New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-09
HE SAYS MR.. SAGE HELD HIM.
IAIDLOw,S STORY ABOUT The EXPLOSION.
DECLARING THAT HE WAS USED As SHIELD

DECLARING THAT HE WAS USED As A SHIELD
AN ANSWER TO HIS ALLEGATION.
Word was received at The Tribune Office yesterday
that Russell sage would have been killed, or seriously
hurt when the bomb exploded In his Office had he not
showed w. 4. Ladlaw, the clerk for John Bloodgood
Il Co.. who is now at ST. Vincents Hospital suffering
from wounds received at tie time of the calamity, be-
tween the banker and the b0mb-thrower Mr. Laidlaw
Is much improved in health, and was able yesterday to
give the following account Of what, he said. actually
took place Just before and at the time the bomb eX
ploded.
Mr.. Sage was talking to the man who was blown
to pieces when ! entered the Office" said he. The
banker seemed TO be excited, and as soon as got
inside the door he held out his hand to greet me.
lie appeared TO be delighted to see me- and was
much surprised when he showed a disposition to shake
hands with me- for that was something unusual Tor
him to do. lie before had shaken hands with
me- as he is not in the habit OF greeting clerks SO
cordially But grasped his hand, OF course, when it
held TO me- and he at once pulled me between
himself and the stranger of whom he appeared to be
afraid. As he took hold Of my hand his grip
tghtened, and he continued TO walk backward toward
his private Office pulling me with him. He was much
excited aud apparently frightened l endeavored 10
release my hand from the grasp Of Mr.. Sage,
but he held it tightly that / could not get
away. Mr.. Sage held between himself and the
bomb throwcr but whether it through fear or ex-
citement do not know. AS my back was toward the
bomb-thrower when the explosion took place. and as
was directly in front Of Mr. sage, received the full
force Of the explosion in my back and side, While Mr
sage escaped with few scratches on his fare. As
soon as the bomb went off the banker rushed through
the private door OF his Office. followed. We both
tried TO open window there but escape that way
seemed dangerous, turned around and rushed out
into the hallway through doorway leading from the
private Office
DR.. Shea, the hospital physician who is attending
Laidlaw heard him make the foregoing statement
The doctor says his patients injuries are on his back
and SIDE as If he had stood with his back toward The
bomb thrower when the explosion took place. Laidlaw
is improving rapidly he says and will be able TO be out
in two weeks.
A Tribune reporter called to Mr.. Sage regarding
tire statement made by Mr.. Laidlaw Mr. sage WAS
not able TO be seen. When first brought home, now
ever he related to his family and others present with
extreme minuteness the circumstances OF the affair
Mrs Sage talked freely with the reporter and gave fully
her husbands statement, which differs materially from
Mr. LadIaw's version. Mrs. Sage said that Mr. sage
declared that Iaidlaw and the stranger were
seated together the bench when lie emerged
from his inner Office in response to the strangers de-
mand for an Interview. Mr.. Laidaw deserved to re-
ceiye attention first, he had been waiting longer,
but the bomb thrower pressed his business AFTER
Mr. sage had returned the type1ritten demand for
~ 300 COO, he took two steps backward. Meah"hlle
Mr.. Ladlaw arose and extended his hand containing
paper relating TO the mission on which he had come.
Then came the explosion Mr.. Sage Is sure, his VIE
ays that he did not take Laidlaw by the hand, or
even receive his paper. His attention was 80 en-
crossed BIZ the stranger on the one hand, ana Oh inc
oIher with Mr. James who was within the once walt
ing TO receive attention, that he was scarcely aware
NJ Mr. Laidlaw's presence He does not think Laid
Inv WAS between himself and the stranger he says
After the explosion he remembers distinctly lying
beside Mr. Ladlaw. who asked what ne should uo'
Mr. sage said Let's get up" and arose, and ohefed
his hard 70 laidlaw
There WAS little surprise in Wall Street yesterday
when Russell Sage failed TO come to his ONCE 'oionei
I / slocum, the head clerk, said That business was
now moving smoothly at the temporary quarters III
the rooms Of the Manhattan Railway Company u
,v, MIR sage this morning." he said. "and he looked
decidedly better. lie went out driving TINS aterhoon'
n n had not been for his Doctors niunctions Mr. sage
would have come downtown today thhA II Is
strongly probable that he will be here tomorrow
4 check for 300 900, drawn by c. 4. Harmed d Co.
tn the order of Mr. Sage found in the rubbish OF
the Office which Is still being searched for possible
valuable documents 1t was torn and soLed' Dut was
taken to bank and cashed, thereby releasing te Dou
Of indemnity which Colonel Socum had made to secure
the issue Of a duplicate check. Another CHECK i'f
small amount drawp by Hartman q Co., was ai'o
found This leaves only two other checks missing
All the books OF Mr. sage have been recovered from
the debris. a.,
Chief Inspector Byrnes said yesterday that ulc
name of the man who threw the dynamite boHo Ill
Russell sages Office was still unknown De'eo'N@
bad followed I'D eight different alleged idenuhcatonS
~ the head AT the Morgue he said. and in each case
the person TO whom the head was supposed 10 have
belonged was found alive. The Inspector HIS
niece OF red white and blue ribbon. which was Iouiu
In the wrecked Office at No. II Br0adway IL was
found sticking the broken ceiling directly over uo
Mace where the bomb-thrOwer Is supposed 10 nave
ling IN he
Horne who identified the head at the M0rgue' the
homb-thrower had exhibited peculiar badge auaohed
to such a ribbon. The bombthrowe tod Horhe tn''
the badge was used to designate an oncef III II sece'
organization to which W. d. Southworh was sau "
belone II is a curious coincidence that the ponce
found badge like the one described by Horne III ue
possession OF souihworth, but WITHOUT 'he ripoo"
I,snector Byrncs sad he had no positive evidence
tlot southworth was connected with the ooho
thrower -.
Many people went TO the Mornle again. but
none of them could identify the head Two men
who examined it carefully said they could not
recognize it, But they said that tley had seen
Irofessor- Denton yesterday morning In liquor
store at Moore and Leonard sts III BroohSn; Ag,u,
halipaS oeloch ma. drI hsad on 81 the lar md
examined the teeth and back OF the nead "nI , lac
an Identification which the young man had eviienty
made before Inspector hyrnes. Trey refused 10 say
anything whatever about IT, 81. -, =. ,,,.sr
A man, who said he Was brother OF iToiessor.
Denton went from bis home. at Glendale. L. L. bnt
after looking at the head said That IL WAS not tha Vi
his relative -, -, a. 1-o,r,
The lanltor OF the Bowery Branch OF the Young
Mems Chris stan Association called and SAID that s0utl
worth had o, cas- onaIly called Mt the building with
stranger who, he bought. might possibly nave been
the dynamite tbrOwer. hut he could NOT recognize
him thongl he looked nj the face long and carefully
Bessie Reeves, Of No. III Clinton race SAID Clt
head looked Ike that Of man who engaged rooms NJ
her mothers house about two years ago she sad the
man had often spoken about Jay Gould ana the van
derbits. -. A.. ,-x,..,.
The condition OF the wounded men at the hospitals
Is Improving daily. At the Chambers street Hospital
Prank Robertson and l. W. osborne were DUN u'''ie
well. - 49,,
DIS Douglas, Fitch and Field spent some hours
Yesterday afternoon In the insane pavilion at Bellevue
Hospital examining W. ID. SouthwOrth, who was sald
10 have been associate Of the dynamite trower but
they were unable TO reach definite CONCLUSION. lie
will be continued TODAY.