The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-02
TRIED TO KILL MCPHERSON
A Blind Man Attempted to Assassinate
the ex-senator.
HE DEMANDED RESTITUTION.

William 3. Van AIKEN Arrested In New
York City on a Charge of Threatening
the Life of the Distinguished New
Jerseyman-Demande Immediate Set
tlement of a Lawsuit he Had Brought.
NEW YORK CITY (speciaD. D.-Wllliam Van
AIKEN, who long ago was rich and powerful,
attempted on Tuesday to murder John R.
Mcpherson, for eighteen years q United
States Senator from New Jersey and since
1875 a conspicuous figure in National affairs.
Years OF brooding had imbued Van AIKEN
with the belief that the man whose life he
tried to take was the author OF all his
misery. That his desperate effort failed was
because Of his blindness and because OF the
prompt action Of Edw. T. Low, Mr.. McPher
sons Private Secretary, who fought with
the crazed man for four or five minutes and
wrested from him the revolver he was try
ing to use.
The blind man was arrested and Is locked
up In the Tombs. A friend of his, who Is
unknown, and who may or may not have
known something Of Van Aken's intent to
kill Mr.. Mcpherson, led the old man to the
former Senator's office, where the deed
was attempted, but he escaped during the
struggle.
Senator Mcpherson Is now president Of
the Western Stock Yards Company, with
Offices on the fourth floor OF the Aldridge
Building. He occupies an inner office on
that floor. The outer office is used by his
secretary, Edward F. Low.
1t appears that Van AIKEN has long
standing grievance against Mcpherson. As
far back as 1878 Mcpherson bought some
land In New Jersey from Van AIKEN and
paid him for 1t. Van AIKEN appears to have
been content with the bargain for nearly
twenty years, for he never said anything
until about three months ago, when he
started an action against the ex-senator
for the recovery OF something like S2S3, 900,
which he alleged was owing to him. Mr..
Mcpherson was astounded at the claim and
repudiated it.
He had never seen Van AIKEN until he pre-.
sented himself In his Office in the Aldridge
building. He did not recognize his visitor
when he came In. Van AIKEN and his friend
walked straight into Mcpherson Office. Van
AIKEN took q seat close to the ex-senator,
and his friend seated him himself in q far
corner Of the room.
sLook here" said the blind man. ,"I've
come to settle this suit. I don't want any
counsel or lawyer to do my business. l
want to come to an arrangement with you. |"
Ex-senator Mcpherson replied that he did
not desire to discuss the matter. Then
Van AIKEN remarked in q menacing tone:
eff you don't settle 1t, will"
The ex-senator suspected something and
Immediately jumped up. He was proceed
ing to the office OF his secretary, Edward F.
Low, when he says Van AIKEN grabbed Nc
Pherson right arm with his left, threw his
body, left side on, against the ex-Senator's
and with his right hand felt In his hip
pocket for pistol.
The Secretary saw the impending danger
and quickly grabbed Van Aken's hand
while 1t was still In his pocket. He pressed
with all his strength to keep 1t there, while
Van AIKEN was equally determined to get
the pistol clear Of his pocket.
'Let go or I'll fire." shouted Van AIKEN,
but Low pluckily held on to him and got
the third finger OF his left hand between
the guard and the trigger 30 that 1t was
impossible to discharge the weapon. Van
AIKEN pressed the trigger 30 hard In his
efforts to discharge the pistol that the flesh
OF Lows finger was badly lacerated. Van
Aken's companion did not interfere one
way or the other, except to say to Mo-
Pherson: "Let him 60. He won't hurt
YOU" After that he made his escape.
Van AIKEN was arrested and arraigned be-
fore Magistrate Kudlich In the Tombs Po-
lice Court on charge Of, attempting to
shoot ex-senator MCPHERSON. Van AIKEN,
who Is q middle-aged, stoutish man, with q
close-cut gray beard and thin hair, pleaded
mot gu!lty"to the charge.