The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-08
SAGE'S ENEMY.
The WOuId-Be Slayer of Uncle
Russell Unknown.
A. J. Smith, Who Wrote the
Letter, Keeps the Secret.
WILL NOT TELLPOLICE
Man Who Indited the Epistle
Feels Secure.
Says His Action Was Legitimate
Sage Not Worried.
Will NOT TELLPOLICE

New York. July S.-Artemus J. Smith,
who wrote and yesterday took to the
residence of Russell Sage atNo. sos Firth
avenue. a letter addressed to Mrs. Sage
which said that the life Of a member
of her family was hanging by thread,
and that the writer should be consulted
nmediately, appeared at the East FIJI
ty-first street police station early this
morning. Smith saw Sergeant Halpin,
who was on desk duty, announced who
he was. and said that he was willing to
give himself UP if Russell Sage Wlshed
to make any charge against hin. he
said that anything he had done IN the
case had been done in legitimate way
Sergeant Halpin consulted with Act
ing Captain Iantry and they oeGided
that they could not hold Smith. 1hey
said that had the letter been sent
through the mails they might have had
a reason for arrest1ng MIN. Slnltn,
however. took the letter to the sage
house in person. When Smith was told
this he went away ana Sald ne WOuAA
return whenever he was wanted
Russell Sage was seen at his home
this morning He did not seem to worry
much over the letter Mr. sage sald;
4 believe this is an attempt at black
mail. 1t was probably conceived py
persons who thought that because an
attempt was once made on my ire
could be easily frightened into giving up
money. I cannot tell just what L VIII
do in the matter. The case is IN the
hands of the police and will act under
their advice. Smith, in his interviews,
has said that he wished to inform me
that a young lawyer and a very brllllant
man had threatened to take my life. 1t
may be that if the case goes any turth-
er we will find out who this young
lawyer is
Mr.. sage and the detectives decided
that nobody could be arrested MI
Smith could not be arrested, because
he had only played the part or a law
abiding citizen seeking to prevent the
shedding of human blood. Mr.. Smith
friend could not be arrested. because
Mr.. Smith kept the name locked up In
his inner consciousness.
If Mr.. Smith would only tell the name
Mr.. Sage could swear out warrant
for his arrest, alleging that his life was
in danger to the best of his knowledge
and belief. But Mr.. Smith would not.
Mr.. Smith appears to be about 30
years old He is secretary OF the AS
ISOLATED Colonies company, with offices
in the St. Paul building. Mr.. Smith
came from Des MOines Iowa, about
four years ago. The Associated Colo
MES company purpOrts to be a corpora
ton doing business in arid lands in the
southwest. Naturally many OF Mr..
Smiths friends came under suspicion.
Some of them called on him and all who
called talked about the Sage case. 1t
made Mr.. Smith tired.
Clarence Ladd-DaVis of Brooklyn, a
patent lawyer in a Park Row building,
called on Mr.. Smith at 5 O'Clock last
had been identified as Mr.. Smiths
lawyer friend. Mr.. Davis does not look
like destroyer of milliOnaires. He is
slight Of build and gentle of deDOrt-
ment He is as full of eDigrams as
Broadway is of noises. He is a lawyer
and an inventor. He had no recollection
of ever having threatened to take Mr..
Sage or any other millionaire out Of the
world with him.
THE newspapers" said Mr.. Davis.
Estate that I have experimental with
explosives. That I absolutely deny.
have experimental with other things,
but never with explosives in the sense
that the term is ordinarily used. Water
can be made explosive if properly
heated.
Il admit that 7 have made expert
ments with chemicals, but it was for the
purpose of scientific research, which had
as its ultimate obpect the blowing up
of ideas and not men, and have never
learned that that was a crime"
So there the matter rests. Mr.. Sage
feels safe. Mr.. Smith is happy and IN
happy by fits and starts and the would
be-slayer is unknown.