Jason - Stupid People

King Richard III

Some historians suspect it might have been the chemicals in the paint that tripped up the thoughts of Richard Lawrence. He had found work as a house painter in the Washington D.C. area and over the course of a few years he began to act erratically. By late 1832 he quit his job and and began to dress in such a way that the children in the neighborhood called him King Richard.

It is possible this was his intent all along. When he quit his job his sister asked him why and he said he didn’t need to work. He explained he was King Richard III and as such the United States government owed him a large sum of money. King Richard had been dead for some 350 years. She didn’t know it but this was a hint to a very dangerous train of thought. Richard reasoned that it was President Andrew Jackson who was stood in the way of him getting payment. So, he needed to be removed from office.

There would be a kind of justice, he thought, in the King of England taking the life of a President.

Not one but a pair of one shot Derringer pistols were hidden in the clothes of the Mr. Lawrence and he made his way to the capital, where the funeral of Congressman Davis would be attended by “Old Hickory” himself. There were a couple problems with his plan. First, these pistols were incredibly sensitive to moisture and the weather was rainy and generally damp. Additionally, even though the President was 67 years old, he was by all counts a formidable opponent.

The faux king waited behind the pillar he knew the President would have to pass by. One hand was inside his clothes in the grip of the gun. He waited and watched. He recognized his target by his shock of hair, let him pass them stepped out behind him. He withdrew the pistol, pointed and pulled the trigger.

The cap went off, sounding like a shot, but it was a misfire caused by the moisture in the air. Andrew Jackson, having been in some thirteen duels, knew exactly what this sound was. While those around him scattered, hid or got down, he wheeled around looking for who would dare. He eyes landed on the fop and with a grip on his cane, he charged.

Richard pulled the second pistol, pointed and again no projectile came from the gun. At this point it was too late. Swing after swing the President hit the addled man with his cane. It was then the crowd, led by Davy Crockett himself, tackled Lawrence and escorted the ferocious President to safety.