The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-19
w. b. Van AIKEN, IA Partly Blind Man,
EndeavOrs to shoot the New
Jersey Statesman.
SAVED BY HIS SECRETARY
WHO PREVENTED THE ASSAILANT
FROM DRAWING REVOLVER.
Trouble Over "a Lawsuit, Van AIKEN
Claiming that Mcpherson Owes
Him Nearly 100000.


tor j. r. MCPHERSON in his office in the
Aldridge building, this city. William B.
Van AIKEN who made the attempt, is partly
blind and is said to be interested in a suit
in which the ex-senator is also involved
Van AIKEN had an aceomplice 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 Aldridge building
The ex-senator occupies 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, who is a well-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 office, where Sem
ator Mcpherson sat. Senator Mcpherson
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.
Just what they said is not known as the
senator has not quite recovered from the
shock, and cannot yet tell what really hap
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 seemed to have
an interest in the suit over the Belle Meade
stock farm the Lehigh Railroad, in
New Jersey. Mr.. Low remembers hearing
Mr.. Mcpherson tell Van AIKEN that he could
say nothing about the suit, and must re-
took no further notice until, a minute or
so later, the private office door was sud
denly pushed OPEN With a cry of alarm
the aged senator came quickly out into
the front office Cropping his way, in a fury
of blind haste, Van AIKEN followed His
companion &C was endeavoring- to guide him
ried ahead, putting his hands out in front
OF MIN 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 hand behind his back
van Aken's companion at this juncture hur-
caught Van Aken's arm the blind man had
succeeded in pulling q revolver from his
pocket. He had raised it until the muzzle
heart. With quick movement Mr.. Low
knocked the weapon up. In doing so he
managed to get his finger caught in the
trigger. In answer to the shouts other
tenants came crowding in. After short
struggle Van AIKEN was disarmed and over
powered. Before policeman arrived Van
taken over to the Cenfer-sfreet Police
Court. He is a well-dressed man, and gave
his address at q. Tenth-avenue hotel, this
Van AIKEN was arraigned in police court
this afternoon and remanded in default of
$1,000 bail. Mr.. Mcpherson this evening ad-
mitted that he knew Van AIKEN several
years ago, but added that the appearance
of the latter had so changed that at first
said Mr.. Mcpherson. was once a very
wealthy man. owned property in New
Jersey. and was a. contractor. He built
several docks in this city and New Jersey.
He was obliged to mortgage a good deal of
his property, and [ bought one of his Jersey
farms at mortgage. sale, 1 never had di-
rect transactions with the man, but he
came to me afterwards and claimed that 1
had entered into an agreement with him to
insisted that owed him $3.50. 600 and in No
vember last brought suit in the Supreme
Court had the suit transferred to the
United States Court and since that time
he has not attempted to revive the suit L
am inclined to believe that the man is in
sane.
ivan AIKEN told me this morning that he
was tired out waiting for his lawyer to
settle the case and thought that we could
settle it between us 1 told him 1 did not
want to talk with him, and that he'd better
go away; if he wanted to know anything
about the case he must go to my lawyer.
When / had said that his accomplice de-
liberately turned chair so that Van AIKEN
was exactly opposite me, and sat with his
knees against mine. Then Van AIKEN said:
VIII you settle the case" / said that I
would not. He made move towards his
hip pocket and l got up and went out into
my secretarys office. If it had not been
for Mr.. 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
bondsman and the prisoner was taken to
the tombs.
Mr.. Mcpherson said that he is very anx-
ious to secure the capture of Van Akens
companion, 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 Of
to shoot him, but simply wanted a settle
ment of the suit.
At the hotel where Van AIKEN lives it is
said that this was the first day that he left
the house since last fall. He was always
looked upon as a respectable business man.
and was an object of sympathy on account
of his blindness. He has been blind for two
years. He is said to have one son and to
be WidnWer.