The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-26
A NICE LOT OF CRANKS.
TaEY ALL WANTED TO sEE THE
FR SILENT.

a
history Of the White House = he
Beginning Of the Administration IS
the Tine for Thsm-Cases Desc ibed.
The recsuf fore ibie entry into the sacred
portals Of the executive mansion by the
ine5rIated step-son Of a southern states
man, says a Washington letter to the Balti-
more American, was the first act of the
kind committed within the memory Of the
attaches OF that institution. All character
aud kind Of dersnged persons find their way
into the Presidents domicile, but these are
seldom inclined to be belligerent. Through
the efforts Of the vigilant officers on duty
within the premises, they are always ap-
pretended and properly disposed of-either
deprived Of their liberty CT sent 10 their
friends.
These frail and mentally depraved crea-
lures are generally the outgrOw OF polit-
ical or other excitement OF a national char
acter. The agitation OF questions through
the public print, aud the demonstrations
attending q presidential election aud inau-
guration, develop the dormant weakness or
delusion Of the average CRANK and the
head OF the nation Is ut once made his OBJ
jective point. Often the philosophical
citizens Of an enterprising country vii
lage supply the town ''crank" with
means, and send him forth into the
world in search of the missing link"
Eventually, what the village congratulated
itself over as a gain becomes a burden upon
the capital authorities. To detect and Gull
out from the busy tnrong, which is usually
going in or coming out Of the white house
and government departments, the unfortu-
nate with political or religious grievance
or Invention, requires skilled subordinates,
mr. n
and the greatest prudence and precaution
must be exercised IN treating with the sub
ject when located, lest his suspicious become
aroused and he makes trouble before being
secured.
The official records indicate that the
capital city enjoys the largest number of
visitors Of this class the year following the
presldential campaigns. For instance, the
number apprehended and transported TO
other parts 10 1886, the year Mr.. Cleveland
went into the executive Tausion, was ~;
in 1887, 10; in 1883, 8; in 1889, 8; gradual
reduction. In 1920, the hrst succeeding
President Harrison's inauguration, the
number increased aEoin TO Is.
Ascrlbing such causes as one may
for the delusions that enshrouded the
minds OF the 'crankS" who seek the &C
quaintance of the President Of the United
States, and you oaly add to the interest
which must be found in Observing their ac-
tons and hearing their reasons for seeking
him out. Your correspondent is enabled to
present for the first time the names and pro-
nounced motives Of the most interesting of
these non conlpos Ulentus who have called
at the executive mansion in the past few
years. The first winter or President Ar
thurs term was al
INTERESTING CRANK SEASON.
It was cold January day when Jonah
March, a German barber, reached the capt.
tai, having Travelled all the way from Mo-
hawk Valley, Now York. March made his
appearance at the white house with the as
founding announcement 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
Gen. Logan. Ia his pocket he had carefully
slowed away a clipping from some Daper,I In
which the name Of Jonah was mentioned,
besides S9l in money and a season ticket
over the railroad between Philadelphia and
Jersey City. March claimed that bill drawn
by Gen. Grant would he passed through
congress by Senator Logan for his benefit,
and that 1t would make him a great man.
Sergt. DInsmore persuaded Jonah to aban-
don his visit to the President and, he being
harmless, was placed on a train and started
for home.
Not long after the departure of Jonah,
John Rettg, Taylor county, Texas,
farmer, In response to a call from "Un-
known in Washington, introduced him
self at the mansion as concerned in a small
business transaction which was to be con-
summated there, and whereby he was to be
made the recipient of two-story brown
stone-front house and lot, valued at $780,
coo; wardrobe of fine clothing, diamonds
and jewelry, aud S250,000 in hard cash.
The Unknown" upon whose invitation
he had come to the nations capital had
promised to make him a detective and
also wanted him to make an independent
race for president. Instead, however, of
carrying out the promise, or inducing him
to enter the presidential race the I'm
known had crowned him "Cool-headed
King" given him twenty-five million in
money, and made him equal to Jesse James
in looks and sharpness, without the capacity
to do an act of meaness. Rittig, at his own
request was furnished guide and shown
the sights Of the capital, after which he
took his departure for the west to visit
relations.
A more-to-be-feared specimen OF the
order was Toby Allen of Chicago whose
mission to the east was with a view Of get
ting cleansed Of spiritualists, who had
witchcrafted and mesmerized him.
President Arthur, according to his state
ment, had previously driven persons home
who bothered and interfered with him, and
he had come again to find relief. II he
could not get to see the President about
the matter he would write him letter and
get Mr.. Cleveland to put a stop to it. Toby,
being Of the more determined style Of Wis
ionaries, was finally lodged in an institution
where be would be secure from worldly
mesmerits and spiritualists.
About six weeks prior to the death of
President Garfield, Henry Killer. sad case
of dementia, turned up in Washington,
from Missouri, for the purpose of taking
pOSSFSSION Op TUE TupONv
he laboring under the illusion that he had
been elected Vice President of the United
States, but the people OF his state had ne
elected to apprise him Of the fact. Accord
ing to his fancy, Mrs. Garfield had been
preserving his position for him and Mr.
Cleveland had been officiating as his
amanuensis. 1t was an idea OF this individ.
ual that Mr.. Beecher commanded a bod,
of soldiers and with them had gone to Mis-
souri, forcing him to leave home anc
friends. Another of his Authorizations wa
that there was $500 to his credit in th
United States treasury, which he haC
written for without receiving any response
Killer had over hundred dollars in none,
with him when taken up to be cared for
which was used 70 give him trip back Z
his farm under escort.
1t was in December, during Presiden
Clevelands time, when German engraver