The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-03
KANIAC SOUGHT ROOSEVELT.
uyyU LOADED PISTOL HE TRIED
TO GET TO PRESIDENT.
Made Three Attempts and Was Arrested
In sigh, at th'et ENecut''e-Ss"ns
Farmer Blamrd President for ssas
Attitude Toward lsabOr--Wanicd
10 see Miss Alice. Too. NJ Whom he
MAS Fond Roosevelt lndlst urbed


Was Fond Roosevelt lntilstnr
OYSTER BAY. n Y. Sept AR med
with a loaded revolver and dominated
Inv tho insnne belief that he was being
ruined financially through President Roose-
vet's policy toward organized labor,
Henry " Weilbrenner, 2s yea RI old a farmer
of Syosset. three miles from here, drove
to Sagamore Hill late last night and three
times attempted To get to the President.
He was arrested on the third attempt by
the Secret Service guard, was taken to
the ja in this village and, after an ex-
animation as to his sanity by local ply
sicians this afternoon, WAS adjudged in
sane and sent to I he State Asylum at Kings
Park When the dangerous character Of
the man was discovered by the Secret
Service guards, he was within stones
throw Of the Presidents home and in full
view of Mr. Roosevelt. who was standing
on tha front veranda when the arrest was
made.
II was shortly after 10 o'clock VIII en-
Weilbrenner made his first attempt to get
to the President. There were two guards
on the Hill. one on the driveway near the
side entrance and one near anoth or en-
trance at the rear Weilbrenner came up
the incline in a carriage. with the horse on
sharp trot. There was no light in the
ng, but the Secret Service guard in front
of the house made out the figure Of stockily
built man in il and called on him to stop.
Have you an engagement with the
PRESIDENT" the guard inquired, as the man
drew in his horse in response to the first
summons,
yes, have. and want TO see him right
away" the occupant OF the carriage replied
impetuously. The President telegraphed
for me and ordered me TO be here at 10 as"
When he was told that unless he had an
order from the Secretary he would not
be admitted. he turned the carriage around
and drove of down the hill. Half an hour
later he drove back. The Government
agent challenged him a second time. and
again he said that he must see the Presi-
dent, as Mr. Roosevelt had sent for him.
The man did not produce anything to
substantiate his statement, and the guard
ordered him back again, this time following
the carriage for a considerable distance
down the driveway.
A few minutes after II, Weilbrenner
drove up again. just as the carriage was
halted for the third time Mr.. Roosevelt
opened the screen door and stepped out
on the veranda.
What do you want here?" The Govern
ment agent demanded Of the intruder.
None of your damned business" the
man yelled, and whipped up his horse,
which started with jump up the road
toward the veranda, where Mr.. Roosevelt
was standing.
The Secret Service men leaped quickly
bet the moving wheels OF the carriage,
grabbed the man by the neck and jerked him
out OF the rig head foremost. As he fell
a pearl handled S2-calibre revolver, with
all five chambers loaded, dropped to the
bottom of the carriage. The detective
pinned the man to the ground and took the
prisoner to the stables. Mr.. Roosevelt
asked what was the matter. They told
him what had happened and then locked
the man in box stall. He gave his name
az Frank Weilbrenner OF Syosset.
The prisoner asserted, it is said, that he
came to kill the President He said also
that he wanted to zee the President about
!,
he was very fond. Again he said that he
came to Sycamore Hill to see the President
because his father had arranged with Mr.
Roosevelt to have him taken away from
home. He was lodged in the town Jail and
guard was set over him
As soon as telephone connections with
Syosset could be got inquiry was made
there as to Weilbrenner's identity and
word was sent to his family about his arrest
His brother. William, however had started
out to look for him before his family knew
anything about his predicament. They
had become alarmed when he did not show
up during the night and, William hearing
that he had come this way, went in search
Of him. From him the authorities learned
that the mans real name was Henry, and
that he had left home early last evening
with his fathers horse and buggy without
saving where he was going. The brother
said that Henry had suffered from sunstroke
early in May and had been nervous ever
since, but had never shown any sign OF
being violent.
The prisoner was arraigied before JUS
tice Franklin here about noon. He did
not show any feeling, but gave unmistak-
able evidence of being mentally unsound,
He is short and stockily built and Of dark
complexion. with a wsll-formed face. which
had, however, hagsard appearance
that was intensified by a three days growth
of beard. He had a closely cropped mus
tache and cold gray eyes His brother
was present al the hearing.
Asked If he had any statement to make,
Weilbrenner replied "No,' and was taken
back TO the cell Later in the afternoon
he was examined by DR.. j. S Hall of this
place and passed on by DR.. George 8. Stuart
and DR.. Barnes, also local physicians, and
was adindged insane. paranoiac. He
refused to answer any questions about his
attempt to get at the President. but when
his mother and sister-in-law asked him why
he had brought this shame on the family
he replied coldly that he was only fooling,
and it would be all right in the end. He
was taken from here at 40 O'Clock to the
asylum, where his case will be passed on
by State examiners He denied that he
had confederates
The news of Weilbrenncr's arrest was
distinct shock TO most OF the people in
Syossct His family has lived there for
twelve years and stands well in the village,
His father, whose name also il Henry, 10 q
German 10y birth and owns q farm Of
siKty-fve acres just outside Of Syosset,
valued AT STOOD Henry has always
stayed at home with his father and helped
TO work the farm, which was devoted mainly
70 raising truck for the New York market
HIS brother william IL an iron worker and
belongs 10 the Iron Workers Union Up 10
last Aprll he worked IN New York, but when
the strike was declared he quit and came
nome TO i've, bringing his wife with him.
hboui mat time, II II said, Mr. We'll
breuner and his son Henry met financial
TaYcfEGs and had Ia NM "A mort IA VA on the