New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-06

the suit came to trial before Judge Andrews ana a
Jury in the supreme Court yesterday. Joseph IL.
Choate, J. Henry Work and cX-Judee Noah Davis
appear for the plaintiff, while Colonel L. e. James OK
Judge Dillon and Rush Taggart are defending the
case.
About half OF the morning session was used IN
securing Jury, and then ex-Judge Davis opened the
case BY telling the Jury what his sido Intended TO
prove. lie declared that Mr.. Sage had exemplihcd
the first law Of nature and tried to preserve him
self, but In doing so be had tried TO make human
shield Of the plaintiff in this suit.
After the opening was finished Laidlaw WAS called.
and, IN answer to questions by Mr.. Choate, he told
his story OF what occurred on the day OF the ex-
plosion. He said that he was with the firm Of John
Bloodgood son, in the uIlls Building. and was In
the habit Of visiting Nj. Sage two or three times
week, and occasionally went 10 his office sew
cral times day business for the firm
on this particular day he went as usual
and when he approached the door OF Mr. Sage's
private Office no him talking with r man. who
was standing in the door OF the partition between
the lobby OF the Office and the inside Office. lie
passed the man and went inside. without hearing
any OF the conversation between Mr.. sage and his
visitor. lie passed through the door to the inner
office. and leaned against the middle OF the desk
which was usually occupied by Mr.. Norton, the pr
va,e secretary OF Mr. Sage. Mr. Norton was In the
conner of the reading the quotations on ticker
A moment after lie leaned against tie DISK Mr..
sage came up 10 him and took his let hand In both
his own. Ladlaw said that hr scarscy knew what
such action on the part OF Mr. sage meant, as h.
had never before shaken hands with him. When be
graspcd both his hands the witness looked across the
shoulder Of Mr. Sage and wtnkcd at Norton. Norton
smiled IN return. As he graspcd his hand. Lnidlaw
said. Mr.. sage gently moved around so that Laidlsw
was between Sage and the man TO whom he had Just
been talking. Laldaw did not ser Norcross. ard did
rot know whether he was In the inner onice or not,
but he thought Norcross outside the partition.
The lower par, Of this partition was Of wood aud the
upper part was a wire screen with window, through
which business was Transacted
Just as he had winked at Norton, MIR. sage said 10
the man behind Laidaw either OF TWO thing. His
words
II you cannot trust me / cannot trust you,' Or
"You Will not trust and shall not trust you.'
Just as these words were uttered the explosion
occurred and Laldlaw lost consciousness
The time between his entering the ONCE and the
explosion. Laidaw said was not more than one min
ue. When he recovered consciousness he was lying
across Mr.. Sage. Mr.. sage on his back and
Laldlaw his stomach. A lot Of boards and
other rubbish on top OF them botI. lie crayiod
out and then helped Mr.. sage to got mp. Every
thing IN confusion. He took chair and tried
break down a door between the Offices OF Mr. Sage
and those occupied by the Manhattan Railroad Com
pany but did not succeed and Mr. sage directed him
10 g. ont In the hall, which he did, Mr.. sage doing
the Sane thing.
Norton the who was blown through Ill"
window ont OF the building
Laldlaw was taken to ST. Vincenrs Hospital where
he remained until january % following. making
nnyfve days altogether lie said that Ms memory
had been Affected and his health impaired generally
10 such IN extent that Il" had not been able 10 per
form the amount OF work which he had done before
the explosion.
At this point the suit OF clothes which Laidlaw
wore on the day OF the accident wa, shown the
fury The black coat was badly burned and torn
into shrcds In the back. The trousers had originally
been lieh plaid. but they were also bEichrncd and
iom to rags.
After going HON. from the hospital Laldaw said
that he was not Well enough 10 return 10 business
init. the last week In March although the nfn for
which he worked had pnid him his salary all the time
that he had been ILL., since the accident hc was too
weak to walk about enough look after any private
mattcr>.
AT this point the witness taken in charge
by Colonel james. lie tried To ind on, Just how
much force Mr. sage had used 10 get i.aIdlaw IN
front Of him before the explosion. Ialdaw rcphci
that he had no Idea Of what being done. lie
Wa surprised al the greeting which he received and
ne fell the gentle pressure Mr. sage changed hs
place but In the sense Of Violence there
force used
This testimony secured only after di- cussion
between Mr.. Choatc ana Mr.. James. The. Mr. Choaie
took the witness ngain and asked some questions
.bout Just what happened. Tie form Of question
did not suit Nr. James, 80 Mr.. Choate asked ihs
question:
How 1t that you were moved from the
middle OF the table 10 the end Of 1t In front OF Mr..
saeel7
Colonel James objected the ground that the
witness had been examined. cross examined. re-ex-
amincd re-cross-cxamined and re-examlned again,
and lie thought that was enough.
Justice Andrews remarked that the matter was
the turning point Of the he would allow the
question:
Laldlaw then repeated the somewhat Modified
story that he had gone into the Office Mr.. sage hal
come up TO hin and taking his lcn hand In both his
own had moved that the witness followed him. and
tneir positions changed that the witness
between Sage and the whom the witness be-
Caution TO Customers.