Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-25
CRANK WITH A GUN.
Mad Inventor Makes Call on Presi-
dent Roosevelt

A crank. who according to his own state
ment has been In the city for over a month
waiting for an opportunity to see President
Roosevelt, was taken into custody shortly
after 8 o'clock last night by Detectives
Weldon and Tyser of the local force and
and Secret Service Officer Tyree. The man
gave his name as Jerman KehI said that
he was 2 Chilean, and that he had arrived
in this country in October Although he
| has been in Washington for several weeks,
the authorities were not aware of it until
Wednesday night, when he presented at the
White House a letter addressed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
In the letter he stated that he wished an
Interview with the chief executive, threat
ening the life of the latter unless his de-
mands were granted. After leaving the
| letter he hurried away, and the misSive
was yesterday morning turned over to the
secret service officials. Late yesterday aft
ernoon Detectives Weldon and Tyser and
| Secret Service Officer Tyree located the
man at the Hotel Engel, opposite the Balu
more and Ohio depot. When they called
| for him he was not in, but they waited,
| and when he came in later in the night he
was placed under arrest and escorted to
| police headquarters There he attempted
| to draw loaded revolver from one of his
| pockets but Acting Captain Helan and
| Detective Weldon took the weapon from
| him. Further search showed that he was
| supplied with pair of heavy brass knuck-
| les. which were also taken by the officers.
The man was sent to the first precinct
| police station. where he was examined later
| in the night by the board of police sur
geons. who decided that his mind was af-
! fected. An order for his commitment to
/ st. EliZabeth's was signed, and Sanitary
| officer Frank had him removed to that in
| stitution.
According to kehl. he was engaged in
| the hardware business at Conception. Chilli,
until about eight years ago. when he dis
posed of his business and devoted his en-
tire time to studying, with the object, he
| explained, of inventing a floating pro-
| peler." During the early part of October
| he left Conception for this city. and ar
| rived in Baltimore November 16, where he
| remained three days before coming here.
| On reaching this city he went to the Hotel
! Engle, where he has been stopping since.
| Kehl's principal delusion is about ideal
| ship. general barge and swimming pro-
| peller.' He declared that he had forty
| other inventions under way, one of which
| is gun capable of firing thousand shots
| minute
| He said he came here for the purpose of
| interesting President Roosevelt to secure
| government protection for his patents, and
| at the same time to form stock companies
| for the manufacture and marketing of his
| wonderful achievements. He said the or
| PLANTATIONS of the companies were not
made as promptly he expected. and he
| did not know what to do.
| Il concluded to go to President Roose
| Welt, and once my mind was made up moth
| ing could turn me aside, he told the de-
| tectiyes at headquarters last night.
| Wednesday night he put his idea into ex-
| ecution, and after presenting the letter at
| the White House returned to his hotel to
| await results. When searched at police
| headquarters the detectives found on Kehl
| in addition to the revolver and the brass
| knuckies, quite sum of money and twenty
| sheets OF writing paper containing closely
| written description of his inventions.
| The man said that he had a brother who
| resides in Chill He will be notified of the
| arrest and detention here of Kehl