The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-06
CRANK AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE WAS ARMED WITH REVOLVER,
KNIFE AND SCISSORS.

Insisted on Seeing the President and Fought
the Guards Who Removed Him--When
Placed in a Cab to BE Taken to the
House Of Detention He Drew . Re
v0lver and Tried TO jump Through
the Glass DOOr-His Head Badly Cut
and q Policeman Injured In the struggle
WASHINGTON. Oct. 5.-A Swede, who
gave his name as Peter Elliott and said
he came from Lancaster, Pa. was arrested
at tho White House about 1l:3O o'clock
this morning while making an effort to
see President Roosevelt.
Elliott had written several letters to the
President, In one OF which he enclosed
complimentary poem. As it was evident
from the communications that he was a
crank, the force of policemen and ushers
at the White House and the adjacent Ex-
ecutive Offices were instructed to be on
the lookout for him.
Elliott was seen around the White House
grounds this morning. At II o'clock he
went to the Executive Offices and asked
to see the President, but was told that it
would be impossible. He then went to the
White House and at the main entrance re-
newed the request. He spoke very poor
English, but the officers managed to
understand that he was the man who had
sent the poem to the President and for
whom they had been told to watch
Head Usher Stone and Policemen Cissel
and Parker got the man to enter a small
waiting room to the left Of the public lobby,
and while one of them went to telephone
q hx, 80 nata g.
take him away the others questioned him
as to name. residence and what his busi-
ness was with the President.
The man said he was Swede. and that
his name Ia Peter Elliott; that he had been
in this country twelve years and that he
came here from Lancaster. He referred
to the poem which he had written in honor
of Mr. Roosevelt. indicating that it was in
connection with this poem that he desired
to see the President. His speech was in
coherent, and the officers arrived at the
conclusion that he was a maniac. although
it did not occur to them that he had any
designs upon the life of Mr.. Roosevelt.
Elliott became nervous after he mad been
in the waiting room a short time, and ex-
pressed an intention of going away and
soon afterward started to leave.
By this time the glass enclosed cab sent
IRON the House Of Detention had arrived
at the rear entrance of the White House,
and Elliott was induced to enter the Presi-
dents private elevator, to go, as he sup
posed, to the President. The elevator,
however, went down to the basement.
Usher Stone and Policemen Cissel and
Parker started to lead him to the entrance
where the cab was waiting, he showed signs
of fight, and throwing himself on the floor,
refused to move.
Parker, who is a former cavalryman
and very powerful, pressed his fists into
the back Of the PROSTATE crank with such
vigor that he changed his mind and said
he would accompany the officers. He
was induced to enter the cab, in which
was seated Sergeant Perry of the local
police, who is on duty at the House Of De-
tention. Cissel got In also. Stone and
Parker accompanied the cab to the east
gate opposite the west front Of the Treasury
Department.
Hardly had they turned back to the
White House when Elliott who had been
talking incoherently in his almost unin-
telligible English, drew 80 calibre re-
volver out OF a pocket OF his trousers.
Cissel however, was on the watch for any
move of this kind, and grasping the re-
street.
Elliott then made dive through the glass
side of the cab, cutting himself severely
about the heed, arms and hands. Cissel
grappled with him, and the two men
struggled, with their bodies half way
through the window. The space in the cab
was too contracted for Perry TO be of any
assistance to Cissel The cab meanwhile
had been stopped by the driver. Cisse.
although badly cut by the broken glass,
managed to draw his revolver and fire
into the air for assistance. He still held
on to Elliott with the other hand Head
Usher Stone and Policeman Parker heard
the shots and ran to Cissels assistance.
With their help Elliott was subdued. but
not until after a severe struggle, in which
the maniac was badly bruised.
As Cissel and his charge were bleed
ing freely, it was decided to take them to
the Emergency Hospital, and the cab was
driven there, accompanied by Stone and
Parker. Cissels worst cuts were on the
hands, and after these had been dressed
he went back to the White House. but was
80 weakened by loss of blood that he was
sent home.
The surgeon at tho hospital found that
Elliott had bad cut on the head.
After his wounds had been dressed he was
taken to police station No. and locked up.
Elliott lives in Washington and is a ma
volver he carried a long knife and a pair
of scissors.
During his struggles with the officers In
the basement OF the White House, and while
he was being conveyed TO the House Of
Detention cab, Elliott shouted at the top
OF his voice for the President Policeman
Parker clapped his hand over the mans
mouth, but was only partly able to stop his
outcries. The shouts Of the man pene-
trated through the lower portion of the
White House, but it is said that they were
not heard by Mrs Roosevelt nor by any
other members Of the family who were in
the house. While all this was going on
the President was in the Executive Offices
and knew nothing about it,
Elliott made statement at the police
station, saying that the President was very
friendly to him and wished him to marry
his daughter. He added some incoherent
and evidently insane remarks about his
persecution by the people OF Minneapolis,
where he says he recently lived. Prof.
Langley OF the Smithsonian Institution
had sent for him, he said. to take ride in
his airship. The police surgeons late this
afternoon declared Elliott insane, and he
was sent to St. Elizabeth's Asylum.
TROOPS FOR THE PHILIPPINES.