New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-28
LAIDLAW'S STORY AGAIN.
HE TELLS 1T IN HIS SUIT AGAINST RUS
SELL SAGE.
TESTIMONY THAT THE BANKER USED HIM
AS a SHIELD - $4,000 OF DAM
AGES DEMANDED.

AS \ SHIELD - S5HWO OF DAM
AGES DEMANDED.
The suit Of William r. I.aidlaw against Russell
Sage for $4,000 resumed yesterday morning be-
fore Judge Patterson In Part II. Supreme Court.
Mr. Laidaw was the messenger who came INTO
Russell Sage's Office on December 4. 1891 just at
the time Norcross was about to hur the bomb.
Mr. Laidlaw alleges that Mr.. Sage seized him and
put him between himself and Norcross. As re-
suit OF the explosion he seriously injured. and
Is he says. incapacitatei from work for life. Elk
Judge john +. Dillon. Colonel r.. &. James and Mr..
Tagsart looked after interests Russell Sage.
While Joseph II. Choate. eX-Judge Noah Davis and
Messrs. Jessup and Plncon represented Mr. Laid
law
Russell Sage was not In court when ex-Judge
Noah Davis opened the case for Laidlaw. Ex-
Judge Davis said that the plaintiff was a clerk in
the employ of Bloodgood & Co.. the brokers. He
In the habit Of visiting the office OF Mr.. Sage
on matters of business. on December t. 1884, about
l2:3o o'clock Mr.. Laidlaw sent by his employers
to Mr. Sages office which in the Arcade Build
/ Ing Rector-st. and Broadway. Norcross came into
the Office about the time
Then counsel described how Norcross gained en-
trance to Mr.; SAGE and gave him the note In which
he demanded sl.2oOo0:
ex-Judee Davis. II will tell you what he should
have done lie should not have allowed this
The interests Of humanity and justice de- L.
in hs pr na M should naye told %
law he was engaged and to come around again.
He allowed Itadlaw TO come into the room even
10 me that any man possessing the ordinary feel
inSs OF Of, humanity should have acted as Mr.: sage
necessity for involving others besides himself in
shook Laidlaw by the hand and asked him how he
was"
Judge Davis then described how Sage pulled
Iaidlaw around until he was between himself and
Norcross and served kind OF shelter. n
moment later Norcross dropped the bag; there was
a sheet OF flame, tremendous explosion. ana Laid
law manned for life.
William Il. Laidlaw then took the stand. He
walked painfully mp the court room. He said he
thrty-nine years old, and had been en-
ployed by John Boodgood & co. since he was a
Are YOU a married man." asked Mr.. Choate.
Have YOU children asked Mr. Choate.
Here Colonel James sprang up and eXcitedy SAID:
Il object. The question has no bearing on the
Alr Choate. with a smile, replied: "oh, II YOU
object TO his having children l VIII withdraw the
The witness then described his business relations
Ting his ono every day transac;lng matters OF
business. Mr.; sage always received me as "A ousi-
"Dd he ever take You by the hand asked Mr..
NO. sir never previous TO the explosion" re-
piled the witness lie then told the story OF the eX-
II entered the Office Of Mr. Sage" said he. 'and
found him talking TO a wrll-lresscl man. After 4
few moments he came up 10 me anl shook hands.
Just AS tn witness was speaking Mr.. sage came
into court ana took a seat near his counsel Laid
law then told how. after the explosion. he found
himself lying on top OF Mr. Sage near the Rector
Mr. choate here asked the plaintiff to produce
the foreign substances which were taken FROM his
body after the explosion These were HANDED -
the Jurors. AMI consisted % pieces 81 leather and
canvas supposed To be parts OF the bag Norcross
The witness ihcn described his spncrinFs in 81
Vincent's Hospital Iaidlaw also showed the coat
and trousers he wore when he entered Sagcs once
Both were In tatters Colonel James conducted m"
cross-cxamination. Several other witnesses iesu-