The times., 1899-04-27
His TROUBLES IN THE
EARS OF PRESIDENTS
A Farmers Third Journey to
the Capital.
Arrested for Insisting Upon a
White House Audience.
Once He Walked to His Home Near
Milwaukee-Remsr Per-
sis.ence of II Crank.

John Shirners. fifty years old. who, ac-
cording to the information against him,
appears to be a crank, was arrested by
Policeman Hibl and locked up at No. 1
station yesterday on a charge of insanity.
He will be held pending an examination,
which will probably be made today. The
complainant against the man appears as
Sanitary Officer John A Frank Shirners
is not confined in a cell, but occupies a
witness room, with the usual bedchamber
accommodations.
Shirners' case is a peculiar one. He is
farmer who formerly lived about thirty
five miles from Milwaukee, Wis, where his
wife and several children reside. He
claims to be a victim of circumstances,
and when seen last night talked freely of
his indigency and the inhumanity of the
Government in its failure to indemnify
him for losses sustained.
| Shirners was arrested yesterday because
the police thought he was not proper
character to be at large. He was attempt
| ing to gain access to President Mckinley
| for the purpose of acquainting the Execu-
tive with the particulars surrounding his
alleged misfortune. In his efforts to see
the President, Shirners reckoned unwisely
and encountered a guardian of the peace
1 NC oiiiCeT sdN dt tnaI tne man was
apparently mentally unbalanced, and de-
cided that to commit him would be a kind
! ness.
When Sanitary Officer Frank saw Shir-
ners he recognized him as the man who had
paid two previous visits to the Capital on
missions similar TO the present one. The
man first attracted attention here on the
18th OF April 1888. when he endeavored
| to see President Cleveland So persistent
a ms af hat time hot na nd
an audience with Dir. Cleveland. He then
| stated that he had been forced into a
| political trial in his State as witness and
| compelled or rather coerced into giving
testimony which later developments went
to show was false. According to Shirners'
| statement he was tried, found guilty, and
| fined for the offence. He had not the
means at hand with which to pay his fine,
and as a consequence his property was
| seized and sold by alleged friends who
aimed by such move to prevent his inear-
| ceration in prison.
| Shirners claims that after his property
| was seized and sold he was left practically
] without a roof TO cover his head. and that
! he had no means at hand for the support
and maintenance of his wife and children.
| The object of his journey to Washington in
| 1883 was, as above stated, to acquaint
President Cleveland of the condition of af-
| fairs existing and TO solicit his aid. He
| claims that the President heard his story
and promised to help him.
| On receiving this promise Shirners re-
turned to his home. and there waited in
vain for the promised aid. He waited
nine years. and as he received no word
during that time he again journeyed TO
Washington. On the occasion of this visit
| he made several attempts to see President
| Mckinley but was unsuccessful. He
claimed that the police apprehended him,
and after holding him in custody for sever
al days sent him as far West as Pittsburg
en- route to Milwaukee. Arrived at Pitts
burg he was compelled because Of lack OF
| funds TO complete his journey home on
| foot.
| He remained in Milwaukee until several
weeks ago when he again started East with
the firm determination of getting some
action in his behalf Misfortune seemed to
still thrust itself upon the INDECENT farmer
and despite his efforts he could not gain
the coveted audience with the President
His actions and his general conversation
attracted the attention Of the police who
| deemed 1t advisable to hold MIN pending
an examinations In the event of Shirners
being discharged, which is probable, he
will be sent al least part of the way home
to rejoin his wife and family. and COM
munication will more than likely be sent
| TO relatives or friends that he be detained
| there.
Shirners is one of q harmless set oi
cranks who are frequently encountered in
this city. He may have a grievance. and
it is possible that he has been deprived oi
property or money as he claims, but his
manner of speech and procedure argue to
the contrary. He is evidently a deudeC
farmer who has lost his mental balance
and is laboring under an hallucination.