Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-05
A HARD HAND.TO-HAND FIGHT.
0vcrpOwcred by Officers on Duty, They
Finally Succeeded in Getting Him
Into a Police Van.
ATTEMPTS TO SHOOT ONE OF THEM
His Struggles We're So Fierce That
II Was Necessary to Call As.
slstance to Subdue Him.

Washington, oct ga desperate
hand-to-hand encounter with an armed
insane man who was determined to see
President Roosevelt occurred lin the
vestibue Of the White House shortly
before noon today,
The man, who gave his name as Peter
Elliott, and his home as Minneapolis,
was oyerpowered by the officers on
duty at the White House entrance and
carried to a 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 Elliott began a flu
rious struggle with his captors for lib
erty. lie drew revolver and attempt
ed to shoot officer James Cissell The
officer grabbed his hand and wrenehed
the weapon from his grasp. Elliott's
struggles were so fierce, however, that
the two officers In the cramped quarters
OF the van We're unable to overcome
him. officer Clssell then drew his re-
volver and fred two shots to attract
attention.
Chief Usher Thomas Stone and on
Ger 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 over
powering him.
In the struggle within the police van
Elliott had broken a glass panel WSh
his head, severely cutting his head and
face. officer Cissel sustained serious
cut on his right arm, two inches OF
flesh being cut out OF the fieshy part Of
hA 10
loss OF blood, but his injuries are not
serious The van was hurried 10 the
emergency hospital. where the Injuries
OF both Cissell and Elliott were dressed.
Elliott II undoubtedly violently In
sane. Several days ago Secy Loeb re-
cetyed letter, postmarked Washington
and written on letter paper OF the ST
James hotel, this city. The letter en-
closed a photograph OF Elliott and an
incoherent request for an interview
with President Roosevelt The letter
was signed Peter ELL" the statement
being made Immediately under the sig
nature that the writer was registered
at the hotel as Peter Elliott. II was
evident to Secy Loeb that his CORE
spondent was insane and he issued d.
rections 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 photo was
turned over to the secret service Of
ficers,
Nothing was seen Of the man until
yesterday when the president attended
morning service AT Grace Reformed
church Elliott appeared near the en-
trance to the church and made an ef-
fort to speak to the president but ne
was fooled In his endeavor by the Sc
cret service officers At that time the
man manifested no symptoms OF insan-
ity and quietly left the vicinity of the
church when ordered to do so by the
officers,
About 10 o'clock this morning ne ap-
peared Mt the executive Offices. Enter
Ing the yestibule he inquired for Pres
ident Roosevelt One OF the doorkeep-
ers asked him why he wanted to see
the president.
"oh just Tor fun. he responded. THE
president sent for me and | Just want
to see him"
Elliott vas told to ratrvl .lext month.
He smiled and walked away, not offer.
ing the slightest objection TO the rebuff
which he had received. His appearance
attracted very little attention and he
gave no indication at that time OF In
sanity,
houre and at executive Offices. how
ev6s, were warned TO be on the look
out for the man and not to take any
chances with him. Shortly before u
o'clock Elliott walked up To the main
door of the White House stepped inside
end inquired OF officer Clssell IL he
night see the president
CHEZ Usher Stone and onlcor Park.r
were standing Just within the yostbue
nj the time Mr., Stone told the man
that he could not see the president just
at the moment as ha was engaged but
| that he might possibly arrange 70 see
having been recognized a hurry cali was
| sent Tor police van. Scarcely had the
| call been sent In when Elliott became
| violent; The officers ana attendants,
| after brief but strenuous struggle,
0Vcrpowcrcd him. Officer Cissell made
| a cursory examination OF his pockets.
but found only pair OF shears and a
| largo penknfC. Tho man became quiet
| but refused 70 leave the White House
until he wag forced to 60. The officers
| conveyed him TO the police van, which
| by that time was waiting at the gate OF
| tho White House grounds. Tho strug
| glo In the van occurred almost lmme-
| diately after Elliott had been placed IN
| tho vehicle. He drew his revolver from
| q uGckct which seemed 20 be- an en-
| lnrged watch fob. As that IS a most
| unusual place I'm which to carry q pistol
| officer Cissell In hls hurried search had
| overlooked tho weapon, The pistol was
an ordinary bulldog tiye-shooter OF a
cheap pattern,
At the emergency hospital where his
| wouudl were dressed, Elliott said that
no was a Swedo and that his home was
In Minneapolis. From the hospital tn
man waa taken Ca the First precinct
police station and incarcerated In oul
oi the detention wards. An official eN
animation as TO his mental condition
VIII be held soon,
At the st. James hotel 1t was salc
that Elliott trrlyed there last Wednes
day evening. lie registered as =. O
El. New York, lie had no baggage
aud paid for his room IN advance. II,
conducted himself about the hotel In
quiet, gentlemanly manner and nobody
with whom he came In contact imogiu
Cd that he was Insane.
| Elliott Is about feet. Inches high
30 years " age, with light brown hail
! and board and apparently 81 Of foregI
birth.