The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-19

was Killed. Crime and Disaster
New York. May 1s.--Ar attempt was.
made to kill ex-Unitad States Senator j.
r. Mcpherson in mis- Office in the Aid
ridge building in this city today. VIII
lam B. Van AIKEN, who made the attempt
is partly blind and is said 10 be interest
ed in suit in which the senator is also
Involved. Van AIKEN had an accomplice
in the mater, whose name is unknown.
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 Stockyards
company. with offices in the Aldridge
building. The ex-senator occupies an in
ner office, while the outer Office is for his
secretary, Edward F. Low.
Both men were in their usual places
about II o'clock this morning when the
two men entered. Ore was Van AIKEN, a
wei. built man about ~eer, 10 inches il
height. The other man was somewhat
smaller. Both men walked through the
secretary's Office, past M. Low ard into
the inner office, where Mr. Mcpherson
sat. Senator Mcpherson was looking
over some papers at MS desk and sat
with his back TO the door. Both men
walked uo 20 him and spoke to him.
Just what they said is not known. as
the senator has not quite recovered from
the shock and cannot tell yet what really
happened. He is 60 weak that a nurse
always accompanies him 10 his office.
Mr.. Low, the secretary. says he heard
Van AIKEN say something to the senator
about wanting him to settle suit. Mr..
Low says both men seem 10 have an in
terest in a sui. over the Belle Meade
stock farm on the Lehigh railroad in
New Jersey.
Mr.. Low remembers hearing Mr.. Nc
Pherson tel. Van AIKEN that ne could say
nothing about the suit and must refer
him 10 his lawyer. After that Mr.. Low
took no further notice until minute or
50 later, when the door Of the private Of
flee was suddenly pushed oper. With
cry of alarm the aged ex-senator came
quickly out into the front Office. Cropping
mis- way. in a fury Of blind haste. Van
AIKEN followed. His companion was en-
deavoring 10 guide him through the door
way, but Van AIKEN hurried ahead, put
tirg 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 fun
bed with his left hand 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-blird
man had succeeded in pulling a revolver
from his pocket. He had raised it until
the muzzie was almost against the old
mans heart With a quick movement.
Mr.. Low knocked the weapon down. In
doing SO he managed 10 get his finger
caught in the trigger. Van AIKEN. still
clutching the senator, was shouting for
assistance. pulled madly at the pistol, |
which was now pointed at the ceiling |
and rendered harmless by Mr.. Lows fin |
ger ic the trigger. In answer TO the |
shouts other tenants came crowding in. |
After a short struggle Van AIKEN was
disarmed and overpowered. Before po-
liceman arrived Van AIKEN desisted from |
struggling. He was taken 10 the Centre |
street police court. After Senator Nc |
Pherson had recovered somewhat he said !
he had rever seen Van AIKEN Or his COM |
panion.
Van AIKEN was arraigned in police |
court this morning and remanded in de- |
fault Of $1,000 bail. Mcpherson has ad- |
+aS he. he
years ago. but added that the appear |
ance of the latter had changed 50 he did |
not recognize him.
Evan AIKEN" said Mcpherson, was |
once a very wealthy man, owned prop |
erty in New Jersey and was a contrac- |
tor. He built several docks in this city |
AMI New Jersey. He was obliged 10 |
mortgage good deal OF his property |
and l bought one Of his jersey farms al |
a mortgage sale. 1 never had direct |
transaction with the man. but he came |
10 me after and claimed that I had en-
tered into an agreement with him 10 run
the farm on equal profit shares. He in |
sisted that l owed HIM $4,000 and in |
November last brought suit in the su-
preme court. L had the suit transferred |
20 The United States court, and since
that time he mas not attempted 10 re-
vive il. l am inclined 20 believe that
the man is insane
Van AIKEN told me this morning that
he was tired out waiting for his lawyer
10 settle the case and thought We could
settle i between US. II ii had not been
for Mr.. Lows action in the matter
should have been killed
Rufus \. Williams. attorney for Van