Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-26
Alleged Attempt to Kill the President.
CRANK WHO SAID He had RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS
TO ASSASSISATE THE PRESIDENT

A special dispatch to the Philadelphia Times
from this city says: president Arthur's visit to
New York on the occasion OF the evacuation day
ceremonies was marred considerably by the suS-
picious actions OF a crank in the vicinity OF the
formers apartments at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The story was kept quiet, and even the President
was not informed TIL recently that his life had
been In jeopardy. 1t came out, however. when he
was In New York last week to attend the New
England dinner, for 1t was deemed best to change
his rooms at the Fifth Avenue and TO acquaint
him with the reason which prompted this
were stationed In the corridor leading 10
the rooms occupied by the President and no one un-
less well vouchcd for was allowed access TO the Ex-
ecutlve. No Violent demonstration was attempted
by the crank arrested on evacuation day, but upon
searching him at police headquarters bowie knife
ana an l0aae9 reyolVer were found In his hip pocket
He declared that he had received Instructions 10
serve Arthur as his predecessor in the White House
had been treaed, and from his actions there is no
reason to doubt that he would have attempted TO
assaSsnate the President had the opportunity been
given him. a guest of the Fifth Avenue detected
the scoundrel sGulking in the hallway and was in
duced to pay attention to him by being subjected
TO a close scrutiny as he passed the fellow. With
out giving an alarm 10y which the suspected per-
son could be enabled TO escape. the gentleman
after convincing himself that the fellow was an in
trader who meant mischief To the President quick
~ went to the Office of the hotel and informed the
night Watchnlan or the result OF his observations.
Several male employees accompanied the wacaman
to the scene and prevailed upon the wOuld-be as
SaSSin to accompany them down stairs and he was
subsequently taken TO police hcatguarterS All this
was accomplished without the President or any OF
the other guests being aware that anything WAS
tranSpir1ng, and stated before, it only came out
when the Presidents quarters were changed during
MS recent visit. The authority for this statement
Is unqlcSttOned and the facts are detailed SubStan-
TALLY as they occurred"
WHAT THEY SAY AT THB WHITE HOUSE
STAR reporter was informed at the White
House to-day that during the Presidents late visit
to New York he occupied the same suite OF rooms
at the Fifth Avenue hotel as formerly and that the
statements that his rooms were changed because It
was feared he might be noleSted by a crank who
attempted to asSaSSnate him there during his visit
al The evacuation day ceremonies therefore uL-
founded. The attempts OF an unknown person to
reach the President on that occasion with sup
posed intention or removing him were published in
a New York paper at the time, but it Is thought
That they were caused only by strong desire of
lhe man TO see the President, and that he was al
lowed TO leave without moleStation. il is further
stated that It is doubtful Ii the story ever reached
the PRESIDENTS ears and that il IL did he did not
give 1t Il second thought.
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