Evening star., 1893-11-06
THREATENEDTHE PRESIDENT
The Crank Epidemic Has Reached the
White House.
The Police on the. Lookout for an
Idaho Traveler-Another Ar
s-s3a
t-s rested I'm Kansas City.

Every four years about the time OF the
presidential election or the change of adj
ministration, cranks from all sections OF
the country start for the national capital
and many of them reach here. The same
is often the case when there Is any meas.
ure of importance pending in Congress
There are many persons throughout the
land who are not only willing. but anxious
to carry upon their shoulders the respon-
sibiHties of the country. In their own
minds they are able 10 solve the numerous
knotty problems submitted to the nation's
representatives and are always ready to
make suggestions and answer questions. NO
matter of what Importance. Seldom are
they willing to converse on topics other
than that which has deprived them of their
reasoning power. The silver bill set many
persons Of this class to thinking and the
result rs that the army of cranks has great
y increased. Judging from reports from
various sections OF the country many OF
the eranks have assumed a murderous ten
dency and following in the wake of Prem
dergast. the slayer of Mayor Harrison,
they seemed to be bent on killing some
noted officials. Since the killing OF Mayor
Harrison several cranks have appeared in
New Hork, West Virginia and other states.
The latest scare OF this kind came last
week when a letter from civil engineer
letter
OF the presence in this city of a man who
had threatened the chief executive
friVate Secretary Thurber and Secretary
Lamont We're aware OF the presence Of the
man IN the city, and through them the sery-
for.
According to the letter the writer while
IN ldaho only short while ago was in a
saloon where he met the supposed crank
Sitting at a table I'm the saloon in the FAR
west the silver bill was freely discussed
IN DIS Pronunciation of the President and
the supporters of the bill. The man was
mueh excited at the time and for that rea-
son his violent language was not noticed
by the civil engineer. But when the latter
came 10 this city and went out Sightseeing
he met the man with red hair strolling
tnrougn the grounds of the Executive Man.
sion. This excited his suspicious and the
next day he returned to the grounds and
there he again saw the man. The latter
left the srounds in hurry and seemed
anxious TO avoid being seen by the ci.-fi
engineer. That night the latter discussed
the affair at his boarding house and the,
ne wrote the letter. In II he described the
alleged crank as being man of slender
blue eyes.
This letter reached the chief of police
Friday afternoon. and was turned over 20
Inspector Hollinberger. An extra detafi
was put on in the vicinity OF the White
House. and every effort was made TO keep
the matter secret, but the affair soonLle-
day night the facts leaked out
inspector Hollinberger had an interview
with the civil engineer. who told him the
details of the conversation had with the
red haired man, and of his seeing him
about the White House. Now the police
are all on the lookout for the man. In. the,r
eiort to Keep the affair quiet the officials
failed to notify the different precincts so
that the privates on the force were not
given an opportunity TO pick up the man,
who has probably been roaming the streets
rn0 htG Csa h.,.
be in the city, the police have an idea that
he has been frightened and left here
lt Another Arrested.
In Kansas City yesterday a crank was
ARRESTED, who was on his way to this CITY
ito kill President Cleveland. Elmer E. Raub
was the name he gave. He is a farmer
about sixty years old, and his home is I'm
Henry county, Missouri The conductor on
the train noticed the strange conduct OF the
man. and he telegraphed ahead TO have
officers meet the train. When the train
reached the station two policemen were
rest 80.
I'm on my way to Washington" he told
II am going to succeed Cleveland ,,e
added. First, I shall study politics fl.n
the practical point, of view. and the, /
SHAH become President. Cleveland must
give way to me-" -.--
There are a good many of your class Of
people in the country now" suggested the
sergeant-
Yes responded the crank. land one OF
us killed a man in Chicago the other day"
Raub was marched off to the nearest Do
lice station and locked up.
After Mayor.
In Pennsylvania the latest crank has an
nounced his intention to remove Mayor
Nichols of wilkesbarre. His name is Hen
ry Stout and it was when he was arrested
on a charge Of attempting to rob citizen
that he threatened the mayors life
When arrsigned he said he had been COM
missioned by God to shoot GARFIELD and
Mayor Harrison, but others had done the
work before the day set for him to do the
fatal act. He said he would attend TO his
last commission, that of assassinating
Mayor Nichols, next week. He was held for
a further hearing. 1t was subsequently,
learned that he is a noted crook. and has
had several terms in the Eastern peni-
tentiary at Philadelphia.