Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-14
A CRANK IN THE HOUSE
An Eccentric Oolored Visitor Starts to
Speak From the Gallery.
He Says He Was s'MOvedo to Make a
speech-Was Taken Out by
the Doorkeeper.

There was a momentary confusion and
establishment shortly after the House Of
Representatives began the days session by
the rising of a stalwart negro in the gallery
Immediately opposite Speaker Crisp. who
suddenly broke in upon the pending debate.
Mr.. Speaker, MIR. Speaker" called the
man repeatedly from the gallery. The read
ing clerk paused, and members started in
their seats at this strange interruption.
'Mr. Speaker" continued the intruder,
unless the Coxey bills are passed by the
22d instant, this Capitol, and the Treasury
and the White House will be struck by
thunder and lightning. Almighty God has
told me so."
The man was about to proceed when
Speaker Crisp. in a stern voice, ordered the
doorkeepers in the gallery to eject the dis
turber.
The Man Removed.
Doorkeeper Bowen went to remove the
nan. The latter offered no serious resist
ance to being removed. He. however. fell
against the seat as Bowen grasped him and
hustled him off, and fell again on reaching
the corridor outside. He was taken down
stairs and placed in a temporary lookup.
While being taken down stairs he said
that God had commanded him TO make
this and one more speech. The next one
was to be at the White House, after which
he would be ready to die.
The doorkeepers in the House lobby ad-
joining Speaker Crisp's room recognized the
man as a suspicious caller early in the day.
He asked to see Speaker Crisp. and then to
go on the floor of the House. Both requests
were denied, after which he went to the
gallery.
A "Servant of the Lord"
When questioned he gave his name as
~
14th and Boundary streets; his occupation
he said was that of a blacksmith. He an
nounced himself to be servant of the
Lord" and said he was moved to take the
step he did while lying in bed last night.
Once before. while living in Hogansville.
Ga, he was moved in a similar manner
and proceeded in the streets of that village
TO read from four chapters from the Bible.
He was ruthlessly dealt with, however, to
his great personal discontinue.
He Is about forty years OF age, tall and
athletic In build. He was later taken from
the Capitol and lodged in a police station
pending examination as TO his mental con-
dition. Cherry is the owner of a large four
wheel combination freight and passenger
machine, which he propels with his feet
upon the streets. The larger portion of the
business Is done at night, however, when he
transports people out for a pleasure trip up
and down Pennsylvania avenue.
WeIl-Known I'm Police Circles.
Matthew Cherry, the prisoner. is well
known in police circles, having figured in
the Police Court in a number of cases. He
is forty years old, and is known about the
city because OF the peculiarly constructed
vehicle which he operates after the fashion
of the old-style tricycles.
After he reached the sixth precinct sta
ton, and was put in cell No. ) he walked the
floor and sang hymns until he became tired
out. and then he was willing to rest He
was quietly resting on the iron bench in his
cell when a Star reporter visited him. and
asked why he went to the Capitol.
He Talks at the station.
ITO deliver a message" was his re-
sponse.
"A message from whom?'
THE Lord, OF course"
What was the message?" the reporter
asked
Il had a message from the Lord" he
said, Ito tell the powers that IL they did
not pass the CoXey bills by the oath Of the
month that the Capitol. Treasury and
White House will be destroyed"
I'm what way will they be Destroyer"
by lightning and thunder" was his an
the message TO the President but they
arrested me- and for what don't know"
He came here from near Columbus Ga
about twelve years ago.
This morning he told his brother that he
was going to the Capitol, and the latte-
was not at all surprised when he learned Of
his arrest.