The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-29

ocenrrehce-Charged with
Grave Crimes-TvO of His Assoc,ates
tn business Commit SuicIde-IIfs
Insurance Assigned TO the uypuo-
sis
w. B., or Barney" Lawrence is a
strange character, says a dispatch from
o. Joseph, MO. to the Chicago Chroni-
cle' lie is either a hypnotiza OF great
power and dangerous man or else he
mas been misjudged and is being ter
ribly wronged.
Lawrence has just been sent to the
penitentiary from Trenton, Mo. for al
legged schoolbo swindles, and il 1s
admitted by those who have had to
deal with him that his case is the
strangest that has ever been known in
legal annals in this State.
For many years Lawrence was 4
school teacher at Cameron and was
Well known in De Kalb and Clinton
counties. He was a bright and talent
ed young man, and a few years ago if
became rumored that he possessed a
strange magnetism. People in the
country where Lawrence taught school
knew little about hypnot;sm and they
did not regard his power as dangerous.
1t is not believed that Lawrence kim
self realized the extent of the strange
power he possessed Cor several years.
He practiced on some Of the students
in his school in harmless way and
chiefly for the amusement of the
others.
Finally the young man quit teaching
school and went to raising capital for
various schemes. 1t was not difficu
for him to induce men to invest in his
schemes. but they were not successful.
His operations brought MIN in little
money, but still he persavered.
Finally he engaged in the sale of Ii
braries for country schools, and his
method of operation was plainly
swindle. He sold in many counties in
the State, and when a sale had been
made took the personal notes of the
school directors for the amount due
him for the library.
The book were seldom delivered,
Lawrence always having a contract
with another person to deliver them.
He was arrested several times, but
WAS always able to show that he was
not under contract to deliver the
books.
Then the mysterious part of his
transactions began to come to the sur
face Lawrence had induced a young
man who was then editor of the Cam
eron Sun to become his partner and he
was to deliver the books sold by Law
renee. When the notes were given to
Lawrence he Immediately cashed them
at the nearest bank and disappeared
from the scene.
The young man who had entered in
to partnership with the former school
teacher was found dead in his bed one
day. 1t was presumed that he had
committed suicide. 1t became known
that Lawrence had carried insurance
on the life of his partner and he col
lected it.
School directors all over the State
have complained of the strange influ-
ence Lawrence had over them. Into
some of the districts where he went to
sell his books he found that there was
no money in the treasury, but he was
undaunted. He took the notes of the
directors themselves, promising to
hold them until there was money in
the treasury. These men signed notes
whileu nder the influence of the book
agent, and in every instance were fore
ed to pay the notes, whether the books
were delivered or not.
Then another man fell under the
strange influence of Lawrence. He was
a lawyer and had been prosecuting at
torney of De Kalb county. He signed