You can go to archive.is, web.archive.org, etc. and enter the URL of the article to get a readable copy of it. This does not require a NY Times subscription. It works for many other sites too. (Once you get the archive link, you can post it in a comment to save other people the extra clicks.)

(Three people have already posted comments with links to archived copies of this article.)

Personally I've ready about the case elsewhere so I have the context. Others have subscriptions. Others use archive sites.

With js off, many news web sites will let you see the first few paragraphs.

I too wonder.