The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-23
THE HOUSE ASTONlS4GO.
A Colored Crank Threarens Destruction
OF the Public Buildings,

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE day in
the House Was d-yoted to the conSidera
ton Of bust"ess relating to the District
of Columbia Of local interest only.
A disturbance was creafrd IN the
House by the sudden interruption OF
the even tenor Of the proceedings ny 4
nurly negro in the centre gallery aris
ing in his place and shcunpg: "Mr.
Speaker of the House Of Representa-
ives"
Instantly the House was in confusion
and all eyes were turned upon the he"
orator in the gallery. The Speaker, who
was the first to regain his composure,
directed the doorkeeper to remove the
Uff-uder.
The man was of powerful physique,
and the doorkeeper WAS unable to
outs him for some time, the negro cd.
deayoring TO deliver his alleged divine
ly inspired message to the effect that
the Lord had commanded him to come
to the Speaker of The House aDd ORDER
him to pass the Coxey bills. He was
finally elected.
The crank's name is Matthew a.
Cherry. He is blacksmith, residing
in this city He insists that he is rot
insane. but his mind is maGltestly uu
ba!anc ). When questioned bvs the
Capitol police, he Id that unless tae
"Coxey good roads" bill was passed,
there would be general obstruction OF
government property in Washington.
Congress would be given until the 24th
instant to pass the bill. If it did not
become a law by that time, the pubic
buildings would be destroyed by bonbS.
He was arrested by the Caplto! pc!!ce
and taken to the guard room Ii the
basement of the capitol. He was per
fectly tractable and offered no violence.
He was retained in the guard r0om
about thirty minutes, when he was
taken to the sixth precinct station. Be-
fore entering the gallery, Cherry endea-
vored to see Speaker Crisp. He called
at the corridor which runs in the rear
of the House chamber and was stepped
by the doorkeeper. Speaker Crisp's
room is situated at the East end OF this
corridor, where three doorkeepers
are stationed. 4 colored messenger
also guards the door CT the Speakers
room. When the crank demanded TO
see the Speaker, the doorkeeper asked
his business. The crank replied that
he desired an audience with Speaker
Crisp, but refused to state for what rea-
son. Upon the doorkeeper, again stern
ly refusing to comply with his request,
the crank faced about and went up n
the gallery.
cine town is full Of cranks,' said Col
Snow, the ergeant-ar-Arm OF the
House, in speaking OF Cherry's
arrest. You can't walk Pennsylvania
avenue without meeting them at every
turn. There is IN individuality about
cranks and student of human nature
will recognize one at a glance. We
have taken every precautlGn to guard
the members OF the House from the v;o-
lent actions of these people, for crank
is violent when you least expect It. But
no precaution can prevent an evil dis
posed person from coming into the gal
lery with a destructive weapon IN his
pocket. During the excitement about
the first of the month, We kept Al OIL
Ger in citiZeG's clothes IN the gallery,
and every suspicious person was care
fully watched 1t IS our rule not to
permit persons carrying valiseS or pack
ages of any description TO enter the gal,
lery. Where a man is regarded With
suspicion, the officers keep cl"se to him
to prevent any overt act. There prob
ably never were so macy cracks III
Washington rs at present aud the Whit
House ana the Capitol ore their storm
centres. Do l anticipate trouble With
them? l do not, because no precaution
is res Iected 70 protect ever! BODY about
the Capitol.
Tue pComptness with which Cherry
was elected from tie House gallery
shows The excellent sy stem in vogue a.
the Capitol IN reference to crauKs.
Cherry had hot spoken fifteen sec)nOs
before doorkeeper Bowen grabbed hlm
by the'collar and dragged him toto the
corridor outside.