New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-06
MADMAN At WHITE HOUSE.
SOUGHT THE PRESIDENT.
Guards OUerpo5cer and Disarm Hiss
after Desperate Struggle


could be properly disposed Of he had given
Policemen CiscIe and Parker. on guard at the
main entrance OF the White House. and Chief
Usher Stone one OF the Iiveilest tusslss they
have had in many day. Ciscle preceded the
mailman 70 the hospital where he had 70 have
twelve stitches taken in his right arm. which
had been cut so deeply 20 sever an srtery.
Several scalp wounds had TO be dressed for the
crazy man. Al no time did the affair Involve
the safety OF the President. and he did not
know OF the occurrence until the man was SAFE
ly out OF reach.
Several days ago White House officers were
warned TO look out for a Svede. described TO
be about fOrty-hve years old. small OF stature.
10 have a light beard ard % be crazy At noon
to-day a man answering this description pre-
sented himself at the main entrance OF the
White House He was Immediately recognized
by the officers. and when he demanded 10 sec
the President he told 10 wait a few no
ments and his request would be granted A
hurry call was sent in for police vehicle
Pending the arrival OF the carriage from the
House OF Detention. the man was questioned.
and gave his name Peter o. Elliott he said
he was machinist. from Minneapolis. AID thar
the President had made an appointment 70 $50
him between 10 and u o'clock regarding soras
machinery
STRUGGLE WITH OFFICERS
Being detained somewhat longer than h.s
fancy dictated he became uneasy while waiting
in the corridor Of the White House and showed
signs OF violence. The officers ar this point
restrained him and made hurried search OF
his pockets. but without finding the revolver
Before the vehicle arrived the man had become
thoroughly excited and vehement. He had 70
be carried down the stairs. through the base
ment OF the White House and out TO the ga-s
bordering the south grounds. He was placed
in a double-seated closed carriage. which had
arrived with an officer from the House % De-
tention. and Ciscle took the place beside him
on the seat As the vehicle started the nan
demanded 10 be released With the demand hs
was seen by Ciscle 70 reach his right hand In
side OF his waistcoat and down under the waist
band OF his trousers As CiscIe seized his hand
the man grasped the butt OF his revolver. which
he had concealed between his trousers and IN
derwear. In the scufie that ensued he threat
ened TO Kill the officers His pistol was, how
ever broken BY a quick movement BY CiscIe,
who had grasped the BY the throat with
hand while he held his hand with the other
The man Iunged his head through the window
Of the carriage in mis- efforts TO escape. AT this
point CisCle fred his revolver twice In the air
70 attract the attention OF Parker and stone.
who had not yet gone back into the White
House They Immediately came 70 his assist
ance. but not until the head OF the man and
the arm OF Ciscle had been seriously cut BY the
broken window glass
When questioned at the hospital TO why hs
carried a revolver. Elliott replied that he had
written a poem on love in Minneapolis. which
had turned the Swedish population OF that
place against him They had threatened 20
poison him and he carried the revolver 20 Kill
himself II he found he had been poisoned and
could not recover Later in the afternoon hs
examined by medical officers as 10 Ms
sanity. resulting in his being committed 10 the
Government Hospital for the Insane
Elliott first appeared at the White House o.
ices al 10 O'Clock TINS morning ne lnen O.
cIared that he wanted 10 see the President Just
for fun" AS he showed no excitement and
seemed 70 be satisfied when told that he could
not the President. going away at once. no
further thought given 70 him until he re-
appeared afterward al the main entrance 70 the
building. with the sensational Developments re-
cited
Elliott said this afternoon that he had been in
town five days He hired furnished room az
No. 700 Fifth-st.. y. W. last Saturday On
Sunday he attended services at the Presidents
church, and declares that he shook hands with
Mr. Roosevelt ar the close OF the service This
the Secret Service men deny. but say that Ell
lott was at the church and was watched. When
the PRESIDENT LETT the church Elliott stood OUT
side. and when he saw the President come OUT
he Strengthened up. dropped his hands 20 his
until the President had departed
At the jail Elliott protested that he was q
great adInIrer Of President Roosevelt. He had
voted for him and persuaded many OF his
friends 70 do the IL MS intention to
vote for him again He had no intention OF in
n the west Rambling statements about his
love affairs were made BY Elliott who talked IN
broken English. although he said he had been
n the United States eleven years
The Secret Service officers Questioned him
closely before he was remOvd to the asylum. for
the purpose OF ascerJaintng whether there rnfghc
possibly be plot against the President in which
other persons were implicated He admitted
having been in Paterson. y J.. New-YO. L. phil
adelphia and other places. He was. however.
willing 20 admit having been IN any place sue-
gested by his quesriOners. When 6a bi~ed -
room on Saturday he told the iandlady that he
expected CWO friends 70 arrive later and occupy
II with him No one came. however. and there
IS little on which 20 base a theory OF a plot.
The White House police force had hardly re-
gained its cOInposure after the Elliott incident
when another crank appeared and demanded an
audience with the President IN the case
OF Elliott. warning had been received.
Il telephone message came earlier in the day
20 look out for drunken sailor from a United
states man-Ot-War VINO had threatened ven
geance on President Roosevelt for his discharge
from the Navy. About 3 o'clock a little 'iacIv's
who had a cargo OF rum aboard appeared at
the White House door. He was at once Invited
IN with the utmost cOrdiality by the officers and
taken into anterOOm- Just as he was about
70 be searched. he exclaimed Dramatically. This
IL what I have got for the President" AZ The
same time making dive for the interior % ~.
blouse As he did so the officers spranr forward
prepared 10 catch his arm. but he drew forth
nothing but paper containing HIS dishororabis
The Jolly tar was told that he could not see
the President. and. although Disappointed VIII
irgly departed without creating any further Dis
turbance.
The news Of the attempt OF the crank to SEQ
President Roosevelt reached the stock exchanges
from Washingtor early In the afternoon IN the
form OF an exciting rumor OF attempted assassina-
ton r was generally disc-e1ited as an attempt
% put the market down. but when 20 was persistent
X caused tne market 90 become duL
u was not long before dispatches sent 20 WASH
ID .