The Press., 1916-09-07
A BIT OF HISTORY
The Attempt to Assassinate Pres
 ident Andrew Jackson.
QUEER MANIA OF A MADMAN.

Richard Lawrence, Who Sought to
 Kill "Old Hickory" and Only Failed
 Because His Pistols Missed Fire,
 Thought He About Owned the World.
 Since tue esta Jlishing of the United States, three successful attempts have been made to assassinate our presi- dents. and another one was a failure only through the weapon not discharg- ing, when it was drawn upon Presi- dent Andrew Jackson on Jan. 30, 1885 The news of this attempt spread like wildfre throughout the country, and consternation filled the public mind at the thought that the tragic mode of dealing with the crowned heads of kingdoms and empires had at last been tried upon the person of the popularly elected ruler of free republic.
 At the time of the attempted assas- sination of President Jackson, he was at the capitol, in attendance on the funeral of Hon. Warren R. Davis of South Carolina. The assassin was Richard Lawrence, d painter. residing fin Washington. This individual was seen to enter the hall of the house of representatives during the delivery of the funeral sermon, but 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 retiring from the TO tunda to reach his carriage at the steps of the portico advanced toward the spot where Lawrence stood. The paint CT had his pistols concealed under his coat. When the president approached within two yards and half of him Lawrence extended his arm and lev. eled the pistol at the presidents breast The percussion cap exploded with a noise so great that several witnesses supposed that the pistol had been dis charged. On that instant the assassin dropped it 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 lionlike energy and would have executed summary vengeance, but Secretary WoOdbury and Lieutenant Godney at the same instant laid hold of the man, who gave way through the crowd and was at last knocked down. the president pressing after him until he saw he was secured. AS soon as the act was known to the crowd they wished to kill the assassin on the spot. Lawrence was at once conveyed to jail. When asked why he attempted fa lyill ho ,J because Jackson had killed his father. This proved to be a hallucination on his part. The total absence of any personal motive on the part of the prisoner suggested the idea that he must be insane.
 Lawrence was handsome young man of thirty-five years, small in stat ure, pale of complexion, with black hair and dark eyes. So great was the excitement produced by the affair that | some of the most eminent political op- ponents of the president, including such men as Clay, Calhoun, Poindex- ter. White and others, were in the frenzy of the moment suspected of having conspired in a plot to get rid of the president.
 On the day of the trial Lawrence at first conducted himself in court with much ease, taking his seat very quietly beside his counsel and conversing smilingly with them. But when the first witness was called the prisoner | sprang to his feet and demanded to | know by what right they had brought | him there, as he claimed the crown of Great Britain and also that of the United States. He made these same assertions frequently during his trial. When Lawrence's counsel asked that
 he be withdrawn from the court to save further of his ridiculous out breaks the prisoner rose and addressed | the judge wildly: "What I have done | to Jackson was on account of the | money he owes me. I consider all in | this court as under me. The United | States bank has owed me money since 1902, and I want my money. You are under me, gentlemen. It is for me, gentlemen. to pass upon you and not you upon me"
 It was not very difficult for the coun- sel to prove that Lawrence was insane Many witnesses were called to testify as to his peculiarities, covering a num- Der of years. Several physicians were introduced into the case, and they were unanimous in declaring that Law rence's state of mind was that of nor bid delusion.
 In accordance with the evidence thus given. the jury was out only five min utes, returning at once with a verdict of not guilty. Lawrence was sent to lunatic asylum, where he remained an inmate close to forty years.-Philadei- phia Press.