Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-09-09
CRAZY MAN
LOCKED UP
Frank Weilbrenner Armed With
Loaded Revoler, Tries to See
the President.
HE is DANGEROUSLY INSANE
Talks Wildly Of Being Engaged to the
Presidents Dsughter-Win be
Put In an Asylum.

- 1900
ner was arrested at Sycamore hill late
last night while making a persistent
demand to see President Roosevelt.
The man was armed with a revolver
fully loaded. He was taken to the
village and placed in the town pris.
on.
Shortly after 10 o'clock last night
Weilbrenner drove to Sycamore Hill
In a phaeton buggy. he was stopped
by the secret service operative on
duty. Weilbrenner said he had a per-
sonal engagement with the president
and desired to see him. As II was
long after hours when visitors are re-
ceived the officer declined to permit
him TO go to the house. The man in
sisted, but the officer turned him
away.
Soon afterward Weilbrenner return
ed and again insisted that he be allow
ed to see the president, II only for
a minute. This time he was ordered
away and told not to return.
Just before II o'clock the mar re-
turned a third time and demanded of
the officer that he should be permit
ted to see the president at once. The
officers response was to take the mar
from his buggy and put him in the
stables, where he was placed under
guard of two stablemen. A revolver
was found in the buggy.
Late Weilbrenner was brought to
the village and locked up. He is five
feet eight inches high. % years old
has medium-sized black mustache,
black eyes and evidently is of Ger
man descent. He resides in Syosset
about five miles inland from Oyster
Bay. He was we'll dressed in a suit
of dark material and wore IN old
fashioned derby hat. 1t is thought by
officers that Weilbrenner was accom-.
panied by two other men, as their
footprints were found In the mud
alongside of the buggy tracks. In
view Of this fact the officer on duty
telephoned to the village for assist
ance and was soon joined by two 9th.
er secret service men.
While Weilbrenner talked rational
ly to the officers last night, 1t seems
evident from his conversation today
that he Is demented. He said that
he had received a telegraphic com.
munication from the president direct
ing him to call at Sycamore Hill.
Weilbrenner's buggy was taken to a
local livery barn. When asked what
had become Of the rig, Weilbrenner
replied:
ooh, the president has taken care
OF IL. That's all right.
Weilbrenner is regarded by those
who have seen him to be a dangerous
lunatic. Men who know him say that
several years ago he had a nervous
attack which rendered him mentally
helpless for a day or two, but his
family supposed he had been quite re-
stored by the medical treatment he
received at that time. Since then he
has manifested 10 signs of mental
alteration. He had nc socialistic or
anarchistic tendencies, as far as is
known, never having been interested
in any questions of that kind. He
was employed daily on his fathers
farm.
Weilbrenner was arraigned today
before Justice Franklin on complaint
of the secret service operatives, who
placed him under arrest. Weilbren-
ner's brother, William, was present at
the examination. Justice Franklin
questioned the prisoner about his
movements last night. His replies
were made in a quiet tone OF voice,
but they indicated apparently beyond
doubt. that the man Is crazy. Asked
why he went to Sycamore Hill, he re-
piled:
IL went to see the president about
his daughter, Alice"
Had you an engagement with the
PRESIDENT"
Yes"
How was that engagement nader
Il talked with the president last
night" replied Wielbrenner.
How did you talk with him."
"Oh, ! just talked"
Sort of wireless talk, was itY'
Yes, that is it, wireless talk"
why did you want to see Miss Al
ice?"
Il wanted to marry her."
did you ever see Miss Roosevelt?'
"Yes, | saw her night before last"
Where did you see herr
AT my house."
Did she go over there?"
Yes, she came in a red automo-
bile"
who accompanied herr
Her ''rother, Theodore"
Tn animation was continued this
aft DR.. George A. Stewart
Irving S. Barnes conducted
the [ animation. Weilbrenner was de.
clared by them to be insane. He VIII
be placed Immediately in the custody
of Sheriff Johnson, of Nassau coun'
ty.
Weilbrenner was taken to Mineola,
l.. l.. on the evening train and placed
in the custody of the county authori-
ties. 1t appears that President Roose-
welt was aware of the trouble the Sec
ret service officer had with Weilbren-
ner last night. After the man had
been turned back the second time, de-
spite his insistence that he had an
engagement with the president, the
officer inquired of the president about
the fellow. Mr.. Roosevelt was In his
library only a short distance from
the spot where the officer had stop
ped Weilbrenner's horse. He told the
officer that he had no engagement
with anybody. When Weilbrenner re-
turned the third time with a demand
that he be permitted to see the presi-
dent, the officer seized him and drew
him out Of the vehicle over the front
wheel. The noise of the scuffle at
tracted the presidents attention. he
appeared at the door overlooking the
driveway from the veranda as Well
L 80 II a