On This Date in Minnesota History: October 5

October 5, 1903 – Shortly before noon today, Peter O. Elliott, a Swede from Minneapolis, attempted to make  his way into the White house to see President Theodore Roosevelt, saying the President had sent for him and he wanted to see him. Elliott, who was told the President was engaged and could not see him, then tried to force his way in and was overpowered by officers on duty and carried to a police van. Seeming to realize then for the first time that he was under arrest, Elliott began a furious struggle with his captors, trying to escape.

Peter O. Elliott¹

He drew a revolver from his right trouser pocket and attempted to shoot Officer James Cissell. The officer grabbed his hand and wrenched the weapon from his grasp.  Elliott’s struggles were so fierce, however, that the two officers in the cramped quarters of the van were unable to subdue him. Officer Cissell then drew his revolver and fired two shots to attract attention. Attracted by the shots, Chief Usher Thomas Stone and Officer Parker of the White House force, who had assisted in carrying Elliot to the van, rushed back to the vehicle and aided in overpowering him.

In the struggle within the police van, Elliott broke a glass panel with his head, severely cutting his head and face. Officer Cissell sustained a serious cut on his right arm, two inches of flesh being cut out of the fleshy part of his arm. He suffered considerably from loss of blood, but his injury is not considered serious.

Elliott was taken to the emergency hospital where his wounds were dressed. From there he was taken to the first precinct police station and incarcerated in one of the detention wards. An official examination as to his mental condition will be held very soon.

This was Elliott’s second attempt to see the President. The day before, while Roosevelt attended morning services at Grace Reformed Church, Elliott appeared near the entrance to the church and made an effort to speak to the President, but he was foiled in his endeavor by secret service officers. At that time the man showed no symptoms of insanity and quietly left the vicinity of the church when ordered to do so by the officers. 


Minneapolis Journal; “Armed Madman Seeks President. Peter Elliott, Whose Home Is in South Minneapolis, Arrested While Trying to See the President. He Fought Fiercely When Hustled Into a Police Van and Two Men Could Not Subdue Him—Carried a Revolver and Tried three Times to Get at the President—Is Now in the Emergency Hospital, His Head Badly Cut.”; October 5, 1903; p. 1.

¹Minneapolis Journal; Oct. 6, 1903; p. 1.

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