The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-11
Washington Lunatios.
Crazy People Who Hang Round the
White House.
New York WoRld.l


member half of the 1unatics that have haunted
this house since came on duty as watchman
their stories would fill the biggest newspaper
in New York. But you see there are so many
Of then that we don't take the trouble to re-
member them only in general way, you
know" The speaker was Alfonzo Dunn, who
has been a watchman at the White House for
the past seventeen years. He is a small, pleas
ant-featured man, with dark, piercing eyes,
and is a regular standby in these days for cor
respondents in search Of news.
"In General Grants time" continued Mr..
Dunn, 1--WE were greatly bothered by Abraham
Joltz, a crazy Dutchman, who used to present
himself when the gates opened in the morning
and spend the rest of the day in trying to GET
access to the President. He was the most per-
sistent and persevering man 1 ever saw. He
never missed day, rain or shine and always
waited patiently at the door when refused ad-
mittance. 1 believe he used up half gross of
visiting cards without ever seeing the Presi-
dent. One day he got by the door somehow,
and / met him up stairs. Why, he believed
he was elected President of the United States.
and had come to give President Grant notice
to quit. He appeared to be harmless lunatic.
so coaxed him out by telling him that Presi-
dent Grant would be ready to vacate the next
day. 1t was long time before I saw him
again, but when he finally made his way to
the house again he had not forgotten my prom
Use. Singularly enough, he had not noticed
the lapse of time, but spoke of the promise as
having been made yesterday. got him away
quietly, and never saw him again. think it
was the next day that his sister-in-law called
here and asked me to get the President TO put
Joltz into the insane asylum. She said his dis
appointment at not being inaagurated had
made him violent She knew he owned gun,
and she feared he would endeavor to use it to
kill the President who had. usurped his chair.
He was sent to the insane asylum"
Were there any attempts to assassinate
President Grant?"
mo, not exactly, but he was never altogeth-
or safe from crazy men. In his second term a
big, wicked looking negro-he was over six
feet in height and built in proportion-5came to
me and asked me to let him see the President.
He was an evil disposed looking villain, and
had trick of showing you only the whites Of
his eyes. l suspected he was not all right, and
questioned him pretty closely. While was
talking to him noticed that he kept his right
hand in his left breast pocket, and / was afraid
he had a revolver there. made excuse
and got away so as to call Officer Kearney, to
whom / impaired my suspicious. The officer,
under the pretext that he would lead him to
the President, enticed him from the house and
Gagged him in the police station. Search
showed that his left breast pocket contained
loaded revolver of large size. 1 don't remem-
ber his name or what was done with him."
care there many who labor under the delu-
dency?"
"Oh, yes: two or three every year, at least
They are generally harmless and go away
without giving. us much trouble. Then there's
another class OF lunatics, also numerous They
believe they own the White House, the capitol,
the treasury department. and all the other pub
lie buildings and come here periodically for the
keys. We generally send them to the capitol,
where they wander about till they are tired.
One morning woman who had gone crazy be-
came here to accuse President Grant of the
crime. After she had butted her head through
two or three panes of glass we gave her into
the hands of the police. A very frequent nui-
sance at the White House is the praying luna
tic, harmless Door devil who has gone crazy on
religion. We had one here the other day who
kneeled on the porch and prayed quite elo-
quently for President Garfield They are gen.
orally harmless, and we let them have their
pray out. SO long as they do not make too
much noise"
Scan you remember any other crazy men?"
'Not by name. Well, yes; have you ever
heard of John Biggins? Well, he was a big
Irishman, about six feet four, and as strong as
a yoke of oxen. He was a rough looking chap,
too, and had a hand like leg of mutton. He
was as crazy as loon, but only on one point,
and that he never showed until the occasion
arrived. He was one of President Grants visi-
tors. One day he called looking as sober as
judge and as quiet as lamb, and asked to see
the president. His name was sent up stairs,
and after waiting a while he was shown into
the presidents reception room.
What canI do for you, Mr.. Biggins?' asked
the president.
"'President Grant" said Biggins his crazi-
you to understand that don't want you peep
ing through the keyhole of my bedroom door
any more. If you do it again I'll shoot you
dead as sure as my name is Biggins'
" so would il were you,' replied Presi-
dent Grant, not muscle of his face moving,
'and assure you it will not occur again..
"The coolness Of the president probably
saved his life, for Biggins was armed and des-
perate. He is now in the insane asylum
just at this point Secretary Blaine came
down stairs and the watchman rushed away to
open the door for him. Mr.. Walker Blaine.
the eldest son and private secretary of Secre-
tary Blaine, says that he was often greatly an
noyed by the presidency OF Guiteau. He had
or abroad, and yet for a time he presented him.
self almost every day, only to be sent away un-
satisfied. Mr.. Blaine thinks he is more knave
than fool.
Daniel MacNamara, who looks very much
like tramp, visited police headquarters this
afternoon and asked to be allowed to interview
Guiteau. He said that by the mere force of
his will he could draw from the assassin the
names of the men who were in the plot with
him. He was examined and sent to an insane
asylum.