The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-05
Peter Elliott, Armed With a
Revolver, Tries to Force
His Way Into the White
House.
FOUGHT WITH GUARDS
AND SMASHED A CAB
Desperate Struggle Ended
With Injuries to Prisoner
and POliceman-LOcked
in Cell.

III CeIl.
Armed with a loaded revolver, and
intent upon injuring some one. Peter
Elliott. an insane Swede. tried TO force
his way into the White House this
morning. He was overpowered. placed
in the House or Detention cab. and start
ed to the police station. but before he
had gone far, he wrecked the vehicle,
injured himself and Policeman james
Ciscle and escaped He fed followed by
the policeman. who fred three shots az
the madman before he was recaptured-
According to reports, Elliott has been
lowering around the Executive Mansion
for several days He is a small man.
and is poorly dressed Yesterday he
tried TO force his way into the church
where the President was attending SER
vices. but tie Secret Service men stop
ped him.
"Juss for Fun"
This morning Elliott rushed through
the main vestibule. and was making his
way into the Presidents Office when the
doorkeeper stopped him When asked
"HciS nc tAAcuuSo 70 sOs Inc mdu-AaA
replied:
why. to see the President. OF course.
He has just sent for me"
What does he want to see you
about?" asked the doorkeeper.
"Oh. just for fun replied the Swede
We'll, His Exeellency is not feeling
funny today. There's the path leading
out Of the grounds" was the doorkeep-
er's retort.
Leaped Through Window.
Elliott refused to go ozt Of the ves-
tibule. and was arrested The House
of Detention van was summoned, and
arrived before the prisoner was fully
searched. He entered the cab after
protesting and resisting vigorously. and
watching his chance when his arms
were released he made an effort 10
take a revolver from his pocket
The policeman bv his side wrenehed
the weapon from his hand. and then a
fight ensued. In the course OF which all
OF the windows were broken Later
Elliott jumped through the sash. cut
ting his head and face with broken
pieces of the panes.
but was captured in the rear of the
White House by the head usher and
policeman. a Sanitary onicer Frank. OF
he Police Department. was informed
OF the mans arrest. and win make an
examination as TO his mental condition
His Hallucinations-
A reporter for The Times interviewed
Elliott in his cell at the First precinct
stationhouse after his head had been
dressed at the Emergency Hospital. Ell
lott is evidently insane. his mind run
ming on his own importance and noble
ness" and attempts which he alleges
have been made on his life He has re-
sided in this country for the past eleven
years. most OF the time in Minneapolis.
He said he had recently written let
ter TO President Roosevelt
This. said Elliott. had made everyone
else so jealous of him that they had at
tempted to poison him. To escape them
he had armed himself with the .3S-cali-
Der revolver found on him. and had
wandered about the country for the
past month. coming here several days
ago from Paterson, N J.. and stopping
since coming here at 7os Eighth Street
northwest. He gave his occupation as
machinist.
Intended No Harm
Yesterday. said Elliott. he had seen
the President at church. and the latter
seemed glad TO see him For this rea-
son he decided to call at the White
House this morning and pay his re-
spects to the President. He denies en-
phatically that he went there with evil
intent.
In leaping after him Policeman James
ciscle sustained very severe cut OF
the right elbow, which may lose him
the use OF his arm. Even in his dis
abled condition. however. be caught and
held his man until the arrival Of the
Emergency Hospital ambulance IN
charge of DR.. Hussey-
AT the hospital the men were treated
bv Drs. White and Perkins. Elliott was
then removed 10 the police station. and
is held pending further investigator.
The police are in communication with
the Minneapolis and Paterson police,
with a view to -aseertaining his former
record
Elliott first became known to the
White House force through his efforts
TO connect himself with the attempt OF
Prof Langley 10 operate his airship.
The professor said Elliott. had adver-
tised in the Minneapolis papers tor a
man to make the first ascent, and he,
Elliott. had answered the advertisement,
sending his photograph
Not receiving a favorable reply, he