The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-22
Another Murder in Maine.


The Augusta Journal gives the follow
ing account of a brutal murder at Bel
grade:
On Thursday afternoon, the town of
Belgrade was the scene Of shocking
murder-a man beating his wife until she
fell a lifeless corpse.
James Savage is a man about sixty
years Of age, who owns the little farm
upon which he lives at Belgrade depot.
His wife, Eliza Ann Savage, has lived
with him, and is about his age. They
are both addicted to the habit of using
intoxicating liquors, and in their drunken
orgies have frequently made disturbances
in the neighborhood, ending often in the
husband beating his wife.
For the past week Savage has been on
spree, being drunk most of the time.
On Thursday afternoon last, an cutlery
was heard at the Savage house. The
house OF q. }. Cummings is right oppo-
site and little past , o'clock, Mrs Cum
mings, while engaged about her domestic
duties, heard the sound Of pounding and
beating in the Savage house. She had
heard such noises in the same locality so
frequently, that it attracted no unusual
attention. But the pounding continued,
and she heard the voice Of Mr.. Savage,
saying, "Get up, God damn you, get up"
No response was heard from Mrs. Savage,
except the family uttered exclamation,
'Oh = Savage was afterwards seen 60
ing from the well with what was supposed
to be pail of water, and said to some
one passing that he was going to get
some supper. He then returned to the
house with a Mrs. Stevens. In short
time Mrs. Stevens came to Mrs Cum
mings' housv and told her that she did
not think Mrs Savage would live two
hours, as she was frothing at the mouth
and rolling her eyes up and looking dread
fully.
Mr.. VIM. b. Stevens and wife went in
to the house, and found Mrs Savage ~
ing on the floor, and partly under the
bed. They took her up and laid her on
the bed, her head and face being all
covered with blood. Savage explained
that she had been to the barn and fell.
The woman was then alive, and replied
to the assertion by saying that she had
not been near the barn. Mr.. Stevens
then went for DR.. Springer, and returned
i'll forty minutes. Mrs Savage brcathed
twice only after his return, and died.
Savage was sitting 10y the side of the
bed, saying "Oh. my Cod" being con-
siderably intoxicated and not apparently
realizing what had taken place
Friday, Coroner VIM. II. Libby, of Au-
gusta, was notified, and he proceeded to
Belgrade, where an inquest was held on
the body in the afternoon. They found
the body of the murdered woman beaten
in the most horrible manner. There was
a wound on the left side of the head two
inches long, through the scalp; another
over the left eye a severe blow upon the
left ear cutting nearly through the ear;
some four other small wounds on the face
extensive bruise under the chin: scratches
six inches long on the left side of neck;
heavy bruises on the ribs; bruise on left
arm, dark purple color covering fourth
part of arm above elbow: eight wounds
from elbow to wrist the right arm also
bruised and torn in horrible manner,
apparently received while defending her
self from blows; nine abrasures of the skin
from the hip down to loot on left leg,
other parts OF leg also having the appear
ance of having been kicked; six abra-
sures on right leg the shoulder and back
BADLY bruised; a heavy blow broke the
bridge of her nose
Indeed, the details are too shocking to
enumerate. The body was a horrible
sight to look upon. The beating about
the head and shoulders must have been
done by Savage with an old, rusty musket
that stood in the corner, on which were
hair and blood
The jury after examination, rendered
their verdict that the woman came to her
death from wounds inflicted by James
Savage. Savage was arrested and put
in charge of keepers.
AUGUSTA, Nov. IL. Jas. Savage, who
killed his wife on Thursday night at Bel
grade, was arraigned in the Municipal
Court in this city yesterday and pleaded
not guilty to the charge of wilful and ma
licious murder. His counsel waived eX-
animation, the fact of the killing having
been established at the coroner's inquest,
and Savage was committed to the kenne-
bee Jail to await trial at the March term
of the Supreme Judicial Court. He makes
no talk about the affair. The funeral of
the murdered woman took place Satur-
day forenoon. Savage attended and was
greatly moved, kissed the corpse and
showed great feeling He is in his six
tieth year.