The times., 1897-05-19
Ex Senator Mcpherson's NarreW
Escape from an Assailant.
SAVED BY HIS SECRETARY
He Caught the Frenzicd Man'5 Hand
ana Prevented Hin from shoot
ing-Fan AIKEN Claims that the
t---,s.asstor Defraudad Hiai-A II
rested and Unable TO Get Bail.

his assaii3HJ was William III. Van AIKEN,
a blind man, who alleged that the former
Senator is trying to cheat him out Of
in which, he alleges. the two engaged,
but which Mr.. Mcpherson says is wholly
imaginary.
Senator Mcpherson is president of the
Western Stock Yards Company, Of Jersey
City, with offices at 1872 Chambers street
He lives at the Windsor though he maia
tains residence In New Jersey.
Van AIKEN is sixty-four years old and
lives ut the Adams House He mas been
blind for two years. He used to be a
contractor, and he built many or the city 4
decks. In those days he was rated as
wealthy, but of iatp years he has had
practically nothing except his prospects in
the suit against Mr.. Mcpherson for $780,
600.
Van AIKEN left the hotel this morning a
little after s O'Clock, aad the hotel folks
say iie was alone He had in his hip
pocket n huge revolver, which carried a
bullet almost big enough To bore d hole
Iii & man-of-war, to say nothing Of IA
United States Senator. What ne did he
tween that time and IL O'Clock, he has
not said, aud nobody appears 10 know.
ii c arrived aI Mcpherson 5 office about IL
O'Clock in tow of another man, for whom
the police are looking. and VINO is de-
scFibed As resembling n Bowery tough.
Van AIKEN and his acconIplice entered the
office. aud an Aken told W. 7. Low, a
clerk, that hc desired 10 see the ex-senator
They were soon admitted 10 Mr. 2cP EeI-
sens private Office, where MI Mop her
son was sitting at desk.
Mr.. Van Aken's companion led him to
n chair beside the desk, and Mr.. McPheI-
son asked what was wanted.
Mr.. Van AIKEN said lie had come TO talk
about that suit.
Mr AcFherspH said it was not Until then
that he recognized shis visitor. The matter
was in the hands oil his counsel and he said.
"i haven't anything to sa y tout that suit,
my dear sir. sYou must see my attorney"
$50 VOC VIII not settle it, demanded
Van AIKEN, and al tbe same time his com
panion doulicd up and wheeled the blind
mans Chaira round, SO that he faced the ex-
Senator, their knees touching so you
Will not settle sthe matter with me-" said
Van Aken agaia.~
mo, VIII not sa Id Mr.. Mcpherson.
Van AIKEN rrepei with las left hand TO
reach Mcrhersoa. at the same time, putting
his right hand behiad his back 10 draw his
pistol. b1
AR. McPhe rsOn did uot know then whsiher
the man had d pistol or not and he Jumped
up an1 hurried into the inner office where
Low was.
Van AIKEN got up, and, guided 10y his
companion, followed him The companion
put him within reach OF the ex-senator
and stepped aside. Van AIKEN grabbed Nc
PnerSons right hand with his left and
with his right reached again for his
pistol pocket Low was at his desk un-
able to make out what was going on.
There had been no loud talk and no APP
parent cause for interference. But now
Van AIKEN spoke loudly
so you will not settle the matter with
me?' be said, for the third time.
NO, will not" repeated Mr.. Mcpherson.
as an AIKEN put his hand back, he Tapped
his coat tail aside and Low caught sight
of the pistol Low Ieaped off his chair
andt!Ien onto the back of the blind man, at
the same time he yelled for help Van
AIKEN tried to draw the pistol Low still
clung TO his back. grabbed his hand, near
the pistol, and got his own forefinger on
the trigger-guard, back of the trigger. 1t
was a luck chance grab, and he kept his
finger there.
Let go OF me, or I'll shoot" roared
Van Aken
You can't shoot" roared back Low
Van AIKEN all this time kept hold OF
MI. McPhersoa's right hand. The blind
man s leader took no part in the row at all,
but stood one side watching proceedings.
Low kept shouting for help until the ten
ants came piling in the room. The nan
who had led Van ken in, slipped out, yell
ing, .He won't shoot you; don t be scared
The ianitor took hold OF Van AIKEN. A lot
OF tenants got hold OF him, too, and Low
slid Off his back.
4 policeman was summoned, and Van
AIKEN, who was being held down by a
dozen men, was taken into custody. Later
he was arraigned in Center street police
court, where Mr.. Mcpherson appeared
against him.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was
remauded, bail for $1,000 not being fur
pished. He ella inaed that Mcpherson had
agreed toexpend $4,000 in improvements
on the Bound Brook property farr owned
by Van AIKEN, but had never Gone so
Hence the suit and his anger. he said
he had no intention of hurting Mr.. Nc
Pherson.
Mr Mcpherson said that Van AIKEN
had been Il wealthy man years ago and
had owned an so0-acre farm known rs
Bellemead, in Somerset county, near
Bound Brook, N. j. This land was
mortgaged and was sold under foreclosure.
A part of itIMr Mcpherson purchased
Not long ago some eighteen years after
the sale, Vsu AIKEN began a suit for
$3.50, 900, alleging that there had been
a partnership. agreement and that that
was his share of the proceeds.
Mr. Mcpherson said there had never
been any such agreement, that he had
never had any business relations with Van
AIKEN and baI never owed him n cent.
He said thatEVan Aken's visit was ''for
the purpose of biackTnail, and that he
brought an accoTnplice with him. He said
he would speBd I large sum of money to
catch the acdoTnisiice and would hire pri-
yate detectives to work outside Of the
police The suit, he said, had been re-
moved to the United States circuit court,
and since that time nothing had been
done by the plaintiff, though the limit
set for taking evidence was June. He did
not believe anything would ever be done.
An Unfounded Charge.