The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-19
AN WOULD BE MURDERER.
Blind Man Attempts To Shoot Ex-senator
Mcpherson.

!
= New York, May 18.-An attempt was
made today to kill ex- United States Sena-
tor J. r. Mcpherson in his office in the
Aldridge building, this city.
William B.. Van AIKEN, who made the
attack, is partly blind, and is said to be
interested in d suit in which the Senator
is also involved
| Van AIKEN had an accomplice in the
matter, whose name is unknown and who
escaped. Van AIKEN was arrested.
Senator Mcpherson, who represented
New Jersey in the Senete of the United
States for eight years, is now president of
the Western Stock Yards company, with
offices in the Aldridge building, this city.
The ex-senator occupied 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 this morning, when two
men entered. One was Van AIKEN, a we'll
built man, about five feet, nine inches in
height. The other man was somewhat
smaller. Both men walked through the
secretary S office, and into the office where
Nlr. Mcpherson sat. The ex-senator was
looking over some papers at his desk and
sat with his back to the door.
Bothssmen walked up to him and spoke
to him; just what they said cannot be
Iascertalhed, as the ex-senator W no is al
most eighty years old, has not quite re-
covered from the shock, and cannot yet
| tell what really happened. He is so weak
that nurse always accompanies him to
his office.
| Mr.. Low, the secretary, says that he
heard Van AIKEN say, something to Nc
| Pherson about wanting him to settle
Mr.. Low says that both men seemed to
| haYe.an interest in suit over d stock
farm in New Jersey. Mr.. Low remem-
bers hearing Senator Mcpherson tell Van
AIKEN that he could say nothing about the
| suit and mus refer him to his lawyer.
After that Mr.. Low took no further
notice until a minute or so later when
the private office door was suddenly
pushed open. With a cry of alarm the
aged ex-senator came quickly out into
the front office. Cropping his way Van
AIKEN followed. His companion was en-
deayorlng to guide him through the door
way, but Van AIKEN hurried ahead,
putting his hands out in front of him to
feel his way.
Before Mr.. Low could rise from his seat
Van AIKEN clutched the ex- Senator with
his right hand and funbled with his left
behind his back. Van Aken's companion
at this Juncture hurried out of the room
When Mr.. Low caught Van Aken's arm
the half blind manNhad succeeded in pull
ing a revolver from his pocket. He had
raised 1t until the muzzle was almost
against the trembling old mans heart.
With quick movement Mr.. Low knocked
the weapon upward In doing so his
finger caught in the trigger.
Van AIKEN, still clutching the ex-Sena-
tor, who was shouting for assistance,
pulled madly at the pistol which was now
pointed at the ceiling. In answer to the
shouts other tenants came crowding in.
After short struggle Van AIKEN was
dlsarmed and overpowered Before a
policeman arrived Van AIKEN desisted in
his struggles and remained quiet He
was taken over to the Centre street police
station. He is well dressed man, and
gave as his address Tenth avenue hotel
in this city.
After Senator Mcpherson had somewhat
recovered from the effects of the shock he
said that he had not before seen Van
AIKEN or his companion.
He had been told however, that Van
AIKEN mad made threats that he would
shoot him at the first opportunity, but
the ex-senator had paid no attention to
the matter. When the men came into his
Office and began to talk excitedly about
some suit, Senator Mcpherson SAYS he
asked them to leave. Van Aken's COM
panion violently twisted around the chair
Senator Mcpherson was sitting in until
he nearly faced Van AIKEN.
AS Senator Mcpherson got up Van
AIKEN made an attempt to hold him. Then
the Senator quickened his gait and rushed
into the front office, where he was SO
nearly shot.