Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-08
AFTER THE PRESIDENT
Armed Lunatlc Endeavored TO Gain In.
teryiew With Mr.. Roosevelt.
MADE A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
After Several Intellectual Attempts to See the
President His Deme amor Suddenly Changed
From That Of Quiet, Inoffensive Man
10 That Of q Frenzled Maniac-He Is Q
Machlnlst.

Washington, D. c. (SpcciaD.-A
Swcde named Peter Elliott called at the
White House shortly before noon and
made demand to see the President
The police officers on guard at the
main entrance to the White House,
having been warned that man OF Eli
otis description might visit the Execu'
tive Mansion, recognized the visitor as
the suspect, and while trying to quietly
dctain him until the police van of the
House of Detention could arrive, allow.
ed him to enter the vcstibule Of the
White House. Instead OF remaining
quiet, Elliott Immediately became vio-
lently insane and abusive, and the Off.
GERS, in trying to avoid scene, over
powered him and took him down by the
elevator to the basement to await the
arrival of the van. He was searched,
and on his person were found a knife,
a pair OF scissors, monkey wrench,
a screwdrivcr and several small tools
used by machiniSt. but before the
search was completed the House OF De-
tenton van arrived, and a pistol, which
he had sccreted in his trousers leg, cS
capped notice. When they attempted to
put the Swedc in the van, which hap
pencd to be cab with glass window:
4 4 :,rta,I rf tho rcn,,lar rnlirf
van, he became desperately violent, and
Police Officer James Cissle, who had
him in charge, had much difficulty i'll
getting him in the vehicle. Officer
Perry. OF the House of Detention, was
in the cab but Elliott, as soon as the
wagon started, reached into his trOu'
sers pocket and pulled out his pistol.
Cisslc was too quick for him, and, grab
bng him around the waist before he
could shoot, prevented his rsing the
weapon.
A struggle between the two men re-
suited, and Elliott forced his head
through the glass window OF the cab
pulling Cissle with him, and the two
men fell out Of the van into the road.
way. Elliott in breaking the glass cut
his head severely, and Cissle had ms
right arm neal the elbow badly lacerat'
ed and cut by the plate glass III the
window. He managed. however, to get
the pistol away from Elliott, but the lat
ter escaped the clutches OF the othcet
and started to run through the White
House grounds, when CiSsle drew III:
own pistol, fired several shots i'll the
air-thc police signal for help-and
started for the insane man. Wounded
as he was, the police officer captured
the Swede before he had gone very tar
and by that time assistance had arriv'
ed, and the man was secured until
hospital ambulance could be summon
ed Both Elliott and Cissle were takcr
to the Emergency Hospital, where then
wounds were dressed Elliott having
been severely handled by the officers
besides having his head badly cut by
the glass. Officer CissleS right arm
was badly cut, and over an inch o
glass was taken from the wound. Alter
receiving medical attendance the Swcde
was taken TO tne ponce Sldlloli anu 'H'
officer sent to his home.
The news of the affair at the White
House rapidly spread over Washing
ton, and all sorts OF rumors about ar
attempt on the lie of the President be
came current. One OF the first to gait
currency was that the President ha'
been attacked in his office by lunatlc
and after a personal encounter had shot
the intruder. The fact OF the matter
was that the President did not know
of the affair until the chief usher, Col
oncl Stone, made a report OF the affair
to Secretary Loeb, the incident having
occurred in the White House proper
and not the executive Offices in the an
mex