Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-07
OFFICERS CRITICISED
ADVERSE COMMENT ON THEIR
ACTION IN ELLIOTT CASE.
Insane Man Armed Permitted to Shake
Presidents HANDWRITING
His History.

Much criticism has been INDUCED in OF
the manner in which the detectives permit
ted Peter Elliott to hang about the Grace
Reformed Church Sunday and grab the
hand of President Roosevelt as he did with
out being subjected to arrest The mans
appearance, it is argued. was that OF an
anarchist or insane man. but despite this
fact he was permitted to go away without
even being questioned 1t Is stated that
detectives on hand about the church were
heavily armed, but the fact that such
man as Elliott was permitted to stand al
most directly in the path Of the President
and approach him without hindrance makes
it clear to the minds of those who are IN
dulging In the criticism that the armed de-
tectives could not have prevented the use
of a revolver by Elliott had he desired 10
take life. 1t Is stated that Mondays analr
caused the officials to take extra precau-
tions yesterday when the President attend
ed the memorial service in honor OF the
late Sir Michael Herbert at st. John
Church
A second telegram has been received by
Major Sylvester from Edward J. Conroy.
chief of police of Minneapolis, in relation
to Elliott. In the message received last
night the Minneapolis chief gave the in
formation that A. A. Swan. building con-
tractor. living at 221S Irving avenue, is IN
terested In Elliott, but he will not come
here to look after him. Mr.. Swan regards
Elliott as harmless, although he thinks ne
has become demented over patent matters
Two months ago Elliott told Swan that he
was going to see President Roosevelt, ana
Swan says it is his idea that Elliott merely
wanted to shake hands with the President
so he could tell the people Of Minneapolis
of it upon his return.
Under Another Name.
Another message received by Maj Sylves-
ter concerning the case was from William
Moore chief of police of Binghamton. N
Y This message was in response to an in
quiry sent yesterday asking for information
respecting P. O. Olaffsson. letter ad-
dressed to such a person at Binghamton
was found on Elliott at the time of his ar
rest 1t was written by Mr.. Swan and had
reference to money matters. This letter has
been turned over to the secret service de-
tctives. 1t is the opinion of some of the po-
lice officials that Elliott was in Binghamton
under the name of Olaffsson. In the mes
sage received by Maj Sylvester from Chief
Moore the latter said no trace of a man
named Olaffsson had been found.
a press dispatch from New York city,
however. shows that such man was there
The diSpTtch reads:
The local police have found trace of P
o. OlaffsSon. letter to whom was found
on the person of Peter Elliott the de-
mented man who attempted to get into the
White House at Washington on Monday.
a man registered at the Imperial Hotel, on
Chenango street, on September under that
name. and in a cramped foreign style of
writing wrote the name of the place from
whence he came as Lawrenceville or Lau-
rotville.
Letter Awaits Him.
HE stayed there until September %. when
he left. saying he had secured job at Les
tershire. and that he expected chest of
tools and some clothes to come here, and
asked the hotel proprietor to pay the ex-
press charges on them and hold them for
him. No clothes or tools have come. but
letter has been received at the post office
for him. and is still unclaimed
While at the hotel the man did not
mingle with any of the people there, and
the proprietor says he was a very queer
acting fellow and that he was Swede
While there he claimed that he worked
three days In a local machine shop. He
always went directly to his room on return
ing from work. and ate his meals by him
self. never coming to the dining room"
Elliott has given no trouble to the attend
ants at st. Elzabeth's Hospital for the In
sane since he reached there Monday night
so far as could be ascertained today He
takes his food, evidently not fearing an eff
fort is being made to poison him Sanitary
Ofhcer Frank has not yet had the papers In
ms case prepared for his trial by a mar
shais jury. In all probability he will not
be given hearing this week. Being resi-
dent of the state of Minnesota it Is pos
sible that he will be returned to that state
Tor incarceration in asylum there This
question has not yet been discussed by the
police officials.