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The courtroom settled as Judge Cranch began he proceedings. The judge explained that this would be three trial judges and a jury. That this was a case regarding the attempted assassination of Andrew Jackson by Richard Lawrence.

‘This is a public hearing for the interest of the public. I expect everyone to respect this courtroom and the proceedings. Mr. Key, you have the opening statements.’ Cranch yielded.

Francis Scott Key stood up, placing his hands on the table, he cleared his throat.

‘Thank you, your hon-‘

Key was interrupted by the obnoxious, loud scrapping of a chair, Lawrence had stood up, ‘Is it correct to have me, of my status, here! I have claimed the Crown of Great Britain and of the United States.’

Key, clutched his jacket, resting his fists on his breast, leaning back watching Lawrence’s early performance. Judge Cranch, stunned by the sudden outburst stammered. Lawrence’s defense quickly rose, taking advantage of the surprise.

‘Certainly Mr. Cranch! While Mr. Lawrence’s outburst is unacceptable, this is truly a misdemeanor case. Surely, his presence can be dispensed with?’

‘Unacceptable?! This court’s supposed jurisdiction is unacceptable, holding me here against my will, refusing to return me to Great Britain is unacceptable!’ Lawrence shouted at his defense.

‘Mr. Lawrence, that is enough! You will sit down!’ Cranch demanded.

‘Defense, it is the judgment of this court, that your client must attend this trial. His presence is necessary in your defense and the severity of the attempted offense is so great that he will remain present.’ Judge Cranch ruled and gave Key permission to proceed.

Key continued as the defense quietly admonished Lawrence who batted his hand at his attorney giving a face of disgust. Key would eventually call Judge Cranch as a witness to the stand.

‘Please tell me what happened as you left the funeral.’

‘Well, I had seen Mr. Lawrence earlier that day, he was cheerful and vibrant. He was speaking to Calhoun.’ Cranch began, Key looked confused.

‘He was speaking with former Vice President Calhoun?’ This was not consistent with what he knew.

‘That’s correct, Calhoun has referred to President Jackson as a Julius Caesar in need of a Brutus. This man, with Senator Poindexter have conspired with Mr. Lawrence to kill Andrew Jack-‘

‘This is ridiculous!’ Lawrence screamed. ‘There is no conspiracy! I don’t know Mr. Calhoun, nor would I care to! What I did to Jackson was on account of money. Money owed to me sense 1802, and I intend on having what’s mine! I’d do it again given the chance, I wouldn’t fail,’ he winded down.

‘Mr. Lawrence need I remind you that this court -‘ A judge began.

‘This court is beneath me! You. Are under me, gentlemen. It is for me to pass upon you, and not you to pass upon me.’ Lawrence finished. The court, unsure of what to do sat in silence as Lawrence returned to his seat. Key finished and the defense began. Key knew the conspiracy was nonsense, he had seen Lawrence himself before and knew he wasn’t fit to stand trial. There was immense political and public pressure to make this a public trial. If there had been a conspiracy, Lawrence never mentioned it to the doctors, his attorneys, himself, not a soul. There was no attempt to work out a plea deal, there was no conspiracy.

It was now the defense’s attempt to prove the case of insanity for Lawrence. They did this by bringing in a long line of witnesses, both professional and lay witnesses.

‘Mr. Lawrence was seen by multiple physicians. Two prior to this attempt and six after. Every one will testify that Mr. Lawrence was in good normal health prior to his 33rd birthday, and rapidly became afflicted by insanity.’

Lawrence’s chair screeched, his hands clasping the armchair as he prepared to lift himself up and shout. His defense’s eyes met his, which caused him to freeze, he shook his head at Lawrence, who recoiled back into his chair, containing himself.

‘These were not singular visits, some of these physicians would see him twice a week, with most seeing him over twenty times a week immediately after the attack. These professionals all concur with the diagnosis of insanity. They have spent more hours with Mr. Lawrence than anyone has recently.’

The physicians came in one by one, each echoing each other that Mr. Lawrence not only wasn’t guilty, but likely wasn’t competent to stand trial. The defense called Lawrence’s sister who described Lawrence’s attack on her and her husband in the weeks leading up to the attempt. She cried as she described loosing her brother, not recognizing his soulless, angry eyes as he raised the weight to smash her skull. During her testimony, Lawrence looked back and spotted Mr. Peabody’s shady representative sitting three benches behind him. He rose and pointed a finger at him, laughing.

‘You’ll never get that money back!’ He cackled, ‘it’s gone forever now!’

The man abruptly left his seat and left the court room. Everyone’s eyes silently followed the man who may or may not have been the person Lawrence thought it was. The confusion led to a tense silence, with only soft sobs being heard from his sister.

The defense felt the evidence spoke for itself. They didn’t feel the need to address the conspiracy nonsense due to the lack of credible evidence, ignoring it completely instead of refuting the claims. They concluded with restating the large amount of evidence suggesting that Mr. Lawrence was suffering from insanity with a growing penchant for violence and aggression. They argued that there was no law in place stating attempting to harm the president was anything more than attempted battery. They had argued that contact had not even occurred from Mr. Lawrence to Jackson. They even mentioned, had it not fallen under the guise of self defense, it was actually Jackson who assaulted him.

It took the jury five minutes to deliberate on the evidence of the case.

‘We find him not guilty, he having been under the influence of insanity at the time he committed the act.’

The court erupted with noise.

‘Mr. Lawrence is to be remanded!’ The voices overtook Judge Cranch, who in turn shouted louder.

‘Mr. Lawrence is to be remanded and treated as well as his situation would permit. This is until some further provisions could be made to prevent him from doing further mischief.’

Lawrence would eventually be transported to Maryland Hospital for the Insane. This hospital would eventually be replaced by Johns Hopkins Hospital. He remained here for twenty years, but would be transferred in 1855 to the government hospital for the insane (now known as St. Elizabeth’s), he’d be known as patient no. 7. President Andrew Jackson would die in 1845, leaving nothing to Lawrence. It is unclear whether he ever was freed of his delusions of being heir apparent to the Crown after Jackson died. He never mentioned Mr. Peabody or his associates to anyone. Richard Lawrence would be diagnosed officially with chronic monomania, he would remain in mental hospitals until his death on June 13, 1861.

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