The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-09 00:00:00

ROBERT SAVAGE.

There has not probably, for some years past, been brought to
justice a more daring, dangerous, and extensive violator of the law.
than Robert Savage, one of the four eriminsla executed on wet •
nesday at Newgate. He began hits career of crime at an early age
for at the Old Bailey Sessions in June, 1821, at which tium
h.
' was about 16, he was convicted in the name of Charles Hall, of
stealing three pair of shoes, and was ordered on be tranuPrrred
seven years. He did not, however, go abroad, but was sent to the
Penitentiary, Millbank. The prisoners bring removed from that
place, in consequence of the sickness which prevailed there,Savage,
with others, was put on board the Osrymede convict ship, at
Woolwich. There his turbulent spirit several times brought him
into disgrace. After serving about four years he received a pardon,
and was discharged. At this time he appears to have formed rem.
lutions to follow an honest and industrious course of life, and se.
tually worked hard as an excavator at the new Isotsdon.bridge. n;,
health becoming impaired, he found himself incapable of muck
exertion, and being unable to earn as much money as before, his
impatient and violent disposition discovered itself by an areropt
to
poison himself, which rash act had newly proved fatal to hie.
After his recovery, unknown to his family, he joined some of his
old associates at the hulks, and other bad characters, and followed
from that period, until his apprehension, no other ocrupation thus
that of a midnight plunderer, during which interval the minds of
crime do not, perhaps, furnish an instance of any one hosing can.
mitted more numerous or more audacious acts of housebreaking
and burglary. Although of course the greater number of these
instances will remain unknown, some few have been particularired,
in which it has been ascertained he was a principal actor, whidi
were as follow: _ _

About six months back he broke into and robbed a house at
Homerton, carrying away such a considerable quantity of plate,
linen, and other property, that he was obliged to disencumber him-
self of a part by leaving it on the road. It was he who killed the
dog in a caurt-yard near Peckham or Camberwell, and haying en.
tered the house, stole some of the plate. He made an attempt to
break open a house near Stoke Newington, but on cutting through
the door or window-shutter pannela, a spring alarum.bell was ,et
in motion, which disturbed the family, and Savage and his con,.
pinion were closely pursued by the pa.rols, and narrowly escaped
apprehension. The risk which he encountered in prosecuting e.,
wicked course of life, and the dating and ferocious spirit isbich
he possessed, may be judged of by the following ecmint.":_
Having, in company with another, broken into a house about
12 miles from town, he was about to retreat with a quantity of
valuable booty, which he had packed up, when he saw a person
come down the stairs, who, raising a blunderbuss to his shoulder,
called upon Savage to drop the bundle which was in his hand.
Instead of obeying this command, he instantly drew a pistol from
his breast, and pointing it to the party by whom he had been
addressed, desired hint to do 1113 worst ; the person replied, that
if Savage would not fire, neither would he, and lie immediately let
fall the blunderbuss, which most probably was not loaded. Singe
then ran out of the house, pulling the door after him, and went
off with the stolen goods unpursued. Ile told a person who visaed
him in Newgate, and who was desirous of ascertaining whether be
had been assisted by accomplices, that-the robbery at Mr. Biggs's
(the offence for which heaufkred)wu not undertaken in consequence
of any information obtained from persons connected with the fa-
mily, for that, in fact, he never would rely upon such kind of
co-operation ; but that it was, as he termed it, " a chance job."
He stated that all the bank-notes which he found at Mr. Biggs's
were a 51. and a 101. ; but that there were bills and checks to the
amount of several hundreds ; these he destroyed, but regretted that
he had not sent them back in a parcel. Ile further stated, that he
actually burst open the front kitchen door, where two female
servants were sleeping, without awakening them. Cron Rime
doubt being expressed as to the probability of this, he declared that
lie had often broken into bed-chambers where persona were asleep,
and taken away property, without their being disturbed. Notmany
nights before Mr. Biggs's house was entered, he made an attempt
upon that of Mr. Annet, which is within a very short distance, but
he was unable to accomplish his design. Savage always went
armed with pistols, and has been heard to say, that whoever should
venture to apprehend him must take the consequences; and there
is little doubt but his threat would have been realized.
Bentield, who suffered with Savage, and who was related to him
by marriage, was by no means so violent and ruffian-like in his
conduct ; but he for a considerable time had associated with some
of the mast depraved and desperate characters of various descrip-
tions. He had formerly been in the possession of some property,
and he had been heard to declare, that amongst those who acce-
lerated his destruction were the infamous Hunt and Probert, with
whom be was accustomed frequently to consort.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TAITEMALL's, TOVIIIIIDAY, PIKS 8.

With the exception of a few at the early part of the afternoon, the at-
tendance of the subscribers we. very limited, the great majority being at
Ascot-heath Races; au that scarcely any bw.inesa wee dune, while the
trivial bets that were made are nut worthy of notice. The betting will
next week commence with viuur, when the July Stakes at Newmarket,
and the Derby and Oak. of 1527, will be brought upea the roakil.i. in ad-
dition to the Doncaster St. Leger.