The evening times., 1899-07-08
THE SAGE LETTER EXPLAINED.
Artemus j. Smith Refuses to Name
the DANGEROUS Friend.


New York, July 8.-Artemus j. Smith,
who wrote a letter of warning to Mrs.
Russell Sage, gave out the subjoined
statement yesterday. He refused to
discuss the paragraphs of the open letter
or to expand paragraph numbered one, in
dicating what had been falsely published
and what had been accurately reported.
ITO the public: In justice to all who
have been brought into this case by its un
right in the eyes of my friends, associates,
and public, l wish to state:
"First-That certain newspapers have
placed words in my mouth and have made
me say things which / have never said at
all, have grossly misrepresented and dis
torted that which l did say, therefore,
about half of what has been published
should be entirely ignored.
'Second-That i steadfastly refused to
disclose the name of the person referred
to in my letter to Mrs. Sage, because the
publicity Of the matter has achieved the
object which l sought to bring about pri-
vately. To disclose his identity now would
be doing him an irreparable injury to his
reputation and business, which would take
years to live down. His Identification now
could do no possible good, except to sat
isfy the curiosity and cupidity Of the pub
lie. while it would practically blast the
life of my friend by branding him an an
archist and a dangerous man. This. has
taught him lesson which he will never
forget, and will disillusionize him OF many
erroneous ideas. His Identification would
probably lead to his arrest and cause him
a great deal OF annoyance and trouble, be-
-sl hn 10 r.1tn h htnh
would be attached TO the matter-the very
thing which / sought to avoid in the begin
ming.
''Third-The assumptions by some of the
morning papers, especially the Sun" that
Mr. Clarence LaddDavis is the person
referred TO- is wholly unwarranted on their
part. They have no reason for making
such assumptions except that he happens
to be my friend. ] wish to exonerate him
from any completely in this matter, and
wish to state that he is not the individual
referred to in my letter. 1t grieves me
very much that his name has been men
ioned.
'Fourth-As for my action in this case
wish to say that / acted entirely in good
faith, believing that danger to Mr.. Sage
was imminent ! wished to warn Mr.. Sage
and at the same time to save my friend
from any annoyance from the police. There
were only three things that l might have
done, viz: % To inform the police OF the
matter; (2) to reveal the facts and the
party's name to Mr.. Sage; and (3) to send
a general note of warning, keeping the de-
tails for a personal interview. After sew
eral days of pondering as 10 what course
TO pursue l chose the latter, because of the
peculiar situation in which | was placed.
| took pains to enclose my business card
and to identify myself to insure reply. ]
am well aware that such men as Mr.. Sage
in the course Of year receive many let
tiers making all sorts of demands upon
them, but il seems to me that after having
taken the pains / did to identify myself
and to give my address Mr. Sage did me a
great injustice by making the matter pub
lie without first having done me the cour-
tesy TO at least send a representative 10
see me. But this is sometimes the way in
this world; in seeking TO do another a
kindness one gets only trouble for his
palms. | wish to say further that as the
matter has turned out my judgment may
have been bad, but had my letter been
acted upon as / had reason TO believe il
would as a case of courtesy from one gen
tleman to another, the result would have
been attained without any publicity and
much more satisfactory to all parties con-
cerned. AS to the suggestion of blackmail
my reputation for truth and honesty and
my business and social standing should
be sufficient to eXonerate me from any sus-
picion on that score. With this statement
/ wish il distinctly understood that the
matter is closed as far as l am con-
cerned."
Clarence Ladd- Davis sums up his con.
nection with the complications arising out
of the letter by saying: Il have beer
butchered to make New York holiday
AT one moment he says that the affair will
| he supposes, ruin him, and the next mo.
ment consoles himself with thoughts thai
he must accept what the Lord has sem
him. He declares that he hopes that the
case is closed. Here l am. You see me- The
police can come and get me If they wan
to, but hope that they will not" He wa:
in fine humor today, illustrating hi:
predicament with proverbs, reciting an,
ecdotes, and making Jokes.
Russell Sage said that the affair begaI
and ended for him when he turned tn,
! Smith letter over TO the police. THE let
ter scared my servants" he said yester
| day, ''and kept them from going dowI
to the country. They thought that
| there was going to be any attempt at mur
/ der they ought to stay about / dave dom
my duty by telling the police. l DO no
know what they will do. / think it ough
to be investigated some. when two sucl
men are in the affair. have seen neithe
of them and do not intend to begin an,
suit for blackmail or anything else. l d
! just what did eight years ago-leave tn
case in the hands of the police"
Electric Plant for Cuba.