Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-09
insane MAN At
THE White House
Officers Have. Desperate Encounter
with Armed Lunatic Who
Wants to See President.
one Of FORMER and LATTER
INJURED IN The STRUGGLE.

INJURED IN The STRUGGLE.
Into Custody-Gives Name as Peter
Elliot and Home ms Minneapolis
Had Written and Requested an In
terview.
Washington, Oct. ga desperate
hand-to-hand encounter with an armed
insane man who was determined to see
President Roosevelt, occurred in the
vestibule of the white house shortly be-
fore noon Monday.
The man. who gave his name as Peter
Elliott, and his home as Minneapolis.
Mimi, was overpowered by officers on
duty at the white house entrance and
carried to q police van which had been
summoned. He was placed in the van
in custody Of two officers. Seeming to
realize then for the first time that he
was under arrest Elliott began the furi-
GUS struggle with his captors for liberty.
Draws His Revolver.
He drew revolver from the right side
pocket Of his trousers and attempted to
shoot Ohhcer James Cissell. The officer
grabbed his hand and wrenched the
weapon from his grasp. Elliott's strug-
giles were SO fierce, however, that the
two officers In the cramped quarters OF
the van were unable to overcome him.
OfRcer Cissellthen drew his revolver and
hred two shots to attract attention.
Chief Usher Thomas Stone and Officer
Parker, of the white house force, who
had assisted in carrying Elliott to the
van, attracted by the Shots, rushed back
to the vehicle and assisted in overpow-
ering him.
In the struggle within the police van
Elliott had broken glass panel with
his head, severely cutting his head and
face. Officer Cissell sustained a serious
cut on his right arm, two inches of flesh
being cut out of the fleshy part of the
arm. He suffered considerably from loss
of blood, but his injury is not serious.
The van was hurried to the emergency
hospital, where the wounds of both Cis-
sell and Elliott were dressed.
Is Undoubtedly Insane.
sane. Several days ago Secretary Loeb
received a letter, postmarked Washing
ton, and written on letter paper of the
st. James hotel, this city. The letter in
closed photograph of Elliott and an in
coherent request for an interview with
President Roosevelt. The letter was
signed Peter ELL" the statement being
made Immediately under the signature
that the writer was registered at the no.
tel as Peter Elliott. 1t was evident to
Secretary Loeb that his correspondent
was insane and he issued directions at
once that the officers on duty both at the
white house and at the executive Offices
should be on their guard against him.
The photograph was turned over to Sc
eret service officers.
Attempts to Speak to President.
Nothing was seen of the man until
Sunday when the president attended
morning services at Grace Reformed
church. Elliott appeared near the en-
trance to the church and made an eff
fort to speak to the president, but was
ioiled in his endeavor by secret service
officers. At that time the man manifest
ed no symptoms of insanity and quietly
left the vicinity Of the church when or
dered to do SO by the officers.
Officers Were Warned
All of the officers, both at the white
house and at the executive Offices, how
ever, were warned again to be on the
lookout for the man and not take any
chances with him.
Shortly before IL o'clock Elliott
walked up to the main door Of the white
house. stepped inside, and inquired Of
Officer Cissell If he might see the presi-
dent.
Chief Usher Stone and Officer Parker
were standing just within the vestibule
at the time. Mr.. Stone told the man
that he could not see the president just
at that moment as he was engaged, but
that he might possibly arrange to see
him after awhile. Instantly, the man
having been recognized, hurry call
was sent for police van. Scarcely had
the call been sent in when Elliott be-
came violent. The officers and attend
ants threw themselves upon him, and
after brief but strenuous struggle
OVerpOWereo MIN. Otncer C1SSell made
a cursory examination of his pockets,
but found only a pair OF shears and a
large penknife. The man became quiet,
but refused to leave the white house
until he was forced to 90. The officers
conveyed him to the police van. which
by that time was waiting at the south
east gate of the white house grounds.
The struggle in the van occurred almost
Immediately after Elliott had been
placed in the vehicle
At the st. James hotel it was stated
that Elliott arrived there last Wedres-
day evening. He registered as Up. O.
ELL New York" He had no baggage and
paid for his room in advance. He con-
Quoted himself about the hotel in
quiet. gentlemanly manner and nobody
with whom he came In contact imagined
that he was insane. Elliott is about five
feet six inches high, IS years old, with
light brown hair and beard and appar-
emily is Of foreign birth
Restraining Order Granted.
New York, Oct 6.-Judge Holt in the
Tinted States district court MonSay