New-York tribune., 1869-03-15
DIR. HartWig Gercke on Saturday evening dc
THE MCFARLAND SHOOTING AFFAIR OF 1867


A statement has just appeared from McFar-
land, who attempted assassnate me two years ago
He alleges that he temperate, kndhearted. good
man." and "a kind, afectonate and generous husband "
but that soduced the affections Of his wife" from him
and "enticed her from his home.'
Both allegations against me are utterly and preposter
ousy false These the facts: l. With the full sane
ton OF her family and friends Mrs Mcfarland left her
husband. charging him with gross cruelty during
his paroxysms of Intemperance with neglect
ing to support her, ana with hVlng upon
and sometimes squanderng her own hard-won
upon her statements but Stood and yet stands expie
lily admitted In his own handwriting and over his own
signature, long before knew either OF them. That Will
appear IN due time before the proper tribunal AT their
last interview In presence OF several witnesses she dis
tncty announced that the separation was nal and ire
yocabe and he distinctly acquesced After this for
NAL and final separation and while she was beginning
came to be understood between her and myself that
whenever she should be legally free she was to become
my wife. Several OF my friends, and some
Of hers were, fully acquainted with the fact;
B. About three weeks ailol inc sepaIato' ovt w
would naturally write to the woman he expected TO mar
ry, Mcfarland claims that frenzied hlm put there
Instead OF seeking TO face he kept this letter IN
his pocket for three days and finally at II o'clock on
with his revolver within IA inches OF my back began 20
shoot Before he could fire the fourth shot sneeeeded @ @
police came up and secured him. One Dali
only took effect keeping me in bed Tor a
partly because knew had been rash but chiefly TO
withhold the adys name from any additional ana avoid
able publicity. L. For weeks and months after thls ne
earnestly sought TO induce her TO return TO hef
kind" and afiectiOnate" husband. Finding this nope
less he since TO have devoted himself chiefly to
sanderug her, and reading alleged copy OF my letter.
with many dramatic Accomplishments to every acquain
tance or stranger who Will listen TO it, Sometimes lie
ends his tale: " And now. after ALL don't believe the
scOundrel Will ever marry her" But his common pero
ration is that If ever do. he will XIII me on sight
Finally he has brought suit against me damages
rating the money value OF his wounded affections at ex
acty Si5OOO That least ought TO prove some equlya
lent FOR being deprived Of the afecOnae privilege OF
striking helpless woman in the face, terrifying her
with brandshed knife and bathed IN the temperate
act OF stealing up ia the dark behind an unarned man
aud shooting him in the back. ., -
Whatever the intercepted letter really contains, ne
would better print il, and himself the trouble Of
MANY future readings and declamings wrote u Ior
but one person. yet did write it, and propose to stand
by IT, Whatever fault there in holding such an att-
t1de toward lady who had recently separated iro
her husband was solely mine and shall not try TO pal
late IT, Whatever twelve unbiased men may deter
mine thar owe this " good and temperate antago-
nis Ishall with alaerty pay It comes within nm my my
modes st means And, finally, whatever violence ne may
rchreaten reattempt should the lady ever be legally
free during my lifetime, she viii certainly become NY
wife, II she Will accept 50 poor a man as -.
getc. York March u, 1869.