The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-29
Former Attempt to Murder mr.. Rich.
nEdhnn.


nrdBon.
From the Tribune Of Friday.
At about 81 o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon, Mr.. Albert D. Richardson
an old and valued Gttdchc OF The
Tribune, we'll known to the country as
one OF the war correspondents OF the
paper duriHg the Rebellion. and as the
author OF Beyond the Mississippi and
other works, was fred upon and shot
In the publication Office OF The Tribune
by Daniel mcfarland. Mr.. McFar~
land, 1t appears, had been In the office
about an hour before Mr.. Richardson's
arrival, and seemed to know that the
latter would call at or about O'Clock,
At the time Of Mr.. Richardson's en-
trance Into the room, Mcfarland was
standing behind the desk opposite the
right hand door opening on Nassau.st.,
aud was therefore concealed from view,
Mr.. Richardson, entirely unconscious
OF the danger impending over him, and
ignorant OF the presence OF Mcfarland,
advanced to the lower end Of the coun-
ter, and asked for his letters. Between
him and Mcfarland, and outside the
counter, q gentleman was reading the
paper, or searching the papers OF the
Directory. AS Mr.. Richardson leaned
over toward the desk OF the advertising
clerk, Mcfarland rushed from his
hiding place, raised his pistol, and
aiming directly over the head OF the
stranger at Mr.. Richardson, fired, The
ball entered the body OF the victim at q
the abdomen, and lodged In the stom-
nnh MI
for the first time saw his Assailant.
Without speaking word he walked
to the Spruce-St. door, thence into the
street, and up four flights Of stairs to
the editorial rooms, where he quietly
lay down upon sofa, called q gentle.
man to him, remarked that he was
badly wounded, aud asked to have a
surgeon sent for al once. In a few
minutes physician arrived, and Mr..
Richardson was removed TO the Astor
House. So apparently unmoved was
he on leaving the publication room,
that tho fact OF his being wounded was
not known 10 the clerks until the arri-
val nj the surgeon. In the meantime
Mcfarland had escaped. Detectives
were put upon his track, and at 10
O'Clock he was arrested.
The trouble which led to this unfor>
tunAte occurrence dates back to tho
Spring OF 1867, when Mr.. Richardson
occupied rooms In the same house In
which Mrs. Mcfarland, wife OF Daniel
Mcfarland, was q boarder. Tho lady
was q member OF q theatrical company,
and was at this time living on bad
terms with her husband.
Mr.. Richardson frequently escorted
Mrs. Mcfarland home from the theAter
In which she was Employed; and this
fact, coupled with the desire OF his wife
to he separated from him Infatuated
Mcfarland. On the evening OF the 18th
OF March. 1867, as Mr.. Richardson and
Mrs. Mcfarland were returning to the
boarding house, they were met by
Mcfarland, who, without word Of
warning, drew pistol ind fired, the
shot taking effect In Mr.. Richardson's
thigh. The affair created some excite.
ment at the time, but as the wound did
not prove fatal, and as Il was not deem
ed advisable 10 give the matter more
publicity the assassin was not molested.
Long after Mr.. Richardson's recove-
~, Mr.. Mcfarland asked for an inset-
ton OF his version OF the difficulty In
the Tribune. The request was granted.
Mr.. Richardson, few days later, pub.
lished In reply the following card,
which we reproduce, as containing a
sucClnct statement OF his position In
reference to the Hssailant aud 10 Mrs,
Mcfarland:
THE A'FARLAHD SHOOTING AFFAIR OF
lS67-oARD FROM MR.. RICHARDSON.
A statement has Just appeared from
Mcfarland, who attempted TO assassin.
ate me two yeArs ago. Ho alleges that
he was u temperate, klnd-hearted,
good man., and "a kind, RiTectionate,
and generous husband;' but that re.
duoed the affections OF bis wIie' from
him, and 'entlced her from his home.'
Both allegations against me are ut~
terly aud preposteronsly false. These
are the facts: l. With the full sanction
OF her family and friends, Mrs. McFAr-
land left husband, charging him with
gross cruelty during his paioxysms OF