The evening world., 1894-03-29
He SAVED LAlDLAW.
Russell Sage's Remarkable State
ment on the Witness Stand.
Says He Opened the Private Door
to Let Him Escape.
MIR. Choate Has More Fun" with
the Aged Defendant.

In anticipation that the mischievous
Joseph II. Choate would have more
fun" with the aged and respectable Rus
sell Sage, in cross-examining him on the
trial of the suit of Brokers' Clerk Laid
law for $4,000 damages, an immense
crowd of people tried to get into Part
ii. of the Supreme Court, where the
trial is in progress. this morning. Laid
law says Sage used him as buffer to
protect himself from Dynamiter Nor
crosss bomb.
Mr.. Choate had only just begun his
cross-eXamination Of the seventy seven
year-old millionaire, who draws his $40
a meeting as director or trustee in u
hundred corporations, when Justice Pat
terson adjourned the proceedings last
night. This beginning had whetted the
appetite for more.
Mr.. Sage had been persuaded to hear
whispers, although he had just testi-
fled that his hearing had been badly
injured by the bomb explosion; he had
owned that although his working suit
was four years old, he had always had
another suit besides his Sunday 60 to-
meetin' broadcloth, but the softest pal
aver of Mr.. Choate failed to induce Rus
sell Sage to remember how many cor
porations he was interested in as stock
holder.
Mr.. Choate's demeanor Is that of
Difference to age. His voice Is soft. his
manner gentle, but his words are not.
Before Mr. Sage respmed resumed the cSrH witness IS
Mr.. Sage's Office. was recalled to the
stand to clear up some uncertainty In
the mind Of the second juror as to the
thickness of the beams in the building
where the explosion occurred.
Then the tall angular fgure OF Jay
Gould's old partner and only bosom
friend and confident went on the
Il hope. you are well. this morning
Mr.. Sage. saluted Joe Choate.
"oh. well. I'm pretty we'll" mumbled
Now, Mr.. Sage, without turning youl
head. tell me what is the nature Of tn.
curtain fastening directly behind you.'
demanded Mr.. Choate as the opening
Mr.. Sage smiled in a sickly way and
mumbled.
81 can't hear" said juror.
"Oh, speak up. Mr.. Sage. Talk just
as you would II you were making deal
on the Stock Exchange;" . ,ou
how, IL Mr.. Sage couldn't see the cur
tain fixture behind him, he was able to
keep his eye upon Notsross 81 ,oS when hsn he
threat to drop the satchel full of dyna.
mite II the money was refused, and al
the same time see Laidlaw, who was
almost directly behind him.
Mr.. Sage's only reply was. "Oh,
pshaw!'
Mr.. Choate asked II Mr.. Sage thought
Norcross was a lunatic.
Not exactly that, but a crank which
Is first cousin to 1t, / suppose replied
Mr.: Sage.
might have elapsed from the time Nor.
| cross entered the office to the explosion
of the bomb.
and Hf rssa h9Pdsd & r PsF Sas to ms demand
N,2oo,OCO | read it, again. and then
handed it back again and said to the
man that I had an appointment with
two gentlemen for Il o'clock made the
day before, and that after that l could
fix it up. / thought could get rid OF
them in two minutes.
He said We could step into my private
Office to do business. / told him had O
gentleman in my private office. and re-
; peated again what had said about ar
apP?EEbtntmeent' !?Eban en- s,en,sd hack . little and
said. Then j understand you to refuse
oh, no. said l., Then repeated
DO 1 look like a man who would lie Il
you, and not do as I said would?
He stepped back again, and re-
treated four or five feet and to the left
Mr.. Choate unrolled the diagram OF
, the offices In the Arcade Building Il
Broadway, where the tragedy occurred
and showing the marks made by Mr.
Sage to indicate where each OF the
actors stood. tried TO get the old man
to admit that he retreated to a point
stood leaning on the ticker, and was in
stantly killed by the explosion Of Nor
, cross's bomb
Mr.. Sage denied 1t. and indicated or
point which left the way clear for the
. dynamite to reach Clerk Norton.
Then Mr.. Choate had an awful tim'
up that he felt that morning that he hac
, a dangerous man to deal with. But on'
Z of the newspapers had quoted him al
saying that on the day OF the explosion
:, and he had said from the witness stanC
that the reporters were too imaginativ,
and had not quoted him correctly, 81
now he couldn't be induced to say more
than he thought he had a crank to dea
with
Mr. Choate read newspaper account
of this bomb throwing. Mr.. Sage wa.
interviewed. The account quoted him al
while / wasSparleying with the mad
man Mr.. Laidlaw came In. opened th'
private door in the partition for him. h
foil wing, him. | was glad to see Mr.
NJ Ghoate locked %, up from his n! rsadins y
rs that so?" parried the witness. 81
/, didn't say that to the reporters"
Then you were not glad to see Mr.
Laidlaw?"
mo sir, for it put one more life ir
danger. | opened the private door Il
give him a chance to escape II possible
and that let the crank in"
! oh, Then you rather think tha
Laidlaw is indebted to YOU for saving
his life" exclaimed Mr.. Choate.
Yes"
Evening HiEh school Speakers.
. The decision OF the Judges who prcsided at tn