The evening world., 1891-12-29
HIS A GOOD CASE.
What Lawyers Think Of LaidIaw'S
Suit Against Sage,
Expert Opinions Obtained on
Hypothetical Questions.
A Novel Legal Point Raised by the
Bomb Explosion.
Sage Finally Denies that He Used
the Clerk as n Shield.

w. II. Laidlaw, the young brokers' clerk who
alleges that he was deliberately utilized By
Russell sage as human shield 20 save the
multl-inilllonaire from the fury OF the maniac
Norcross on That memorable Friday, Dec. 4,
when tue put-and-call brokers' Office at II
Broadway was wrecked by bomb. still lies
OH MS Ded OF pain IN ST. Nlncchts hospital.
Inc young clerks recovery Is SLOW, ana an
attempt to SIT up In an invalid $ chair resulted
In such swelling In his feet that he is not
inclined to attempt 1t soon again.
Mr.. sage has not yet delgned to send an In
quiry to the hospital TO learn the condition OF
the man whose BODY, II Is claimed, saved the
milllonaires life. Since the publication in
THE EVENING WORLD of MIR. Laiuiaw's inlen-
ion to sue the mnlti-millionairc for 100000
damages Mr. Sagea card is no longer looked
Tor by the Invalid In the hospital
Ihat puolication mas caused no end OF dis
cusslon among lawyers and In the clubs. 1t
Is generally considered that the proposed suit
contains one OF the most Interesting and novel
points OF law ever raised In this city-one
that Is In fact, without precedent.
So much interest has been shown In the
case that an EVENING WORLD reporter Inter-
viewed a number OF prominent lawyers on
the subject putting to each Hypothetical
question involving all the allegations made
by Mr. LaiIla", VIZ:
Tnat when he entered Mr.. Sage's ohce the
latter was parleying with the bomb-thrower; ;
that Mr.. sage had read Norcross's demand
Tor sl,25O,O00 with the ultimatum of de-
strrction, and realized that an attempt was
about to be made upon his He; that lie de-
nbcrately walked around Mr. Laidlaw and
graSplng MIN win DOth hands held hin as
shield with his back to the bomh-t hrower,
knowing that Mr.. Laidlaw was unconscious
OF the peril In which he was being placed,
and that as result In the explosion which
followed MIR. Sagc's life was saved at the eX-
-, 49,, ,..,.,.,, g., 49,, a., ,,,,
pemse VI srl"'ous injuries 70 M'' Ia'ul''"'
Thls hypothetical question concluded with
the inquiry whether, under such crcum-
,,o,oa. a, oo,,o,, II, n o,,-n.,,, ,, ,o,,o,,,
"n ~ ''i''' III " 'i' "u'' ''' a''''i"s''
would stand.
HAS A CAUSE OF ACTION
,r,,o, 80, !, .ot, w. ,u,,, =,
' - '''' '' '''' ''''' -
Beailan, OF the law llrln OF EVartS, NhOate
Beamar' % wall street. " III raises most
novel and interesting point, and one without
precedent
sa'u LA"yer ra"i u. .ia'a.h' oi .he rrm Oh
Cravath houston, In the Equitable Build
ing:
'.eh' " he '.."' 'n-' "ne' mon
deliberately uses another man as a shield to
protect himself from injury from the explo-
.,on NJ a bomb, and he man so uspd ,s tntured
''"" vi ooi''' anu ''' in"i 'o u'eu 10 iAI"' Gu
without nlnSeli being In 1ault he mas cause
or action for the injury he has sustained.
a. nrosun,a INV ,,wvar would ossont IN
presume any i"".u. "ou'u ASSN. W "
'"'' P'o''''''o' Va '""' 'ho Jui' "o"N ."''
10 pass upon the lacts OF any given case.
ENTITLED TO RECOVER DAMAGES
u,o, ,,o ,roe,,o, uos,rt ,o S,,,tor Ia
heh 'ho lu'''ioh was Pu' W 'r"a'o' "a"
COB a. cantor AT MS once In the scnerlner-
horn Building, 90 Broadway, the Senator
,,oruy .n,uod and so,d.
"a',y einileu @ "i'u w o".u
presume you reier 10 the sage-LaluiaW
case. While would not care 10 express an
opinion upon that case, taking the facts as
stated, thinK the man would nave ialr
chance lor the recovery OF dalhaScS. 4 man
VINO - delDerhlel! pullCu mo danger 10 save
49, ~, ~. ~ Vim, rIn.i,,, oT onothar IN
taT,orhw on ,ybinh nn ,,rtion nj Jht na fnmndnn
s,d ,moi'u,tnimnn ga 'N ''0'' nag ' ~
".A wi'n' on Van ,r,,l. ohout 4, 80 ha s,,d
,rrr,nir I'm he In,v rnr. nnr Vr Engan. VnI'
schntnSS nt"SS W N'' AZ" r'' 'Ae'' '' ''seAe q"
''NN
REMEMBERS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR CASE
:" think 1t Il good cause for action" re-
Piled Mir. Van schaick. :" While / do not
I''Nt',, !H't "iniS ~ ,''iu M !. a. 'i'.o @W ~ ~ ~,