Evening star., 1897-05-18
Attempt on the Life Of Ex-Seuator
]. R. Mcpherson.
v. B. VAN AIKEN WAS HlS ASSAIANf
Supposed to Be Interested With
Mcpherson in a Law Suit.
SAVED BY HIS SECRETARY

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 r.
Van AIKEN. who made the attempt, is part
ly blind. and is said to be interested In q
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 Senate Of the United
States for about eighteen years. Is now
president of the Western Stock Yards Com
pany. with Offices in the Aidridge building.
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 catered. One was Van AIKEN. a we'll
built man, about five feet ten inches in
height. The other man was somewhat
smaller. Both men walked through the
secretary's office, past Mr.. Low and into
the inner ONCE. where Senator Mcpherson
sat. Senator Mcpherson was looking over
some papers at his desk. and sat with his
back 10 the door, Both men walked up to
him and spoke to him.
Weak From shock.
just Whdt they said Ii not known, as the
senator has not quite recovered from the
shock. and cannot yet tell what really
happened. He is so weak that a nurse al
ways accompanies him TO his office
Mr.. Low. the secretary. says that he
heard Van AIKEN say something to the
senator about wanting him to settle a suit
Mr.. Low says that both men seem to have
an interest in q suit over the Belle Meade
stock farm. on the Lehigh railroad, In New
Jersey.
Mr.. Low remembers hearing Senator Nc
Pherson tell Van AIKEN that he could say
nothing about the suit. and must refer him
to his lawyer. After that Mr.. Low took
no further notice until. minute or SO
later. the private office door was suddenly
aged ex-senator came quickly out INTO the
front Office. Cropping his way. in a fury of
blind haste. Van AIKEN followed. His COM
panion was endeavoring to guide him
through the doorway, but Van AIKEN hur-
ried 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
fumbled with his left behind his back Van
Aken's companion at this juncture hurried
out of the room.
Struggle for the Revolver.
When MIR. Low caught Van Aken's arm.
the half man had succeeded in pulling
it until the muzzle was almost against
the trembling old mans heart. With a
quick movement Mr.. Low knocked the
weapon up. In doing so he managed to get
his finger caught in the trigger. Van AIKEN.
still olutching the senator who was shout
ing for assistance. pulled madly at the
pistol. which now was pointed at the cell
ing and rendered harmless by Mr.. Lows
finger in the trigger. In answer to the
shouts other tenants came crowding in.
After short struggle Van AIKEN was dis
armed and overpowered-
Before policeman arrived Van AIKEN de-
sisted from struggling. He was taken over
to the Center street police court He Is a
well-dreSsed man, and gave his address
at 10th avenue hotel, this city.
After Senator Mcpherson had somewhat
recovered from the effects of the shock
he said that he had never before seen Van
AIKEN or his companion He had been told
however, that Van AIKEN had made threats
that he would shoot him at the first up-
portunity. but he paid no attention to the
matter. When the men came into his Of
flee and began TO talk excitedly about some
suit. Senator Mcpherson says he asked
them to leave. Van Akens companion then
violently twisted around the chair Senator
Mcfherscn was sitting in Until ne directly
faced Van AIKEN. AS Senator Mcpherson
got up to leave Van AIKEN made an attempt
to hold him. but he broke away and rush
ed into the front office.
van AIKEN was arraigned in police court
5000 bail.
Mr.. Mcpherson has since admitted that he
knew Van AIKEN several years ago but
added that the appearance Of the latter had
SO changei that at first Re did not recognize
him.
Van AIKEN is n Contractor.
Van Aken." said Mr.. Mcpherson, was
orce a very wealthy man. owned a prop
erty in New Jersey and was contractor.
He built several docks in this city and
New Jersey. He was obliged to mortgage
good deal of his property. and 1 bought
one of his Jersey farms at a mortgage sale.
Il never had direct transaction with the
man. but he came to me afterward and
claimed that 1 had entered into an agree
ment with him to run the farm on equal
shares. He insisted that l owed him
$zS0,OOO. and in November last brought
suit in the supreme court. / had the suit
transferred to the United States court. and
since that time he has lot attempted to re-
viye the suit. / am inclined to believe that
the man is insane.
Van AIKEN told me this morning that be
was tired out waiting for his lawyer to set
tie the case. ard thought that we could
settle 1t between us. 1 told him | did no.
want to talk with him. and that he'd better
go away; IL he wanted to know anything
When l had said that his accomplice de-
liberately turned chair. 50 that Van
AIKEN was exactly opposite me and sat
with his his knees against mine.
Then Van AIKEN said: Will you settle
the case? / said that 1 would not He
made move toward his hip pocket. and
got pand went out into my secretarys
office. If 1t had not been for MIR. Lows
actions In the matter 1 would have been
killed.
Rufus n; Williams. the attorney for Van
AIKEN, said that he would not put in any
defense. and the case was set for the grand
Jury. Mr.. Williams went to look for a
bondsman. and the prisoner was taken to
the Tombs
Mcpherson said that he is very anxious
to secure the capture OF Van Aken's COM
panion. who was poorly dressed, and not
the sort of looking man whom Van AIKEN
would know intimately. Van AIKEN, In
court, declared that in going to the office
Of Mr.. Mcpherson he had no intention to
shoot him. but simply wanted a settlement
of the suit.
WnUUn NOT RLrrONSUnER