suicide w. B. Law
rence's May Recover
Mystery Of a Note Telling Of Rose
CampbeIrs Danger"
IL Was Signed "J. A. Lawrence -.
and Found in the Hospital.

w. Il. Lawrence. the business man who
attempted to commit suicide at ll.Sc
O'Clock last night. In front of the Acad-
envy of Medicine, at IL West Forty third
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 at the
hospital were very reticent and would
say nothing about MIR. 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 "a curious circumstance which
may have IA bearing upon the attempted
suicide of Lawrence. Lying on the
| clerk desk was piece of paper upon
which was written:
| Rose Campbell is In Immediate danger.
| }. A. LAWRENCE
The city Directory contains the names
of only two j. A. Lawrences. ana they
are evidently laboring men and could
have nothing to do with this note, "a =,
At the Century Club tall colofed
man at the door not only refused In
formation to any but Club members,
but also refused to carry a message
At the Fifty first street police sta
ton II was stated that policeman
was detailed to watch over Lawrence at
the hospital and that he was under arrest
for attempted suicide.
A trail of blood leading from the spot
where Lawrence shot himself to the
sidewalk this morning, although at
tempts had evidently been made to wash
1t on. DIR. j. o. Tansley. who lives
opposite the hyaa Sue esed
last night to attend Lawrence, said
Il was only with the wounded mar
for a few minutes, and was not called
for half an hour after the shooting
When i saw him he was perfectly ra,,
tional, and knew me by my voice.
don't think he had been drinking.
| He could not see me, as his eyes were
closed, and he could not open them
The eyelids were bulged out nearly ar
inch, showing that the optica! orbits o.
both eyes were filled with blood.
loca ton Of the bullet wound, which wa.
, about an inch from the right, eye. IL
: the temple. that the bullet had passet
nerves were probably destroyed.
, I" should say that even II Liwrenc'
RECEIVERS he will be totally blind"
f. Wesstrom, the janitor Of the Acad
envy of Medicine, was the last man t
, speak TO Mr.. Lawrence before he fire.
the shot. He said:
II ~ u
, came in. l noticed man sitting II
! the shadow. / thought he was a tramp
, as they sometimes sneak behind tn
= pillar to sleep.
, II was about to order him away, whe
coming nearer, j saw he was gentle
J, man. He looked up and said he wa
1 just resting for a few moments, I
: which / replied that 1t was all RICH
h and told him not to disturb himself.
Then l went to my rooms on the 10
, of the building and to bed. i did nj
n hear the shot did not notice whetht
q he was agitated."
= The clerk OF the Hotel Renaissanc
n opposite the Century Club, said to-da
" that he had noticed Mr.. Lawrence n
Z | Gently spending great part OF each da
a on the stoop of the clubhouse. He ha
n acted as II not quite himself during tn
/ last few days. but was not sufficient
! erratic to excite comment.
= Mr.. Lawrence Is about nifty years ole
. He Is said to be confirmed bachelO
and his soldierly figure IL well know
q among the promenaders on Forth ave
. nue.. He has been a member of tn
i Century Club since 1874 and has live
= in the building since It's erection.
He had desk room In the office OF Pal
F. Mohr and Prof. William Fl. Chandle
chemical experts. at A Broadway, bt
had not been there. except for his mai
/ during the past three weeks.
:, His brother, Samuel B. Lawrenc
Il called at the hospital this morning. II
II said he thought business troubles ha
. led to the rash act, but refused to ent,
= into details.