AN OUTRAGE

The American Missionary.
VOL. XLII. JULY 1888. No. 7.

Prof. G.W. Lawrence, teacher of our school at Jellico, Tenn., a
gentleman of quiet and unobtrusive manners, was brutally assaulted by
a man of that place, and was shot in three places; one ball entered
the wrist and followed up the arm, coming out near the shoulder, a
second went into the back of the shoulder, and a third is probably
lodged in the lungs. The assault occurred May 18th, in the church in
which Mr. Lawrence was holding the school, in the presence of his wife
and scholars. The only provocation alleged, was that he had
gone the night before to ask for the tuition of one of his scholars.
He was met in an angry way by the woman, and the next day the husband,
who does not live with his wife, came to the school and fired the
shots. Prof. Lawrence is the brother-in-law of our highly esteemed and
active Christian worker, Rev. A.A. Myers, who has not only done so
much in promoting school and church work in Kentucky and Tennessee,
but who has also been so zealous in promoting the cause of temperance.
Prof. Lawrence sympathized and co-operated with Mr. Myers in this good
work, and it is believed that liquor and liquor influence had much to
do in inspiring the deed. As all the parties in this transaction were
white, it is not at all probable that the color-line question had
anything to do with it.

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The community was moved with intense indignation, and the assassin was
speedily taken to the county jail to escape a lynching. A large
meeting was subsequently held in the Baptist Church, and a committee
was appointed to prosecute the perpetrator. Mr. Lawrence at this
writing is in a very critical condition, but hopes are entertained of
his ultimate recovery.