The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-20
ATTEMPT At MURDER
Ex-senator Mcpherson Has a
Very Narrow Escape.
VAN AIKEN TRIES TO KILL HIM,

lie Grasps the Feeble Man, Draws Re-
volver, but Is Prevented from Using IL
by MePherson's Secretary, Edward II.
Low-The Crime Attempted in the Of
flee of the Ex-senator I'm New York City
The Assailant Under Arrest.
made Tuesday to kill ex-United States
Senator j. r.. Mcpherson in his office in
the Aldridge building, this city. Will
lam b. Van AIKEN, who made the at
tempt, is partly blind and is said to be
interested in a suit in which the senator
is also involved. Van AIKEN had an &C
complete in the matter whose name Is
unknown and who escaped. Van AIKEN
was arrested. Senator Mcpherson, who
represented New Jersey in the senate OF
the United States for about eighteen
years, Is now president of the Western
Stock Yards company with offices in the
Aldridge building. The ex-senator oc-
cupies an inner office, while the outer
Office is for his secretary. Edward F.
Low. Both men were in their usual
places about IL o'clock Tuesday morn
ing when 90 men entered One was
Van AIKEN, well built man about It.
10 in. in height. The other man was
somewhat smaller. Both men walked
through the secretary's office past Mr..
Low and into the inner office where
Senator Mcpherson sat. Senator Nc
Pherson was looking over some papers
at his desk and sat with his back TO
the door. Both men walked up to him
and spoke to him.
Is weak and Feeble.
Just what they said is not known, as
the senator has not quite recovered from
the shock and cannot yet tell what real
~ happened Hle is so weak and fee
BILE that a nurse always accompanies
him to his office. Mr. Low, the secre-
| tary. says he heard Van AIKEN say
something to the senator about wanting
! him 10 settle suit Mr.. Low says that
| 10th men seem to have an interest In q
| suit over the Belle Meade stock farm
/ on tie Glehigh railroad In New Jersey
| Mr.. Low remembers Senator McPher-
son tell Van AIKEN that he could say
nothing about the suit and must refer
| him to mis- lawyer. After that Mr.. Low
| took 10 further notice until a minute
or SO later the private office door WAS
| suddenly pushed open. With cry 81
| alarm the aged ex-senator came quick
ly out into the front office. Creeping
| his way i'm a fury of blind haste, Var
| AIKEN followed. His companion was en-
deavoring to guide him through tn
| doorway. but Van AIKEN hurried ahead
putting his hands out in front of hin
| to feel his way. Before Mr.. Low coulC
rise from his seat Van AIKEN clutchot
| the ex-senator with his right hand anC
| fumbled with his left behind his back
Had His Revolver Out.
Van Aken's companion at this junct
ure hurried out of the room. Whel
Low caught Van Aken's arm the hair
blind man had succeeded in pulling
revolver from his pocket. He ha'
raised it until the mu2Zle was almos
against the trembling old mans heart
With quick movement Mr.. LoN
knocked the weapon up. In doing S
he managed to get his finger caught !
| the trigger Van AIKEN, still clutche
the senator, who was shouting for as
sistance, pulled madly at the pisto
which now was pointed at the ceilin
| and rendered harmless by Mr.. Low
finger in the trigger. In answer to IN
shouts other tenants came crowding II
/ After short struggle Van AIKEN wa
disarmed and overpowered Before
policeman arrived Van AIKEN desiste
from struggling. He was taken owe
to the Center Street police court. He
a we'll dressed man and gave his &C
: dress at a Tenth avenue hotel, tn
{ CITY. After Senator Mcpherson ha
somewhat recovered from the effects {
tho shock he said he had never see
Van AIKEN or his companion.