Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-11
CRANK CALLERS AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.
A Watchman's Story of His Curious
Interview With One Of Them.

Meeting one OF the guardians OF the Executive
Mansion and grounds of duty a few days ago a
STAR reporter asked him II he had any trouble with
crankS now.
swell, there are not so many around this rough
weather" was the reply, "but you newspaper men
don't catch on to one in ten OF the queer people who
try TO see the President, but intercepted before
they reach the house. Or are turned away from the
door,"
81 should think" said the reporter, .you would
be imposed on sometimes by plausible fellows who,
only 'little Off mentally, Ike Guiteau, are more
dangerous than raying lunaticS."
"AS general thing you can guage 'em on sight. "
was the reply. "There is wandering OF the eyes,
or an abruptneSS OF speech wldness OF gesture,
or some popularity OF dress or manner. THIS, how
ever, is not always the case / remember when
Hayes was President was on duty ia the grounds
one night VIXEN q reception was going on. | was
approached from the White House pOrtfco by a
tail, clean-Shaven, mdde-aged man neatly dressed
In black walking sut, who asked in tone as If
he merely wanted a chat with some one:
Are you a watchman here?'
SIN that line said j.
the preside..t is giving reception, believe
Il peIeve ne Is SAID
"A public reception isn't it?' asked the stranger.
Il don't know anything about that answered.
'Would you take me TO be respectable citizen:'
was the next question.
'Hardiy able to Judge on SO short an acquaint-
The stranger chuckled quietly at this and said:
Quite right. But from my general appearance
now, my manners and conversation, would you set
'Respectable,' said L.
Just so. and yet in this great and glorious land
OF the free, sarcasicaly, "a respectable citizen is
suddenly turned away from the door OF the EXecu-
tive Mansion by 1unkies when he simply seeks,
with other citizens to pay his respects the officer
they have chosen by ballot TO preside over them: at
time, too, set apart it is understood for that pur-
pose.'
But said 1, there must have been reason.
Perhaps you are mistaken and this is not pubic
reception
ASKED il had a card,' continued the stranger,
indignantly dgnoring my last remark; questioned
and questioned as If was relon or conspir-
ator, and the door then shut In my face. All right
II this is St. Petersburg and that is the palace OF
wrong il this is Washington and that is the White
House,
manner or talk, /" continued the watchman. sto In
dicate that he was anything more than a visitor to
the city disguised and indignant at his dsappoint-
haps considered his only chance while here TO see
the President; but suddenly changing his manner
a1ter his last remark, be abruptly asked me In the
Sepulchral tones OF the ghost in Hamlet:
do you ever read the Bible?'
tSOmetimeS,' answered.
.Did you ever read the Book Of Revelations''
.Do you remember the red man in that Bookr
81 can't say that do
'Wel read II again, guardian OF the night read It
red man there mentioned. / hold In my hands the
fateS OF nations and their rulers make and urmake
Presidents Washington, Jefferson, jackson, Lin
coin, Grant and this man hayes They were elected,
yes, but elections cannot change destiny. That
control Let the present occupant OF the White
House bewarev And with threatening shake OF
his long forefnger at the Mansion the man started
down the flag sidewalk towards the gateway. Now
II that fellow had got In he might have behaved as
well as anybody. But In case he had got started
on the Book OF Revelations there Is no knowing
what might have happened"
CHARGE OF RECEIVING STOLEN G0oDS-In the Po-
lice Court to-day an old colored woman, named
Susan Keath, was charged with receiving stolen
goods.about nifty yards OF caIpet-stolen from
Mrs Emily Beales residence, on Glenwood road, I'm
September last. Wash Meredith testified that he
went to Mrs. Keath's house, on street, between
Sd and 9TH streets, one night in September with a
man named Charles Smith, who sold TO her car
pet, which resemblcd the one exhibited 70 him In
court. After they got the money, they went around
drinking. Detective Block TESTIFIED that he recov-
cred the carpet from the DEFENDANTS house. and she
made conflicting statements In regard 10 where She
got IT, Detective Cox coroborated the statement
OF the former witness The defendant testified
that she bought the carpet about eight years ago
from an auction house near 11th street and Penn
sylvania avenue. John Moore, colored, testified
that this carpet was on MS Keath's 1oor about
three years ago Ella Ford, colored, had walked
over the carpet every day Tor four years Case con-