The morning call., 1894-04-07
A MILLIONAIRE INFLICTED.

me NEW L OK papers just TecelV6u
contain the detailed report of the famous
Ssge-Lsidlaw case. 1t is amusing reading.
1t will be remembered that on December
4, 1891. dynamiter named NorcrosS en-
tered Russell Sage's Office and demanded
million or SO, under threats OF smashing
things generally. a brokers clerk named
Laidlaw happened to be in the oficee at
the time: him Sage seized by the hand
and drew him forward so that his body in
terposed between Sage and NOrcrOss. The
explosion then took place. Laidlaw was
badly injured, Sage was unhurt. and, as
he says himself. gently subsidized into sit
ting position on the floor, gazing on the
wreck around him. Laidlaw lost his posi-
tion and was so badly wounded that he
was unable to getianother. lie applied to
fusal. He then sued for damages, and
jury has now awarded him $4,000.
On previous trial of the case the Judge
laid down the principle that Sage could
only be held responsible if il were proved
that he had pulled or pushed Laidlaw
from position of safety into position of
danger. This rule did not guide the sec
ond jury. Laidlaw was not in position
of safety when Sage drew him forward as
a shield. The verdict was based upon the
more reasonable ground that Laidlaw's
danger may have been increased by Sage'S
action, and that, in fact, the interposition
OF his body may have proved Sage's shell
ter. 1t is obvious. too. that the jury took
into consideration the fact that the dyna-
mite was aimed at Sage and not at Laid
law. and that in sharing Sage's danger.
Laidaw, who is poor man, established
moral claim On remuneration from Sage,
who Is a multi-milIonaire. Under the
circumstances as presented. no generous
rich man would have waited for the YER
dict of jury to make some compensation
to one who had been crippled at his side
and by a weapon intended for himself.
The case will furnish the clergy with
new text for sermons on the tendency of
wealth to harden the heart. And yet such
discourSes will present false view of life.
The possession of riches quite as often
opens the pores of sympathy as it closes
them. Sage is an exceptional rich man.
He has spent sixty years in the accumua-
ton of money. 1t seems to have been his
sole objsct in life. He has no pleasures,
no tastes. He never buys book or a
picture or goes to an opera or a dinner, or
owns a yacht or a good horse, or even
orders good suit of clothes-and yet he
is probably worth not less than fifty mil
lions. He never had vice. He does not
drink or smoke, or play cards, or fiirt with
women; he does nothing which could
divert him from the pursuit of dollars.
Nothing seems to please him but gain
nothing grieves him but the loss of money.
IL is presumed lie will mourn over the
Laidlaw verdict, though be often makes in
a single day twice as much as its whole
amount
The closing speech on the plaintiff side
was made by 10 Choate, the leader Of the
New York bar. 1t was one of his happiest
efforts Sage had claimed that he had been
deafened by the explosion. Choate en-
trapped him by asking his first three ques-
tons almost in whisper. The millionaire
answered them promptly. "Ah!" said
Choate, cit does my heart good to see
man OF Mr.. Sage's years, n, so spry. It's
beautiful sight and shows how those of
US who lead worthy existence may hope
to be rewarded by long life. But Mr..
Sage's memory is terribly impaired" He
dSAOQ Bllu AlOU lDdn 4nloooOll dCIuC
bonds be held Cd the day OF the explosion,
and had drawn from him the answer that
he "could not tell within 100000" "He
cannot remember such an important matter
as that" continued the counsel land yet
he wants you to believe that his memory
of the incidents Of December 4. 1891. is re-
liable. He need not try to hide his smile
up his sleeve" The lawyer went on
"Sage tells you he did not fall when the
dynamite exploded. He gently subsidized.
He is such solid old fellow that dynamite
can't move him. 1t cleaned out the Office,
demolished desks and partitions, blew one
man clean through the window and moved
a safe into the next room, but Mr.. Sage
remained firm and mistaken. He sat
down, but not with bump. He sat bolt
upright"
A less acute lawyer would have handled
the case from a tragic standpoint, and
would have contrasted Sage's obduracy
with Laidlaw's sufferings. Choate's play
ful humor won It's way to the jufy's heart
The millionaire was made ridiculous, and
from ridicule to odium the interval is
short. The verdict was only delayed by
the endeavor of two jurymen to make the
verdict $50. 900; within an hour they agreed
on $4,000 That is enough to teach the