The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-16
AN EXCITING MYSTERY In NEW HAVEN.

"A FofaIIcA 20 tho COtvOcOreaseS Case
Was Jesse Savage Murdered, or Did He
KIN HimSclf!-An Insurance SQuabblc
for 5000.
The New Haven Uaton of Wednesday states that
in few days the Superior Court will be engaged
in solving mystery which has in its horror been
q source OF trouble and fascination for thousands
II inquiring minds for years. lt seems that on
October l. 1870, Mr.. Jesse Savage, having been to
New York, returned thence by the steamboat,
reaching New Haven In the early part Of the
evening. On his way toward his home In the south
ern part of the city he called, being then apparently
quite In his right mind, at saloon in Union street.
where he drank one glass Of ale, stopping only
long enough for the purpose. Between eight and
nine O'Clock that evening, and when short dis
tance from hts residence, occurred the dreadful
deed, In a lane leading from Hill to Lafayette
street. and which, had it been fully opened for
travel, would have been a part OF continuation OF
Prince street. The unfortunate man received III
the locality ABOVE mentioned several wounds. His
throat was cut, and there were cuts and stabs
upon his body. Staggering to house nearby his
shocking condition was partially made known,
and at once the police were on the alert to ind
how and IN what manner SO dark q deed had been
committee; MI. savage was TAKEN TO MS nome.
he was visited by Captain william b. Catin and by
Detective D. l. MCCOY, since deceased, who en-.
deavOred to obtain from him some information as
to by whom the wounds were Indicted. Herein
lies the mystery-that the dying man, though
assist the police In their nvestiQati0nsl OnAhe
Attn day Of October following the 1st on which the
Then followed, in the Office OF Acting Coroner
Charles r. Whedon--one OF the most searching in-
quests, before an Intelligent Jury, that was ever
ton as to whether Mr.. Savage had killed himself
or had been murdered, and II murdered, whether
We're I unknown to him. appears Ss"'' that
his life was insured for the benefit OF his
wife-Fanny T. saysge-in the Travellers Ac.
which company Mr.. Patterson Is President. Public
opinion at the time OF the inquest was divided as
sion in o. nlon remains to this day. Now It is held
by the applicants Tor payment or the 1000 that
crime not committed by himself and the experts
and agents Of the insurance company hold that be
4 singular feature Of the matter is that Captain
Catiin, as bright police oflcer as ever the city
has employed, and Detective Mccoy, certainly
theories as to the cause OF DEATH We are not posi-
lively assured OF the truth Of this statement, how
ever, for CAPTAIN Catlin lat present serving as a
ten what his testimony win be when the case
McCoy-we write from only general recoliec.
ton OF what shortly before his death we under.
Savage had married his second wife without hav
ing first informed her OF the existence or son by
his first marriage; tnat this son was wnat Is
termed hard case-wayward ana of low associa-
tions-and q constant tax upon his father's purse
and patience, always threatening when his de-
mands Tor money were made, TO expose to Mrs.
Savage, the widow who claims this Insurance
money, the concealment which had been entered
upon by her husband that day or two before the
innlctl0n OF the wounds young Savage, by way OF
menace and persuasion, entered~ horse
car IN which were seated Mr.. and Mrs.
Savage or Mrs. Savage alone 1--WE for
short distance; that the night when the tragedy
occurred young Savage, In company with two young
desperadoes, intercepted his father at the place
where the wounds were given and made de-
mand for money, which was met by q denial and a
positive REFUSAL to give him any that the son then
and while engaged in defending himself Mr. Saw
age was attacked by young Savage's two compan-
ions, one OF whom, with dirk knife, murdered
che man. We're this anything like the TACT one rea-
son for the silence OF Mr.. savage as to how his
wounds were received would be apparent. The
with red leather lining near the scene, and 40.
pearances OF the ground at the spot indicate mat
there mad been . struggle.
On the other hand the Insurance company claim
to have good ana substantial reasons for not pay
ing the $1,000 And, in this connection, IL Is
place, II s did take place. no cries OF alarm OF a,s
tress were uttered, and had they been usteI n
owing to tho COnttgutty oil dinerent perSous t'Ioy
must have been heard. The company nave GU
tered careuy into fuli Investigation OF .me SUI
| iect ana say they arc morally sure that Mr.. say.
| age was not murdered. That he was embarrassed
| for money about that time appears certain.
Il NJ not Our design to I0restail IN any way lug
| action Of the court or jury, but To simply Drlng
again before tho public mind some OF tne points IN
| In the linton. TWO remarkable trials are now
| pendtnR In the State--the one we have just been
| telling about and tho case OF Captain C0lvoco-
| resses. who was shot = Bridgeport. the question