Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-10-10
IE PRESIDENT
jEndeav0red to Gain In.
With MIR. Roosevelt.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
Intellectual Attempts to See the
His Demeanor Suddenly Changed
lat of a Quiet, lnoffensive Man
Of q Frenzied Maniac-He Is
mist.

Ehington, D. c. (SpeciaD.-A
e named Peter Elliott called at the
tie House shortly before noon and
de demand to see the President.
lie police officers on guard at the
Jain entrance to the White House,
Aaving been warned that man of Eli
otis description might visit the Execu-
five Mansion, recognized the visitor as
the suspect, and while trying to quietly
detain him until the police van of the
House of Detention could arrive, allow
ed him to enter the vestibule of the
White House. Instead of remaining
quiet, Elliott Immediately became vio-
lently insane and abusive, and the Off
GERS, in trying to avoid scene, over
powered him and took him down by the
elevator to the basement to await the
arrival of the van. He was searched,
and on his person were found knife,
pair of scissors, monkey wrench,
a screwdriver and several small tools
used by a machinist, but before the
was completed the House of De-
tentfonya arrived, and pistol, which
he had secreted in his trousers leg, es-
capped notice. When they attempted to
put the Swede in the van. which hap
pened to be cab with glass windows
and doors, instead OF the regular police
van, he became desperately violent, and
Police Officer James Cissle, who had
him in charge, had much difficulty in
getting him in the vehicle. Officer
Perry, of the House of Detention, was
in the cab, but Elliott, as soon as the
wagon started, reached into his trou-
sers pocket and pulled out his pistol.
Cissle was too quick for him, and, grab
bing him around the waist before he
could shoot, prevented his using the
weapon.
A struggle between the two men re-
suited, and Elliott forced his head
through the glass window of the cab,
pulling Cissle with him, and the two
men fell out of the van into the road
way. Elliott in breaking the glass cut
his head severely, and Cissle had his
right arm near the elbow badly lacerat-
ed and cut by the plate glass in the
window. He managed. however, to get
the pistol away from Elliott. but the lat
ter escaped the clutches of the officer
and started to ruin through the White
Blouse grounds, when Cissle drew his
IN pistol, fired several shots in the
Sair-the police signal for help-and
started for the insane man. Wounded
as he was, the police officer captured
the Swede before he had gone very far,
and by that time assistance had arriv
Led, and the man was secured until
hospital ambulance could be summon
ed Both Elliott and Cissle were taken
to the Emergency Hospital, where their
wounds were dressed, Elliott having
besides having his head badly cut by
the glass. Officer Cissle's right arm
was badly cut, and over all inch of
glass was taken from the wound. After
receiving medical attendance the Swede
was<taken to the police station and the
Officer sent to his home.
The news of the affair at the White
House rapidly spread over Washing
ton, and all sorts of rumors about an
attempt on the life of the President be-
came current. One of the first to gain
currency was that the President. had
been attacked in his office by lunatic,
land after personal encounter had shot
the intruder. The fact of the matter
was that the President did not know
of the affair until the chief usher, Col
onel Stone, made report OF the affair
ito Secretary Loeb, the incident having
occurred in the White House proper,
ssss-i not the executive Offices in the an