The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-23
He Had Heard and Read Much of Mr.
Roosevelt and His Home, and
Wished to See Both.
STOPPED BY THE OFFICERS
FOUND TO BE HARMLESS. BUT Es-
CORTED TO THE DEPOT.
Believed to Have Been Touched with
Religious Dementia-The President
Passes a Quiet Day.

OYSTER BAY, n. Y, Sept. PA sus-
picious character, giving his name as
Samuel Swenyon, was held up by the secret
service officers at Sycamore Hill late this
afternoon while making an effort to see the
President. He turned back to the VIII
lage, shadowed, stopped in Oyster Bay and
searched. ant later placed on a train for
New York. He was unarmed and appeared
to be a harmless crank, possibly a religious
fanatic
Swenyon, VINO is a slightly built man
about thirty-fve years old. with a reddish
brown beard and mustache, blue eyes and
a strongly foreign cast of countenance
walked up the roadway leading to Saga
more Hill about 4:3O this afternoon. He
was shabbily attired. his clothes being
badly torn in several places. He was
stopped by secret service officer.
Swenyon told the officer that he was a
Swede and had come from New York to
see the President and Sycamore HILL hav-
ing read about the Presidents summer
home in the newspapers. A short time be-
fore. the President, accompanied by Mrs
Roosevelt. had gone from the house to the
woods near by to chop wood, that being a
favorite exercise of his. The man was
turned back by the officer. who told him
the President was not at home. Swenyon,
who said he was gardener, looked curl
ously about the grounds and then started
on his return to the village. He was fol-
lowed by another officer in one of the Presi-
dent 8 road wagons.
Swenyon asked passing driver for a ride.
and rode into the village with him. He. had
scarcely arrived in Oyster Bay when he was
taken from the wagon by two secret-service
officers and examined. Swenyon had moth
ing in his pockets except about 81 in money
and a Swedish religious newspaper. On a
piece of paper he wrote his name and ad-
dress in a perfectly legible hand. He said
he lived at the Sayszerry Hotel, New York
CITY, His only object in coming To- Oyster
Bay, he said, was TO see Sycamore Hill and
the President. about whom he had heard
and read a great deal. He arrived here on
the 3:19 train this afternoon, but did not
have a return ticket TO New York. After
examining him thoroughly the officers were
convinced that he was entirely harmless,
and that he was neither Anarchist nor a
Socialist. He readily acceded to the sug-
gestion of the officers that he leave the VIII
Iage They accompanied him To the station,
and he bought his own ticket to New York.
He left on the 6:07 train, shaking hands
with the officers before he entered his car.
At no time did he appear to be excited, ex-
cent when one of the officers at Sycamore
Hill told him that If he returned he was
liable to be shot. He left the Hill in "A
hurry He answered all questions in a
frank and straightforward manner, and bore
every evidence of being an unsophisticatcd
foreigner. touched slightly, perhaps, with
religious fanaticism, who had been induced
10 come here merely by his curiosity.
No visitors were received by the President
will be received during the remainder of
the Presidents sojourn here All business
possible is being postponed until the Presi-
dent shall have arrived at the White House.