The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1894-02-17
OLD HICK0RY'S" COURAGE,
STORY OF AN ATTEMPTED hSsAS-
SINATION OF JACKSON.
They Could Shoot at Him, But
Couldn't Make Him Play the Fart
of a CoNard-A Narrow Escapc

escapes there WAS one which borders
on the supernatural. Two bullet
loaded pistols of perfect construction,
which Mt no other time we're ever
known to miss fire, snapped in turn at
President Jacks0n's breuSt, the per-
cussion caps exploding, but the weap-
ons refusing to shoot That the old
hero met not the fate Of two of his H.
lustrious Successors was little short Of
miracle. AS it was, the Incident
caused an intense excitement all over
the country.
81 am not afraid! Let mo go!
They can't kill me. can take care of
myself!
So exclaimed President Jackson one
memorable day in January, fifty-nine
years ago, as breaking away from his
friends he rushed upon his wouId-be
assassin. This attempt to murder Gen
eral jackson was made on the 3Oth of
January, 1885, the same month in
which, twenty years previously, he
won his highest renown by his defeat
of the British army at New Orleans.
On the afternoon of the day named,
while President Jackson was at the
Capitol, in attendance upon the fu-
neral of Mr.. Warren Il. Davis, ofSoutn
Carolina, one Richard Lawrence,
painter, residing in Washington, at
tempted to shoot him. This individ-
nal was seen to enter the hall of the
House of Representative during the
delivery of the funeral sermon
before its close, however, he had
taken his stand on the eastern
portico, near one of the columns
The President, with the Secretary
OF the Treasury on his left arm, ON
retiring from the rotunda to reach his
carriage at the steps of the portico,
advanced toward the spot where Law
renee stood-who had his pistol con
cealed under his coat and when he
approached within two yards and n
half of him, tho would-be assassin
levelled the pistol at the Presidents
breast. The percussion cap exploded
with noise So great that several wit
nesses supposed the pistol had been
fired. On the instant Lawrence
dropped the pistol from his right
hand, and taking another ready
cooked from his left, presented and
snapped it at the President, who at
the moment raised his cane and made
for the assailant with iron-like energy.
He would have executed vengeance,
but Secretary Woodbury. and Lieu
tenant Godney at the same time laid
hold of the man, who was knocked
down. the President pressing after
him until he was secured.
The Presidents friends then urged
hip, 10 {~ ha 81 Al
old hero did, with great tirmncss and
self-possession, though during the
eventful moment his commanding
voice was heard above all others, as,
! tearing himself from his friends and
rushing for the assassin, the uttered
| the words quoted.
AS soon as the act was known to the
crowd they wished to kill the assassin
Oh the spot. But this was promptly
! prevented. Lawrence was forthwith
carried to jail. after hricf pre-
| llmlnary examination before Judge
| Cranch. AT this examination Mr..
Randolph, Sergeant-nt-Arms Of the
House of Representatives, who at
tended the Marshal to conduct the
prisoner to the City Hall, testified
that the prisoner when asked by
the Marshal what motive he had
to make the attempt, stated that
the President had killed his father.
| The assertion was, however, untrue,
as, upon investigation, it was found
that his father, an Englishman, had
died a natural death in Washington
| soIhc years before. The son was ap-
| pronticed afterward to Mr. Clark
with whom he lived three years. Mr..
Clark, when called upon, said he was
n m@u Of excellent habits, sober anil
Industrious; that he had seen him
very frequently, and was we'll nc.
| quainted with him since he had left
his family, and had heard nothing to
his disadvantage until Of late he was
informed of his being quarreisUIne
among his friends, and that he ha
treated his sister badly.
The entire absence of any personal
motive OH the part OF the prisoner t.
commit the deed he attempted sug-
gested the idea that he must be insane.
But his demeanor at the time he was
being examined bore not the slightest
appearance of frenzy or arrangement
OF any kind. Indeed, when asked by
the Court if he wished to cross exam,
Inc the witnesses or to make explana-
tion, he answered in the negative, and
said that those who had seen the act
could state the facts At the conclu
sion OF the trial, when. asked if he had
anything to offer, he said that he coulC
not contradict what had been given in
evidence. In the midst of che excite.
ment and anxiety which prevailed
around him Lawreace appeared per.
fectiy calm and collected.
The President. in speaking of the
event, remarked that Lawrence Is man
ner 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 thirty-five years, small in
stature, with pale complexion, hlacI,
hair, dark eyes, and genteel deport
mont, and was we'll dressed
I II Sf n