The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-10-05
Secret Service Men Arrest
Maniac Who Wished
to See President.
RES|STS THE OFFICER
Finally Overpowered After>
a Lively Struggle
in a Cab.
ny ASSOCIATED pRrss,

Ndhll'lptun, ~ T., oCt. S. a desperate
hand TO hand encounter with an armed
insane man, who was determined to see
President Roosevelt. took place in the yes-
tlbuc of the White House shortly before
noon today. The man, who gave his mama
rs Peter Elliott and hs home as Min.
ncdpulis, was uvcrpowcrcd by the officers
on duty At the White House entrance and
carried To a police van, which had been
summoned.
lie was placed in the van IN the custody
Of two officers. Seeming to realize for
the first time that he was under arrest
Elliott began Il furious struggle with hiq
captois for liberty.
lie drew revolver and attempted to
shoot Dlticcr James tisscll. The officer
grabbed his hand and wrenchcd the
weapon from his grasp.
lllioits struggles were SO fierce, how
ever. that the two officers III the crampci
quarters oi the van were unable to over
come him. Dlicer GisscIl then drew his
revolver and fired two shots TO attract
attention.
Both Shed Blood.
Chief Usher Thomas Stone and Officer
Parker Of the White House force, who
had assisted III carrying EliIott to the van,
attracted by the shots, rushed back to tho
vehicle and assisted i'll overpowcring him.
In the struggle within the van Elliott had
broken a glass panel with his head, Sc.
vcrcly cutting his head and face
Officer Cissel sustained a serious cut
on his right arm, two inches OF flesh be.
ing cut out Of the neshy part Of the arm.
lie suffered considerably from loss Of
blood, but his injuries are not serious.
The van was hurried 10 the emergency
hospital, where the injuries OF both Cis-
sell and Elliott we're dressed.
Elliott is undoubtedly violently insane.
Several days ago Secretary Loeb received
letter posimarkel Washington and writ
ten on letter paper OF the ST. James
hotel this city. The letter enclosed
photograph OF Elliott and an incoherent
request for an interview with President
Roosevelt. The letter was signed "Pcter
l.ll," the statement being made inn
mediaely under the signature that the
writer was registered at the hotel as Peter
Elliott. II was evident TO Secretary Loeb
that his correspondent was insane and he
issued directions al once that the officers
on duty both at III. White House and at
the executive Offices should be on their
guard against him, The photograph was
turned oyer to the secret service officers.
Tried TO Stop President.
Nothing was seen OF the man until yes.
,crday, when the president attended morn
ing services at Grace Reformed church.
Elliott appeared near the entrance to the
church and made an effort to speak TO
the president, bui he was foiled in his
cndoayor by the serct service officers. AZ
that time the man manifested no symp-
toms OF insanity and quietly lett the vi
cinity Of the church when ordered TO do
so by the officers.
About 10 O'Clock this morning he ap-
pcarcd at the executive Offices. Entering
the vcstlbuc he cngurcd for Presidents
Roosevelt. One Of the door keepers asked
him why he wanted 10 see the president.
"Oh, just for fun," he responded "1hS
president sent for me and ! just want 10
see him.
Elliott was told to return next month.
He smiled and walked away, not offering
the slightest objection TO the rebuff which
he had received Ills appearance attracted
very little attention and he gave no indi-
cation al that time Of insanity.
All the officers both at the White House
and at executive Offices, however, were
warned to be on the lookout for the man
and not to take any chances with him.
Shortly before IL o'clock Elliott walked m
to the main door OF the White House,
stepped inside and inquired OF Officer Cis.
sell if he might see the president.
Chief Usher Syonc and Officer Parkee
were standing just within the vestibulc az
the time. Mr.. Stone told the man that he
could not see the president just at thai
moment as he was engaged, but that he
might possibly arrange to see him after
while. Instantly the man having been
recognized a hurry call was sent for
police van. Scarcely had the call been
sent, when Elliott became violent. The OF.
iiccrs and attendants after brief but
strenuous struggle, oyerpowdered him.
Officer Cisscll made an examination OF
his pockets, but found only pair OF
shears and large penknilc. The man be-
came quiet, but refused to leave the White
House unt he was forced to do so, The
officers conveyed him to the police van,
which by that time was waiting at the gata
Of the White House grounds The slrug-
gle in the van occurred almost mmcdi-
ately after Elliott had been placed in the
vehicle. He drew his revolver from =
pocket which seemed to be an enlarged
watch fob. As that is a most unusual
place in which to carry pistol Officer
Cisscl in his hurried search had over
looked the weapon. The pistol was all
ordinary bull ldog fve-shooter OF cheap pat
tern.
At the emergency hospital where his
wounds were dressed, Elliott said that he
was Swcde and that MS home was in
Minneapolis From the hospital the man
was taken to the First precinct police sta