National Republican., 1881-07-05
.CRANKS AND TRAMPS
WHO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE.
How Guiteau Hung Around tho Executive Man.
sion-Harmless idiots Who Call TO See
the President-Guiteau's Mys.
tcriOus Movements.

Mr. Alphonso Dunn. member of the
Metropolitan Police, but who has for nearly twenty
years been detailed at the White House as door
keeper, and who has known all singular and crack
Drained people who have attempted 10 see the
President, thus speaks OF Guitcau the would-be
murderer; "Whilo we have not allowed Guiteau
to come In the house since orders came from up
stairs not to do so. never looked upon him as in
any way dangerous. We have now aud have had
ever since l have been here, lot of 'cranks,'
who feel II thoir bounden duty to annoy
the President Some of these are men and
some are women Some we have looked
upon as dangerous. but the thought never
came In my mind that Guiteau would do any vio-
lence. He appeared 10 be meek, mild hammered
fellow, though there was n certain occentricity
about his manner exactly tho opposite of what no
has turned out to be. The stories about him be-
ing an ugly, coarse. grained murderous looking
man are fiction. He was as pleasant in his APP
pearance and address rs any man who has ever
come into the White House. He Is a great denl
more intelligent than his letters makehim appear.
His complexion had sallow look. His hair was
light brown, and eyes blue. lie was always noat
and tidy In appearance and seemed TO wear the
best clothes. Indeed, he is the last man
that would ever be picked out for what he
wns at heart. Though q trihe nervous at
times, which gave him hestating or awkward
manner, he was spry as n cot and appeared TO
have way of getting about without making a
noise. lie talked we'll, though he seldom talked
much The FIRST time that our attention was
called to him was by his forcing his way into the
Presidents room, about two months ago, while
Charley Lmflor the inner doorkeeper was en-
gagged talking to n lady In the hall leading to the
private secretary's room. The President called
Charley and he put Guiteau out, telling him he
must take HIS turn. None of us had discovered at
that time that ho was crazy, Some days afterwnrd
l,. uN.lN L..
those In charge.of the main door to keep him out
of the building altogether.
THE ASSASSINATION INTENDED FOR AN EARLIER DAY.
The next time he appeared he was told about
the orders and, though he often called after that
he never made an attempt to como in, satisfying
himself with standing on the portico and looking
in."
Had he been about the White House recently
or Just previous TO the attempted assassination"
Yes" answered Mr.. Dunn; "on Friday night,
about nine o'clock. he called and asked me If he
could see the President. told him tho President
was engaged and could not sec any one. L don't
| think said he, he would see me oven IL he was
not engaged without saying anything more he
went away. on Thursday afternoon he did some-
thing which. while 1t looked suspicious then, did
not indicate anything criminal but II satisfied me
| that he was getting to be n nuisance, to say the
least.
"Somehow all the crazy people who come TO tho
city are attracted TO the White House. and we see
so much Of them that We are more lcnient with
them than people are elsewhere or than we should
be. Scarcely day passes but some one comes
along that should be in the Insane asylum. They
don't do anything but talk, and we don't like to
put them under arrest, for you know we have two
| policemen on duty here all of the time This man
| Guiteau passed in the east walk about five o'clock
| on Thursday afternoon. He did not attempt
70 come in the house, but stopped in the
| driveway. l happened to be standing
| on the portico and he inquired If the
President had gone out riding. / told him he had,
| and at the time supposed he had gone in co mpany
with Governor Foster. But 1t turned out that lie
| was In the house, Guiteau simply said, SO /
thought and far asI noticed passed down the east
walk again and went out of the gate. II transpired,
| however, in q few moments that he had not. Soon
| after had answered his question some one in the
house called me, and after staying in here for few
minutes went out to see where Guiteau had gone
Just then noticed the Presidents carriage coming
in the gate, and as usual, l went to the driveway
TO open the door of the carriage soon as came
| TO standstill, The President was not in 1t,
although his son james, son of Colonel Rock we'll
and Secretary Hunts son were.
| HAUNTING THE WHITE HOUSE.
"As they stepped out ON to the portico saw
Guiteau standing behind one of the pillars of thd
portico. He had evidently taken that position to
observe who were in the carriage. He was about
| ten feet distant, and In such d covered position
| that he could not be seen by any one in the
carriage. As soon as Guiteau saw that the Presi-
dent was not in the carriage he walked rapidly
away. | am firmly of the opinion now, in view of
what has happened, that II the President had
been in the carriage Guteau would have shot him
| right there He noticed that saw him as he
showed himself from behind the pillar and went
away veryquickly. Indeed, by the time the young
men got out and closed the carriage door he had
| disappeared"
The watchman at Lafayette Park says that Gu l.
teau, alter leaving here, went into the park and
took seat from where he could see this portico.
What he was after then no doubt was to sec If the
President would go out riding that afternoon. He
did not, and that fact alone Is what saved him
from being shot at that time
II appears that Guteau has for the past two
weeks spent the greater part of each day sitting in
| Lafayette Park, which faces the White House
Pennsylvania avenue separating them. Though
the watchman had seen him there time and time
again. he never paid any attention to him, regard
ing him by his dress and manners as a gentleman
of flcisure who preferred to spend his time in the
park to elsewhere.
"The President knew him, then2" was the next
question.
"Very we'll Guiteau had talked to him now
and then-at least halfa dozen times In ALL once
seen, he is not man whose face can easily be for
gotten, though there is none of that horrible look