Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-10
INSANE MAN At :.
THE white HOUSE.
0meers Havet Desperate Encounter
with Armed Lunatic Who
Wants to See President.
ONE OF FORMER and LATTER
INJURED IN The STRUGGLE.

lNJukED IN HE SlRUG6LE.
He IL Finally Overposvered and Taken
Into Custody-Gives Name as Peter
Elliot and Home as Minneapolis
Had Written and Requested nm 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
, vestibuls 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 1t the white house entrance and
carried to a 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 a revolver from the right side
pocket Of his trousers and attempted to
shoot Officer James Cissell. The officer
grabbed his hand and wrenched the
weapon from his grasp. Elliott's strug-
giles were 80 fierce, however, that the
two officers In the cramped quarters OF
the van were unable to overcome him.
Oicer Cissell then drew his revolver and
fired 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 a glass panel with
| his head, severely cutting his head and
| face. Officer Cissell sustained 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.
II Undoubtedly Insane.
Elliott is undoubtedly violently in
sane. Several days ago Secretary Loeb
received letter, postmarked Washing
ton, and written on letter paper of the
st. James hotel, this city. The letter in
closed a photograph of Elliott and an in
coherent request for an interview with
President Roosevelt. The letter was
signed Peter ELL" the statement beina
made Immediately under the signature
! that the writer was registered at the ho-
| 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 se-
| cret 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
foiled 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, we're warned again to be on tho
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 II be might see the presf-
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
| overpowered him. Officer Cissell made
| a cursory examination of his pockets.
but found only pair of shears and q
| large penknife. The man became quiet.
but refused to leave the white house
until hs was forced to 60. 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 Wednes-
day evening. He registered as ''P. o.
Ell, New York" He had no baggage and
paid for his room in advance. He con,
Quoted himself about the hotel in a
quiet, gentlemanly manner and nobody
with whom he came in contact imagined
that he was insane Elliott is about five
fest six inches high, IS years old, with
light brown hair and beard and appar-
emily is Of foreign birth. ~