The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-06
Argument Begun 10 the
Savage Murder Trial
LuToE's MONEY ATTACHED
MS TROUBLE LEADS UP TO A
HAPPY MARRIAGE
The Dyers Won 500 From the Water
'Company-Higuera Didn't APP
peal Or Go to Jail

Argument to the jury began yesterday
afternoon in the Savage murder case.
and by this afternoon the jury will have
1t Under consideration.
The trial has been very tame one,
considering that it has been on cap
ital charge; but for that very reason,
perhaps, the defendants chances are
enhanced. Pat Savage and Will Roche
were close personal friends, and, without
any actual break in that friendship hav-
ing been shown by the prosecution, the
two indulge in fight and Roche was
killed. Indeed, the prosecution is
skeptical as to the fight and has inclined
to the theory that Savage called Roche
back as he was peaceably leaving the
premises, took him on to the dark porch
of his house and deliberately shot him.
Concede the fact, and yet malice has
not been proved, and it is uncomfortable
that one man would kill another with
out provocation of some sort. On the
other hand, the story of the killing as
told by Savage himself is not supported
by that of any eyewitness, although it
may be said in his favor that in all es-
sential particulars the story he told the
reporter of the San Pedro Times imme-
diately after the killing, and the story
he told upon the witness stand yester-
day were one and the same.
In going over the old story of the rob-
berry of money that appears to have led
directly up to the murder, Savage varied
tmmateria]ly in the details. He stated
that the night before the tragedy he and
Roche were at Golden's room, and from
there they came down to Kelly's saloon,
where some friends of Savage were drink
ing. They stood drinks and Savage re-
ctprocated, and he gave Roche $3.50 to
"hold his end up" After closing time
Savage and Roche slept together at Saw
ages room, but when the latter awoke in
the morning he found that his friend
had climbed across him and had left.
During the day there was considerable
talk back and forth regarding the mon
ey which both Golden and Savage
claimed had been stolen from them, but
no particular ill-feeling was displayed.
Roche told me Baxter had my money"
said the defendant yesterday. "When he
took me home on the previous night I
asked him If he'd make that statement
before him, and he said of course he
would. I went over to Baxter's and
asked him II he had my money, and he
said: No, Pat; here's the key giving
me the key of his room.
I never knew that Roche was angry
with me until he set on me. I didn't call
him back as he was leaving the room,
and when he followed me out on the
porch and struck me didn't know what
was the matter. 1t all happened SO quick
didn't know what he would do, and
thought the end was right there. and
i had to shoot. He was man standing
about six feet high and weighed about
ITO pounds. When got up I thought I
saw his clothes burning and went over
and tried to lift him up. I failed, but he
raised up himself and lay across the
doorway, and had to step over him. By
that time the people were pouring in,
and l told them that the premises were
mine, that I had done the shooting and
was waiting for the officer"
On characterization the defendant
maintained that while in jail he told DR..
Weldon of the bruises on his head and
neck, although he was not certain that
ne had told him that he had received the
injuries at Roche's hands.
The opening arguments of Assistant
District Attorney Williams and Attor-
ney McLachlan were short, the latter
showing the utter absence of motive on
the part of the defendant.