Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-13
CRANK AT OYSTER BAY
RECOGNIZED AS THE SoUGHT-FoR
LETTER WRITER-UNDER ARREST

A dispatch from Oyster Bay, L. l., last
night says: Isaac Schamus, a Russian,
twenty years old was arrested here late
this afternoon, and after an examination
before a justice of the peace was sent to
MineoIa L. l.. to be examined as to his
sanity.
The arrest was made by secret service
agent one of the personal guards of Presl-
dent Roosevelt. Schamus, who resides IN
New York city, arrived here at 122o pm.
from New York. and soon afterwarG had
an Interview with Mr.. Barnes, assistant
secretary TO the President. He desired 10
see the President and ask nlm ABOUT the
price of coal.
He said he was the general coal agent
of Greater New York. There was immi-
nent danger. in his opinion, of a general
strike among the miners in the anthracite
coal region of Pennsylvania, and the strike,
he was assured, would result III great hard
ships for the people of the country. He
wanted ten minutes with the President to
tell him to appoint a commission of three
men, who should regulate the output OF
the coal, simply so as TO provide the poor
with fuel at reasonable prices, even in the
event of a strike.
Secretary Barnes recognized at once that
Schamus was the man who recently had
written one letter and sent two kilograms
to the President on the subject of the price
of coal, and he informed him that 1t would
him at the moment.
Later in the afternoon the secret service
agent found Schamus in his rooms at a
hotel and placed him under arrest.
He made objection to accompanying
the secret service man to the office of Jus
tice Franklin. The justice questioned him
al length in the presence of a throng or
people who had assembled out of curios-
ity. Schamus answered all questions intel
igenty and nationally until coal was men
toned. Then he began to deliver an ad-
dress on the question of the alleged OPP
preston of the people by the coal mag
mates. He reviewed his plan to have the
President interfere in behalf of the people,
and declared that had President Roosevelt
not settled the coal strike three years ago
more blood would have been shed than the
world ever saw.
Was a Coal Agent.
Until recently" he said, Il was a book
keeper in the firm of Joseph Gordon. New
York. few weeks ago l started out as
coal agent for myself. l told the people l
should give them the best goods and best
service, but / knew at the time l did not
mean what / said.
This. however, set me thinking that
did want to live up to my promise. and l
thought of the great scheme by which 1
think / can make a few dollars for my
self, but it would be a great thing for the
country. With the aid of the President and
a few phianthropists l could, by my
scheme, get hold of all the coal output of
the country. Should the President refuse
I'll do it myself, only it would take me
year at least to do it alone. If the Presi-
dent helps me it will take no time at all
While the squire was writing out his
commitment for breach of the peace. young
Schamus told the newspaper men that he
had become Ill with melancholia and dys-
pepsia, due to indoor work, and that the
ailmenl had gone to his head and brought
him to the verge of insanity, but his great
scheme, he added came like a ray of light
to him in his GLOOM
Permit to Garry Pistol.
In the course of his remarks he turned
to bystaHder who had asked him a ques-
ton about anarchy, and declared the time
would come when the people would have
liberty without the restraint of law. as law
would be unnecessary. He pointed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt as an example of what a
man could accomplish by individual effort,
and said every man could do as the Presi-
dent had done
When Schamus was searched at Mineola
a permit TO carry a revolver signed by
Capt. Lantry of the New York police force
and Commissioner OF Police McAdoo was
terday. No pistol was discovered, how
ever, and Schamus said he had not carried
one.
President Roosevelt passed the day
quietly at his home at Sycamore HILL No
visitors were received. He authorized the
statement today that from now until he
returns to Washington on the Both instant
he will receive no callers except those who
may come on urgent Official business. He.
has been deeply engrossed thus far during
his sojourn at Sycamore Hill In affairs Of
the highest Importance and has had little.
opportunity to enjoy his vacation h