The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-06
FIGHT WITH MANIAC
CRAZY MAN CALLS AT THE
 WHITE HOUSE.
Peter Olsen Elliott, a Demented Swede, Has Desperate Rand to Hand Encounter With
 Officers

Washington, Oct. 5.-A 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 to-day shortly before noon.
 The man who gave the name of Peter Elliott and his home as Minneapolis. was overpowered by the officers on duty at the White House, and carried to police van which had been summoned. He was placed in the van in the custody of two officers. Seeming to realize then for the first time that he was under arrest, El- liott began the furious struggle with his captors for liberty. He drew a revolver from the right side pocket of his trous- CTS and attempted to shoot Officer James Cissell. The officer grabbed his hand and wrenched the weapon from his grasp. Elliott's struggles were so fierce, how ever, that the two officers in cramped quarters of the van were unable to over come him. Officer 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. drove back to the vehicle and assist ed in overpowerfng 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 a serious cut on his right arm, two inches of flesh being cut off the fieshy part of the arm. He suffered considerably from loss of blood; but his injury is not serious. The van was hurried to the Emergency hos pitaI, where the injuries Of both Cissell and Elliott were dressed.
 Elliott is undoubtedly violently insane. Several days ago Secretary Loeb received letter post-marked Washington and written on letter paper of the St. James Hotel of this city. The letter enclosed a photograph of Elliott and an incoherent request for an interview with President Roosevelt. The letter was signed Peter Eli.'' The statement being made imme- diately under the signature that the writ CT was registered at the hotel as Peter Elliott. It was evident to Secretary Loeb that his correspondent was insane. and he issued directions at once that the off, ficer on duty both at the White House and executive offices should be on their guard against him. The photograph was turned over to the secret service officers.
 Elliott was removed from the police station late this afternoon to the gov- ernment insane asylum. The transfer was made without difficulty.
 Elliott went to the church early yes terday and during the first part of the services occupied seat in the gallery overlooking the pew in which the Presi- dent sat- He left the church at the be. ginning of the communion service and leaned against the fence railing of a house just below the church. There he awaited the exit of the President. When the President emerged from the church he walked quickly down the street to- ward Elliott. Elliott stepped suddenly up to the President and put out his hand. saying:
 Roosevelt, shake hands with Elliott"
 Without slackening his rapid walk. President Roosevelt removed his hat and held out his hand. saying. T am glad to meet you" and passed on.
 Among Elliotts possessions were nu- merous newspaper clippings, describing and relating to incidents in the life of President Roosevelt. In one pocket were manuscripts written by him in the Swe- dish language with his pictures in diff ferent poses at the head of each. The second contained lectures on political and religious subjects. One of them was an address to the American people written in a rambling and incoherent fashion. It was laudatory of President Roosevelt and reference of a pleasant character is also made to former President Mckinley.
 In his talk at the police station, Elliott declared he went to the White House be- cause the President asked him to come to see him. He said he carried a pistol to protect himself, and did not intend to do any harm to the President. He said he belonged to a church. but not to any so. cieties. and all efforts to connect the man with anarchists failed.
 The prisoner said he had bought his re- volver in Minneapolis two months ago, and two weeks afterwards, left that place and went to New York and thence. to Philadelphia and Baltimore.
 Washington, Oct 6.-(Special.)-Th latest and most matured impressions to- night of the exciting incident at the