The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1892-03-19
INQUEST ON NoRCRoSS.
Did Russell Sage Use Clerk Laidlaw al
Shield 20 Protect HimselT

| VI" R"SSelI sage Use Clerk Laidlaw az
Shield to Protect Himself.
A coroner's jury in New York City sat
during the past week on the few CHASTITY
relics OF the dynamite explosion in Rus
sell Sage's office, II Broadway, in De-
cember last. Russell Sage and the
wrecks OF two or three of his former en-
ployes sat beside plaster cast of the
head OF Norcross, the bomb thrower, in
the of1ce OF Coroner MESSENGER during
the examination. The jury was made
up largely OF bankers and brokers'. The
coroner announced that the jury was to
inquire into the death of BENJAMIN f,
Norton, the clerk in Russell Sage's office,
VINO was blown through the window, as
well as into the death of Norcross.
Colonel Joseph j. Slocum, brother-in.
law OF Russell Sage and Samuel Calhoun.
telegraph operator in Washington Con.
nors' office. testified to facts of the ex.
ploslon. Then William R. Laidlaw, the
man who claims that Russell Sage used
him as shield, hobbled to the witness
stand with evident difficulty. He used
walking stick for support. He testi.
he'd that Russell Sage, as he entered the
ONCE, took him by the hand in a friendly
manner, and drew him between himself
and Norcross. The explosion followed.
lie received over go wounds.
Russell Sage's testimony followed:
"On December 4, he said, "a card was
brought in to my private office about
noon from man who was in the recep.
ton room. The card bore the name Fl.
u. Wilson. had few appointments
to keep and / told the clerk who brought
IN the card to request Mr.. Wilson to call
at z o'clock. The man told the clerk
that he had a letter for me from Mr..
Rockefeller, and that he would REQUIRE
but two or three words with me. then
stepped from my private office to the
outer room.
saw the man who had asked to see
me sitting on settee. He had satchel
by his side. Just as I approached the
man Laldlaw came in and passed into
the inside Office. The man arose and
walked toward me. He was respectable
looking and mild hammered. He looked
hxedly at me in calm, but determined
way.
Before he had time % say or do any.
thing, Mr.. James, of Robinson & James.
came in and l requested him to step in
side. When Mr.. James had passed in
the man handed me neatly folded sheet
OF paper. He kept his eyes fixed on me all
the time. read the document through.
1t contained these words as far os
can remember: This bag which curry
contains dynamite. demand from you
Sl,2OO,OOO. If you refuse I'll blow up
the building and everyone in it. Will
you give the money, yes, orno?'
Il saw at once l was confronted with
murderer. l moved backward to the
inner room. Norcross moved after me.
still looking fixedly at me. kept going
backward until l reached the desk near
which Laidlaw was standing.
Norcross then said: Il rather con.
Strue your answer as a refusal | said
to him: Do you see anything in my
looks to make you doubt me?'
"Norcross then stepped back and out.
ndG DbT D6SG IL always ne1
mother, and that no one sympathizea
with her in her pleasures and joys as you
do.
Teach her to think we'll before she says
no or yes, but to mean it when she does.
Teach her to avoid men who speak
lightly of any of the great duties of life,
who show in their appearance that their
habits are bad.
Teach her that her own room is her
nest, and that to make it sweet and at.
tractive is duty as well as pleasure.
Teach her that if she can sing or read
or draw, or give pleasure in any way by
her accomplishments, she is selfish and
unkind if she does not do this gladly.
Teach her to be woman-self-respct-
ing, honest, loving and kind, and then
you will have daughter who will be
pleasure to you always, and whose days
will be long and joyous in the land which
the Lord has given her.-Ladies' Home
Journal