Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-08
Reported That Attempt
Was Made to Assas-
sinate Roosevelt
WHILE OUT RIDING
Arrest of Armed Crank Seems
to Bear Out the Story
as Told.

Minneola, l.. l., Sept. S.-John
Coughlin, the armed man who was ar
rested while attempting to reach the
president at Sycamore Hill yesterday,
was examined by two physicians today
and pronounced insane. He will be
sent to an asylum.
Hunting Season Open.
Oyster Bay, Sept. Sensational re-
ports that an attempt had been made
to shoot President Roosevelt apparent
ly have their origin in the fact that
the hunting season has opened on Long
Island and there is considerable shoot
ing daily in the outlying districts A
close investigation fails to show there
has been any overt act directed
against the President.
No Action Officially.
Secretary Loeb said today it was
not believed for moment any one
had tried to harm Roosevelt. No at
matter officially, he said.
Major wadsworth Talks.
Oyster Bay, Sept. S.-Major Wads-
worth, who was riding with the presi-
dent Saturday when the shooting was
heard, said today the president
and he were returning from a brisk
ride to Cold Spring harbor, and when
about to turn into the road leading
through the W. Emlen Roosevelt es-
tate to Sycamore Hill, when they
a point nearby, and the president re-
marked someone must be at target
practice.
Again While bathing.
The major said nothing more was
thought of The shooting until the pres
ident and he went bathing in Cold
Spring harbor, when both the presi-
dent and he again heard shots. The
major added that it was his impress
sion someone was shooting at a tar
get. Wadsworth declared they did not
connect the arrest of John Coughlin
with the shooting, and stated he does
not believe an attempt was made to
shoot the president
Get Armed Crank.
Oyster Bay, N Y. Sept. S.--After
vainly trying to reach President Roose-
welt late yesterday afternoon, crank.
| armed with a big revolver fully loaded,
was arrested only few yards from
Sycamore Hill by secret service men
and taken to the Mineola jail
The crank, who admitted he was
once in an insane asylum, put up a
hard struggle before he was captured,
and insisted that he lad to see the
president. 1t was only by good luck
| that the crank did not shoot one of
| the secret service men, as he attempt
was seized.
| In Attempt to Assassinate.
| Coincident to the arrest of the crank
secret service men are investigating
story to the effect that deliberate
attempt to assassinate the president
was made Saturday. On that day the
president and a companion were rid
| ing on horseback along Cove road
when, as they passed clump of
bushes along lonely roadside on the
grounds of his cousin, w. Emlen
Roosevelt. a shot from a revolver went
over the presidents head The presi-
dent reined in his horse, looked sharp
ly about, and not hearing any noise
he put spurs to his horse and galioped
home.
Near Own Grounds.
The incident occurred while the
president was returning homewart
from his ride just before he reaches
his own grounds. At this point tn
road skirts shore of the bay an
plunges abruptly into a dense woods
The president reported the inciden
to the secret service men, and Chic
J Wilkie hurried here Sunday frol
Washington. He consulted his subo
D dinates and the whole force starte
on a hunt after the alleged ASSASSIN
t The capture of the dangerous cranl
e fully armed, bore out the story, whic
g had been kept secret until yesterday
n as the man may have been provlin
labout Sycamore Hill for several day,