The morning call., 1891-12-15
THE RUSSELL GE CASE.

As 1t is possible some of our readers would
like to see what is said about the attempt to
take the life of Russell Sage we will copy
an item first from our friend PiXley's AT-
gOndBt, for he always has something Origi-
nal to say if it does not correspond with the
views of the public: Mr.. Pixley says:
Although. OF course, nothing but horror can be
felt at the atrocious attack upon the money and
life of the New York stock gambler, some good,
not Intended by the crazed pirate who unhes
tatingly died on encountering failure in his
atracious enterprise. may not unreasOnably be
looked for Let US cease to defy our miliionaires
They are really made of very common clay. II
we love them-a and we surely dove must cease
10 make OF them our uncrowned kings, or they
viii run the risks that moparchs do. We Ameri-
proud Of millionares as the
Blush tradesman is OF his arisiocracy. II we
would keep them with u.s. without the assassin
ever stalking upon their trail. we must talk Of
them less, and the obsequious daiiies must de-
vote less space TO them. The crank loves a
shining mark. and 10 be a millionaire is dan
gerous
We have above short essay on million
aires, which it would seem are worshiped
by the public, according to our contempo-
rary. Another San Francisco newspaper
publishes the following remarks concerning
the same event:
There seems TO have been made out complete
demonstration of the fact that Russell Sage's
mysterious assailant was Henry L. Norcross of
Somervil;e, Mass. who was broker doing bust
ness In Boston. The identification appears to DO
thorough in every respect.
The next question that arises is, Why should
NorcrOSs have committed the terrible act which
cost him his own life? What was The moving
cause OF his assault Gu Sage, In his own office, In
the very heart OF a great and crowded city,
where escape would be impossible, even If The
murderous attack should succeed?
1t Is 10 be observed, before yenturing any con-
lectures upon this point, that Sage's own account
OF the affair is manifestly incorrect. II could
not have recognized Henry l.. Norcross a man
tanned Wilson who had sent him threatening
letters, nor Is his story OF the way the affair
CURED literally true, for he makes no mention OF
The man lie used as a shield to protect himself
from the explosion. MIR. Sage now says he never
had any dealings with NoTcross and, so far as
lie can Tecoliect never heard OF him.
A scrap Of NOrcross' personal history may
throw some light on the matter of the assault.
friend OF his says that he had invented a plan
for an ell waited railroad, out of which he eX-
pected to make great deal OF money, and had
sent out circulars relating 10 Il 10 Russell Sage,
Jay Gould and Others 1t Is certainly not I'M
possible that Sage may have appropriated his
invention, for such things have been done by
rich men and powerful corporations before, and
that the visit OF NorcrOss to ges Office was TO
Try to compel the millionaire 10 do him Justice.
This is much more likely than 10 suppose that
he came with any idea that he could get any
such sum as Sl,250,000 from Sage, for no man
Keeps such sum of money at hand when there
are banks in which money may be deposited.
fun inquiry shOdld be, aud doubtless viii
be, made into the whole Affair." and we venture
10 say that it VIII show that NorcroSS was a man
with rea! grievance against Sage. and that he
was not a mere blaekmailer nor a person at
tempting TO extort money by threats of violence.
The following telegram was published in
The CALL OF Monday morning, and it
doubtless gives the true incentive TO the
commission of the crime by which Norcross
lost his life:
Boston, Dec. 13.-Iu an interview tonight
MIS-. NorcToss said the letter found in her sons
desk addressed to her, removed from the minds of
herself ana husband all doubts that Henry, her
son, was the man who threw the bomb al Rus
sell Sage.
The opening sentence of the letter was: II
go 10 New York TO get Sl,25O,OO II do not
succeed l viii Kill myself" She refused 10 d.
yulge further contents OF the letter. but finally
said: HE was insane, and made martyr of
himself in the interest of his inventions and for
the good OF society"
This attempt upon Russell Sage's life is
doubtless of a piece with that which in
duced Stokes to kill jim Fisk, who, it was
said, had oyerreached Stokes in stock spec
ulations, and Selover, who attacked Gould
on similar grounds, but Selover did not at
tempt to kill Gould. All of these cases
probably turned upon the belief of the
parties concerned that they had been
wroDged.