Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-14
WHITEHOUSECRANKS
People With All Sorts of Hallucina-
tions Who Call There
TO INTERVIEW THE PRESIDENT.
Some Of the Notable Deluded Ones Of Three
Administrations.
HOW THE POLICE DEAL WITH THEN

forcible entry into the sacred portals of the
Executive Mansion by the inebriated STEP
son of Southern statesman was the first
act of the kind committed within the men,
ory of the attaches of that institution. All
character and kind of deranged personages
find their way into the Presidents domicile,
but these are seldom inclined to be belliger-
ent. Through the efforts of the vigilant
officers on duty within the premises they
are always apprehended and properly dis
posed of-either deprived of their liberty or
sent to their friends.
These frail and mentally depraved
creatures are generally the outgrowth Of
political or other excitement of a national
character. The agitation of questions
through the public print and the demoustra-
tions attending a Presidential election and
inauguration develop the dormant weakness
or delusion of the average "crank," and the
head of the nation is at once made his OBJ
jective point. Often the public-spirited
citizens of an enterprising country village
supply the town "crank" with means to
send him forth into the world in search of
the missing link"
Handling the Cranks.
NudG luc COuSTdlu-
lated itself over as gain becomes burden
upon the capital authorities. To detect and
Gull out from the busy threng which is
usually going in or coming out of the White
House and Government departments, the
unfortunate with political or religious
grievance, or invention, requires skilled
subordinates, with superior Judgment of
human nature, and the greatest prudence
and precaution must be exercised in treat
ing with the subject when located lest his
suspicious become aroused and he makes
trouble before being secured.
The official records indicate that the
national capital enjoys the largest number of
visitors of this class the year following
Presidential campaigns. For instance. the
number apprehended and transported to
other parts in 1886, the year Mr.. Cleveland
went into the Executive Mansion, was 19, in
1887 the number was TO- in 1888 it was 6, in
1889 it was ga gradual reduction.
In 1890, the first year succeeding Presi-
dent Harrison's Inauguration, the number
increased to 18. Ascribing such causes as
one may for the delusions that enshroud the
minds of the "cranks" who seek the
acquaintance of the President of the United
States, you only add to the interest which
must be found in observing their actions and
hearing their reasons for seeking him out.
Your correspondent is enabled to present for
the first time the names and pronounced
motives of the most interesting of these de-
luded mortals who have called at the Execu-
tive Mansion in the past few years.
Good Season for Them.
The first winter of President Arthur's
term was an interesting crank season. 1t
was cold January day when Jonah March.
a German barber, reached the capital, hav-
ing travelled all the way from Mohawk Val
ley, N. Y. March made his appearance at
the White House with the astounding an
nouncement that he was the original Jonah
who had been swallowed BY the whale. His
particular desire was to have an interview
with the President and General Logan. In
his pocket he had carefully slowed away a
clipping from some newspaper in which the
name of Jonah was mentioned, besides sol
in money and season ticket over the rail-
road between Philadelphia and Jersey City.
March claimed that bill drawn by Gen
eral Grant would be passed through Con-
gress by Senator Logan for his benefit and
that it would make him great man. Ser
geant Dinsmore persuaded Jonah to aban-
don his visit to the President. and he, be-
ing harmless was placed on q train and
started for home.
Not long after the departure of Jonah,
John Rettig, Taylor county, Texas, far
mer, in response to a call from "Unknown"
in Washington, introduced himself at the
Mansion as concerned in a small business
transaction which was to be consummated
there and whereby he was to be made the
recipient of two-story brown-stone front
house and lot valued at $50, 900. a wardrobe
of fine clothing, diamonds and jewelry and
the sum of $3.50, 900 in hard cash.
The Unknown," upon whose invitation
he had come tO the nafion'a ol bod
promised to make him detective, and also
wanted him to make an independent race
for President. Instead, however, of carry
ing out the promise or inducing him to en-
ter the Presidential race, the "Unknown"
had crowned him a "Cool-headed King"
given him S25, 900, 900 in money and made
him equal to Jesse James in looks and sharp
ness without the capacity to do an act of
meanness. Rittig at his own request was
furnished guide and shown the sights of
the capital, fter which he took his depar-
ture for the West to visit relatives.
Sad Cases of Dementia.
A more to be feared specimen of the order
was Toby Allen, of Chicago, whose mission
to the East was with view of getting
cIeansed of spiritualists who had witch
GRATED and mesmerized him. President
Arthur, according to mis- statement had
previously driven home persons who both
cred and interfered with him, and he had
come again to find relief. If he could not
see the President about the matter he would
write him a letter and get Mr.. Arthur to
put stop to it. Toby, being of the more
determined style OF Visionaries, was finally
lodged in an institution where he would DE
secure from worldly mesmerists and spirit
ualists.
About six weeks prior to the death of
President Garfield, Henry Killer, a sad
case of dementia, turned up in Washington
from Missouri for the purpose of taking pos
session of the throne, he laboring under the
delusion that he had been elected Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, but the people of
his State had neglected to apprise him of
the fact. According to his fancy, Mrs.
Garfield had been reserving his position for
him, and Mr.. Arthur had been officiating
as his amanuensis. 1t was an idea of this
individual that Mr.. Beecher commanded a
body of soldiers and with them had gone to
Missouri, forcing him to leave home and
friends. Another of his Authorizations was
that there was 5000 to his credit in the
United States Treasury, which he had writ
ten for without receiving response. Killer
had over 500 in money with him when
taken up to be cared for. His money was
used to give him trip back to his farm
under escort.
Gone on Great Inventions.
1t was In December, during President
Cleveland's time, when German engraver
calling himself Casper Tubesing, hailIng
from st. Louis, stopped off in Washington
and made quiet effort to have talk with
the Executive. Tubesing was at least 70
years of age and carried with him two pieces
of old rusty iron and large piece of glass,
rrhf 70 fol