New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-19

EX-SENATOR JOHN X. Nj PfEftSOiN'
Gan attempt was made to shoot MIN yesterday
two rooms, and Mt Lows desk is in the room
entered from the hallway
Mr.. Low was in Mr. McPhersons room talking
about some business matter about I'D a. m. yes
terday. when Van AIKEN was led In by stranger
Van AIKEN appeared 10 be quite blind at the ume'
and he was not recognized by either Mr.. McPher-
son or his secretary. The stranger pushed van
AIKEN into chair close to Mr.. Mcpherson. and
said This is Mr. Van AIKEN" Then the ex-
Senator understood who his visitor was
TALKING ABOUT HIS SUIT.
Van AIKEN began Immediately TO talk about
suit which he had brought in the NeW-Jersey
courts against Mr. Mcpherson. Alarm which van
AIKEN owned near Somerville y. j.. was sofa
under foreclosure proceedings about eighteen
wears ago. and Mr.. Mcpherson afterward bought
It, In November last. after the lapse OF nearly
eighteen years Mr. Mcpherson was surprised by
the information that he was being sued by van
AIKEN on the ground that he had MADE some
agreement to buy in the farm under the lore-
closure proceedings and divide the profits OF the
transaction with Van AIKEN. He made answer 10
the suit. declaring that he owed nothing 10 van
AIKEN and he paid little further atteh'ioh 10 'ns
matter although he heard that Van AIKEN had
talked about shooting him on sight. he hao
known Van AIKEN at one time, but had hot S I
him for years and he had been told that van
AIKEN had lost most Of his property on account Vi
drunkenness and other bad habits. 49,,
Sitting with his knees almost touching th9se
~ Mr. Mcpherson. Van AIKEN said ne wanted d
settlement without going on with MS SUIT ne
taiked IN a threatening way, saying he had come
TO have a settlement and was bound 10 nav ~
outside the courts. Young Mr. Low stepped VI
of the room. but he was suspicious Oh , eu
and he kept near the partition door ilsleRlns
10 the conversation. The more ne heard "a van
Aken's talk the more suspicious ne pecdll'e'
and when his eye chanced , to Ia n n Tr if up
and slipped it 'nto his pocket thlnklns ne ''"s"'
need 1t. ,.,.o, 60 tho
talk of the man who had brought the sult
against him. and then tried to end 1t by sdSIiS
that he knew of nothing that he could settis
with Van AIKEN. You have gone INTO cHur. on u,
a ridiculous claim he said. and II VIII nave 70
be settled In the court. You had better go anu
talk with my lawyers about that. ,,.,
II won't have it settled IN court NaI 6 Anon
snarled hitching his chair closer to MT. Mcfne'
SON but am going TO make you settle IL nrle.
AS he finished the sentence Van AIKEN thrust
his right hand back toward the MP po,he, Vi
his trousers in threatening manner MI NJ
Pherson rose from his chair and started out ~
the room. saying: Il have nothing to settle Win
YOU here AMI | want you to leave thls Office
Immediately.
TRIES TO GET HIS PISTOL.
Van AIKEN Jumped up and turned about reach
ing out both hands like blind man. Inc
stranger who was with him pushed MIN again
toward Mr.. Mcpherson. and at the door OF the
partition Van Aken's fingers clutched MI NC
Pherson's coat. With a furious oath van AIKEN
c,,rg IN Mr. Mcpherson. and as they got into
the outer room Van AIKEN reached again for the
nistol that was IN his hip pocket. Young MI
Tow, saw the movement and jumped forward
like n fash to prevent the drawing OF tie
weapon forgetting about the paper weight III
his own pocket. He got hold OF van Ahe ~ :
right hand Just as the hand was diving into the
hin pocket and both hands closed on the revoi-
YER in the pocket at the same moment Passing
his left arm about Van Aken rlgn. ARM MI
st OF co. Van AIKEN shouted at Mr. Low with
a vile oath. Let go. ar III shoot you.
Mr. Low only held on TIGHTER. ana there were
too many hands In Van Aken's pocket to allow
The drawing out Of the pistol Mr. Mcpherson
caught hold Of the hand on his coat and struggled
10 reach the hallway All three men were turn-
ing and twisting about in the scuifie as they
rassed ont the door and along the hallway tow
ard the elevator. The stranger VINO had leo
Van AIKEN to the place was close TO them, put
took no active part in the fight He fed down
tho stairway as soon as Mr.. Mcpherson got into
the hallway and began To shout for help. Inc
call was answered by men from other oil1ces Just
ae Young Mr.. Low had succeeded In wrenchlnS
the pistol out Of Van ASen's hand. and tfen Van
AIKEN permitted himself 10 be held without fur
Their struggle until a policeman was called to
take him into custody. Mr. Mcpherson and his
secretary went 10 the ponce otdilpH anu id'ti w
the Centre Sire t Court, where Van AIKEN was ar
roipned on the charge of assault WITT intent 10
kill
CREDIT TO Mr. LOW.
To Magistrate Kudch the ex-senator ex
plained the nature Of the suit when had been
brought against him by Van AIKEN. and told Of
the ATTEMPT which Van AIKEN had made 10 XIII
hin, IF 1t had not been for Mr.. Lows action
IN the matter would have been killed he sad.
D,f,s ~ Williams Van Aken's counsel said he
would interpose no defence. and the case was
con, n the Grand Jury. Van AIKEN being sent TO
the Tombs In default OF $1,000 ball: van Aken
90 lie has lived there three years ana one OF
,ha clerks said yesterday that he seldom iett the
hotel and was so blind that ne could h31 w sna
bnu, the streets without an attendant. ne hau
ap v'nd ahout a lawsuit which might bring MN
5000 600 and had said that 1t vas aDou. sS an