I came across an additional article that was published in the New York Sun April 8, 1897. This account should put to rest the question regarding the identity of the Rabbi Klein mentioned in The New York Times article. As stated in this article, this incident took place with Rabbi Phillip [Hillel] Klein (for more about him, see here) of Ohav Tzedek of Norfolk street (Ohav Tzedek was situated on 172-176 Norfolk street from 1886-1906).
