Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-05
Officers Have Desperate Strug-
gle With Stranger Who
Wanted to See Roosevelt
TRIED TO USE a REVOLVER
Weapon Was Concealed in Secret
Pocket and Was Not Discovered in
First ssarch-The Man is Undoubt
sdly insans-Had Written President
. Letter.

Washington, Oct. 5.-A desperate
hand -to-hand encounter with an armed
insane man who was determined to see
President Roosevelt occurred in the
vestibuIe OF the white house shortly
before noon today. A man. who gave
his name As Peter Elliott, of Minneapo-
lis, was overpowered by the officers at
the white house entrance and carried to
a police van which had been summoned
and placed therein in custody of two
pfficers Seeming to realize for the first
time he was under arres., Elliott began
a furious struggle for liberty. He drew
q revolver from his trousers pocket
end attempted to shoot Officer Cisseal.
The officer wrenched The weapon from
his grasp. but Elliott struggled 50
fiercely. that the two officers We're un-
able to overcome him. Cissell fired two
shots iron a revolver to attract atten-
tion, when two white house officers
rushed to the vehicle and assisted in
overpowerng Elliott. Esiiotts head
and face were severely cut by the glass
which ne broke. Ofhcer Cdssell sus-
tained serious cuts on his arm. Both
men were removed to hospital, where
their injuries were dressed.
Elliott is undoubtedly violently In
sane. Several days ago Secretary Loeb
received letter postmarked Washing
ton. written on letter paper of the ST
James Hotel. The letter enclosed a
photograph of Elliott and an incoherent
request for an interview with Roose-
welt. The letter was signed Peter ELL.
a statement being nlade Immediately
under the signature that The WRITER was
registered at the hotel as Peter Elliott.
Loeb Issued directions at once that the
officers on duty at the white house ex
ecutfve Offices should be on guard
against Elliott.
Yesterday when the president at
tended services at Grace Reformed
church Elliott appeared near the
entrance of the churc and made an
effort to speak to the president, but
was foiled In his endeavor by the
eecret service officers. He quietly left
the vicinity of the church when ord
cred to do sos About 10 o'clock this
morning he entered the vestibule of
the executive offices and inquired for
the president. The doorkeeper asked
him why he wanted to see him. "Oh,
just for fun" he responded The
president sent for me and just want
to see him." Elliott was told to re-
turn next month. He smiled and
walked away, not Offering the slightest
objection to the rebuff. His appear
ance attracted very little attention.
and he gave no indication at that time
.,andentvfsialsaM NJ tjofstfor fu
OF insaniy.
Just before noon Elliott walked up
to the main door OF the white house
stepped inside and inquired II he might
see the president. Chief Usher Stone
told the man that he could not see the
president as he was engaged. Instant
Iy, the man having been recognized,
a hurried call was sent for the police
sgan. Scarcely had the call been sent
in, when Elliott became violent An
OFFICER and attendant threw themselves
upon him and after brief struggle
upon him and after a brief but tsren-
uous struggle overpowered him. A
cursory- examination of his pock-
cts disclosed only rair of shears and
q large penknife. He became quiet.
hut refused to leave the white house
until forced to go. The officers con-
veyed him to the police van, and a
struggle occurred Immediately. e.
liott drew his revolver from pocket
which seemed to be an enlarged watch
fob AS that was O most unusual
place In which to carry pistol the
officers in the first hu1ied search
overlooked the weapon. The pistol was
of the ordinary bull dog five shooter
pattern AT the hospital where his
wounds were dressed. Elliott said he
was a swede, 35 years old. He is about
fve feet six inches high with light
brown hair and beard. and apparently
OF foreign birth. An official examina-
ton as to his mental condition will be
held very soon.
Minneapolis, Oct. 5.-lnauiries have
developed the fact that Peter O. Eli
OFT, a lnacllhnist of this city. has NOT
been seen about his old haunts for SER
eral months. He was familiar figure
in the neigfborhood where he roomed.
He was generally considered rather Pc
culiar. He talked much OF socialism.