The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-08
rHnEArENED THE PRESIDENT.

Tho Crank Epidemic Has Reached the
White House-Tho POLICE onthe Lookout
for un Idaho Traveller.
WAsmNGToS, D. G., Nov Every
four yeUra. about the time Of the presi-
dental election or the change OF adj
ministration, cranks from all sections OF
the country start for the national capi-
tai and many OF them reach here. The
same is often the case whom there is any
measure Of importance pending in Con-
gress. There are many persons through
out the land who are not only willing,
but anxious to carry upon their shout
ders the responsibilities OF the country.
In their own minds they are able 10
solve the numerous knotty problems
submitted to the nations representa-
tives and are always ready to make sug.
gestions and answer questions, no matter
Of what importance. Seldom are they
willing TO converse on topics other
than that which deprive them OF their
reasoning power. The silver bill Sc:
many persons OF this class to thinking
and the result Is that the army oil
cranks has greatly increased. Judging
from reports from various sections oil
the country many OF the Crnnks have
assumed murderous tendency, and
following in the wake oil Prondergast,
the slayer OF Mayor Harrison, they
seemed TO be bent on killing come
noted officials. Since the killing oil
Mayor Harrison several crank5 have
appeared in New York, West Virginia
and other states.
The latest scare OF this kind came
last week when letter from a cTil en-
ciueer from Idaho was received. This
letter told OF the presence IN this city
OF a man VINO had threatened the chiei
executive.
Private Secretary Thurber and Secre-
tary Lamont were aware OF the pres
ence OF the man in the city, and through
them the services of the police depart
ment were called Tor.
According to the letter, the writer
while in Idaho only short while ago,
was in saloon where he met the sup
posed crank. Sitting at table in the
saloon in the lar west the silver bill was
freely discussed, and the man with red
hair became loud in his denunciation OF
the President and the supporters OF the
bill. The man was much excited ut the
time, and for that reason his violent
language was not noticed by the civil
engineer But when the latter came to
this city and went out sightseeing he
met the man with red hair stroltlng
through the grounds OF the executive
mansion. This excited his suspicious,
and the next day he returned to the
grounds and there he again saw the
man. The latter left the grounds in
hurry and seemed anxious to avoid
being seen by the civil engineer. That
night tho latter discussed the affair at
his boarding house and then he wrote
the letter. In it ho described the al
legged crank as being man OF slender
build, red hair, sharp-pointed beard
and blue eyes.
This letter reached the chief OF police
Friday afternoon, and was turned over
to Inspector Hollinberger. An extra
detail was put on in the vicinity OF the
white house, and every effort was made
to keep the matter secret, but the affair
soon became known to many officials,
and Saturday night the facts leaked
out.
Inspector Hollinberger had an inter.
view with the civil engineer, who told
him the details OF the conversation mad
with the red-haired man, and OF his see
ing him about the white house. Now
the police are all on the lookout Tor the
man. In their effort to keep the affair
quiet the officials failed to notify the
different precincts, SO that the privates
on TIE force were not given an oppor-
tunity to pick up the man, who has
probably been roaming the streets dur
ing his stay here. While he may still
be in the city, the police have an idea
that he has been frightened and lett
here.