The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-17
HORSE THIEF AND BURGLAR
THE NOTORIOUS MURTIE SAVAGE
 ARRESTED LAST NIGHT.

Murtie Savage, who for the past quarter of century, when not in state prison, has caused more trouble to the police of New Haven and other Connec- ticut cities than perhaps any other per- son, was again arrested last evening charged with horse stealing and several counts of burglary, and 1t is probable that if convicted he will, under the in- corrigible criminal act, receive prac- tically life sentence. The act in ques- tion provides that when person shall have been convicted twice already of crime for which the minimum state prison sentence is two years, he shall, if convicted third time of crime for which the minimum sentence is two years, after serving out that sentence. be sentenced to twenty-five years in < state prison as an incorrigible criminal. Savage has already served several terms in state prison, and at least two of those terms are said to have been for two years.
 He is charged now with having stolen a horse and wagon in Milford in Sep- tember last and since then with break ing into a barn in East Haven and stealing wagon, harness and ten bushels of oats; breaking into a barn in Woodbridge and taking harnesses, blankets and other articles; breaking into barn in Derby and stealing blan- kets, robes and Parker gun; breaking into new house in Milford and cut ting out and taking away new lead pipe just put In by plumbers, using in this case the plumbers tools left in the house; stealing horse, wagon. harness and several coats in Stratford.
 The police of New Haven and other Connecticut cities have been on the lookout for him for some time, but he has managed to elude them until the present time, Some time ago he was arrested in Bridgeport, but he escaped from the officer who had him in charge. A description of him was sent to New Haven and after his arrest last night he told Captain Cowles that the next day after his escape from the Bridge-s port officer he passed on the green in this city New Haven officer who knew him well, but failed to recognize him.
 Captain Cowles heard a few days ago that Savage had been seen in the vicin-S k Eity of the Cedar Hill station and since! | that time has redoubled his efforts toE catch the willy fellow. Last night the captain happened to run across him ], on the street. and at once nabbed him. Captain Cowles refused, however, to say where he caught his man. desiring | for some unknown reason to keep that l fact secret. Savage is considered by l the police one of the most dangerous men ever arrested in New Haven, and i his arrest is hailed with considerable satisfaction. A few nights ago new i house on Elm street, this city, was e1l- 1 tered and the lead pipe was cut out and taken away Captain Cowles said last night that he was satisfied that Savage did the job. It is known where some of the pipe is hidden, and it is thought that the job can be fastened upon him.
 l Savage was last sent up from Bridge- port and finished serving his sentence l in August last He has made his head- quarters in Bridgeport and New Haven, making forays in all directions from those bases of operations. Captain Cowles knows where much of his plum der is hidden, including the horse and wagon stolen in Stratford, and can get | the goods for evidence when desired. It is difficult now to estimate with any l degree of correctness the value of the l goods that Savage has stolen, but it l will probably amount to several thou ! sand dollars. He is about ffty-seven years of age and has pursued his ca reer of crime for more than half ms life. He has been arrested twice before by Captain Cowles and on the last oc-l casion previous to last nights arrest. he gave the detective long run He finally ran into hallway and slam ming the door shut tried to hold 1t against Captain Cowles. who was only few steps in the rear. The captatn threw his heavy weight against the
 door and it broke from the hinges and crashed inward, burying Savage be- meath with the captain on top or the door. He was handcuffed and taken to the police station, and so crestfallen was he at his arrest that he refused to speak word until some time after he had been locked up. Savage always dressed we'll and his appearance IS
 hardly that of criminal.
 About Il o'clock last night Captain Cowles and Detective McGrath went in
 the police wagon to barn in the Fifth
 ward rented by Savage and used by
 him as a storage place for his plunder.
 The two officers found there last night
 the horse and wagon stolen in Strat-
 ford and wagon-load of blankets.
 harness, robes and the Parker gun
 stolen in Derby. The goods were load
 ed into the wagon and taken to the po-
 lice station.
 Savage was first arrested in New Ha-
 ven in June, 1876, for theft and burg
 lary under the alias of Henry l.. Chris
 tie. He served term in state prison
 for that, and in August, 1894. he was
 again arrested for burglary and served
 second term in prison. In June. 1886,
 he was arrested for three counts of
 theft committed on June 19 of that year
 and for twelve counts of theft commit-
 ted on June 23 of the same year. One
 of these counts was nolled and he was
 sentenced to thirty days in jail and
 fined $5 on each of the other counts.
 On November IS. 1889, he was arrested
 for blaickmail and was convicted and
 served a prison sentence. On May ?,
 1892, he was arrested for theft and bur
 glary in Branford and was convicted
 and sent to state prison. Since that