Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-09
BULLET MISSES ROOSEVELT
President Has Narrow Escape While
Riding Near His Home.
BELIEF IT WAS HUNTERS ACT
Little Likelihood it Was Deed of At
tempted ssassination--Insane
Man il Arrested at
oyster Bay,

OYSTER BAY, N. Y, Sept. S--Sensatlonal
reports that an attempt had been made to
shoot President Roosevelt apparently have
their origin In the fact that the hunting
season has opened on Long Island and
there is considerable shooting daily in the
outlying districts. Close investigation fails
to show that there has beeh any overt act
direct against the president 1t is his Gus
tom to ride out every day. covering various
routes in the countryside and it Is not un-
usual for him to encounter parties OF hun
ters. Also. there is shooting club which
engages in target practice not far from
Sycamore Hill
Mr. Loeb, secretary to the president, said
today 1t was not believed for moment
that anyone had tried to do harm to Mr.
Roosevelt No attention whatever was
being paid to the matter officially. he said
A searching investigation, however, is be-
ing made today to determine the circum-
stances giving rise to the report that the
shot was fired from ambush upon President
Roosevelt. Every foot of ground in the
vicinity where the attempt is alleged to
have been made is being gone over and the
closest quest is being prosecuted to ascer-
tain whether or not any person to whom
suspicion might attach was seen in the vi
cinity of Oyster Bay about the time the
shot is said to have been fired.
shot Came from Bushes.
According to the story in circulation here
a shot was fired from a clump OF bushes
near the roadside while the president and
friend were returning from horseback
ride last Saturday. The report of the shot
came from close at hand. 1t Is said and
after the first shock of surprise. which
caused the president to urge his horse for
ward, Mr.. Roosevelt turned abruptly about
and prepared to dismount and rush on foot
into the thicket. He was dissuaded by his
friend, however, and together they galloped
away to Sagamore Hill. No information
at all regarding the incident came from the
presidents home or the executive offices
here, but II appears from the story as lately
told that Camille Weidenfeld, New York
banker, was driving with Mrs. Weidenfeld
In the vicinity and a witness TO the
occurrence. The Weidenfelds were in a
public carriage and their driver also is said
to have heard the report of the shot and
to have witnessed the excited actions of the
president and his companion which imme-
diately followed. No one has yet been
found who saw the man who Is said to have
fired the shot. The general opinion seems
to be that il a shot was fired 1t was Dy
some hunter who was totally unaware Of
the presence OF the president in the vicin-
ity Even If the man later learned of the
CONSERVATION which his actions had caused
1t Is maintained there is little likelihood
that he would come forward with his ver-
sion of the story at this time because of
the notoriety which would follow the dis
closure of his identity.
Wordsworth Tells of Shooting.
Major Wadsworth, a cousin of the
speaker of the New York assembly, was
riding with the president Saturday when
the shooting was heard. The major said
today that the president and he were re-
turning from a brisk ride to Cold Spring
Harbor and were about to turn from the
cove road into the road leading through
the w. Emlen Roosevelt estate to Saga
more Hill when they heard the shot It
seemed to come from a point nearby, and
the president remarked that someone must
be at target practice. Major Wadsworth
said nothing more was thought about the
shooting until the president and he again
heard shots. The major added that It was
his impression that someone was shooting
at target: He expressed the opinion that
| the president start an investigation, for
the major learned that Jack Roosevelt. a
son Of W. Emlen Roosevelt, had been shoot
ing at target back of the house.
Major Wadsworth said they did not con-
meet the arrest of John Coughlin with The
shooting. He does not believe an attempt
was made to shoot the president
Message for President.
MINEOL4A. l. l.. Sept. S.-Coughiin was
examined by DR.. Frederick A. Wright OF
Glen Cove and DR.. II. G. wahllg OF Sea
Cliff. who were appointed for that purpose
by the overseer of the poor. Coughlin was
disinclined to talk today, but when ar.
rested yesterday declared that ne had beer
trying to see the president to deliver q
message about the criminals who were shot
in the battle with the Boston police force
at Forest Hill cemetery some time ago
Coughlin said he was IS years old. H,
wears a Van Dyke beard and makes {
rather distinguished appearance.
NEW YORK, Sept S.-Camille weiden
field, the Wall street broker said today tha
he heard the shot which was alleged tC
have been intended for the president
II paid no attention to it. however" h,
added. The president and his friend, botl
on horseback, passed us and doubtless wer,
100 yards away when we heard the shot
Had we feared 1t was meant for him ",
would have turned back, but we did not
1t is incorrect to state that Mrs. Weiden
field made a remark to the effect that
; was an attempt to kill the president"
Insane Man Arrested.
MINEOLA. L. l., Sept. S.-Jonn Coughlin
the armed man who was arrested while at
tempting to reach the president at Saga
more Hill yesterday. was examined by tw,
physicians today and pronounced insane
He will be sent to an asylum at King
Park L. l.
BOSTON. Mass, Sept. s.-The police o
this city believe that John Coushlin, VIII
was arrested by a secret service agent a
Oyster Bay yesterday while attempting L
secure an interview with President Roose
velt is John Coughlln OF Wslpole, Mass
who has been missing from his home 4
that town for about ten days. His HON
here is near the Walpole-Foxboro line an
not far from the Foxboro Home for Inebri
ates. The man arrested at Oyster Ba
said he had been an inmate OF an insan
: asylum In Wslpole. but there is no such in
stitutlon in the town. Officials of the Fox
! boro hospital said today that no perso
named John Coughiin had ever been an IN
mate Of their institution.
> SETTLERS PENNED IN BY FIR