Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-26
TRIED TO Kill JACKSON.

o.
An Attempt on "oid Hickory's" Life De-
sct1bcd ina Letter FROM Congressman.
New YORK Sun. i,
Mrs. Harriet Maxwell Converse Of
this city has a letter describing the
attempt to assassinate President Juck-
sor, written by Congressman Howell OF
New York to her aunt, Mrs. Frances
Cameron. Congressman Howell was a
witness of the attempt to kill Presi-
dent Jackson. His letter is dated at
waeh ington, January Both, 1896, on the
evening Of the day of the event. The
letter Is in part as follows:
IL have been under a high degree OF
excitement all the afternoon at most
daring attempt to assassinate the Presi-
dent at the Capitol today. We Ind bean
attending the funeral OF a DECEASED
member, Congressman Davis of South
Carolina, and the President, as is usual
on such occasions, was present.
As the President came out of the
rotunda man advanced toward him
from the front, and when he approached
within two yards ho presented pistol
and attempted to discharge it at the
Presidents breast. 1t was what Is
called percussion lock, which is
primed with little copper cap con
tanning percussion or decorating
powder, a material the most combusti
BILE and constituting means OF firing
any weapon with the most fatal GER
tainty. This cap exploded without dis
charging the pistol, which Was in.
stantly dropped by the miscreant and
another drawn from his bosom and
snapped at the President with celebrity
| that prevented all possible interference
| by the bystanders and resistance by him.
:" But the President observed tue at
tack and the lion was aroused at once.
| He raised his cane 1.-THE only weapon il
| his reach and aimed q blow at the
ASSASSIN. At the same time Captain
Gedney seized the assassin and threw
him down, Mr.. Woodbury., who hac
held the Presidents arm, immediate ,
assisted and he was disarmed and SO
| cured.
1.-The passions OF the President wer,
up and few minutes his frown wal
| appalling. He Is certainly the mos
extraordinary man Of the age. M
blanching, no timid misgiving even fo
| a moment affected him. He saw tn,
attempt upon his life was calculating
determined purpose, and he onl!
| thought of resistance, naked and un
armed as he was. Every trace of ag
had hed-he stood a giant 10 his you'll
and lowered above all his attendants
az the falcon towers above partridge
10 her swoop upon the quarry.
| 1.-THE monster was taken before tn
Judge and examined, but no light !
thrown upon this mysterious trans
action. 1t has only transpired tina
the name Of the oulprit is Lawrence, b.
trade a printer, raised In this city, AM
hitherto Of good character; but all in
duceinent to the perretration of tn
dreadful crime is undiscoverable
Strange surmises are ahoat. BY som
1t is regarded as the effect of insanity
which receives some countenauce froI
the strange desperation Of the attemp
that was 20 made as to render all hop
Of escape impossible, and also by tn
circumstance of his stating to th
marshal while 10 bis custody on tn
way to examination in answer to a
inquiry why he had made such
nefarious attempt upon the life Of th
President that the President had kille
his father, when the fact Is that hi
father died in this city some years age
which he we'll knew.