Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-01
DENIES He OWNS
NEW ARLINGTON
TOM SAVAGE ON TRIAL ON A
SERIOUS CHARGE
Former Boss of the Eighth Ward
Asserts He Severed Connection
with DisorderIy House
80 Months Ago

Women wearing white ribbons rubbed
elbows with men wearing scarlet neck
ties and loud plaids when the case of
Tom Savage, former boss of the Eighth
ward, ON trial for keeping a house of
i'll repute, came up in Justice Cham
bers' court yesterday.
The plain, simple black of the re-
formers mingled with the striking cos
tunes of the followers of the social
evil" (as the lawyers termed it,, and
made an unusual picture in the crowd
ed court room. The reformers were
there to do their best to make "a clean
er city," and the others were there
to fight for their business"
Savage is alleged to be the proprietor
of the New Arlington hotel, 2041a Com
mercial street. He claims that he sew
cred his connection with the establish
ment several months ago and is inno-
cent of the charge. City Prosecutor
Guy Eddy, who is handling the case
for the city, believes he has evidence
which will convict. Savage has re-
tanned the law firm of Davis, Rush &
Willis to defend him and says he is
going to make every effort to prove
his innocence. Judging from the way
the case started yesterday it will be
fought hard by both sides.
Jury Hard to Secure
The entire day was spent in trying
to get a jury, and up to the time of
adjournment only five men had been
accepted to serve. Great care was
shown by the attorneys in their choice
of men, seven out of the first twelve
being challenged, five by the defense
and two by the prosecution
The questions put to the veniremen
were searching as to their opinions on
the law prohibiting the keeping of such
houses. Each was asked If he was
married, if he belonged to any relig-
ious organization, If he knew where
the Arlington was, If he had ever be-
longed to any organization formed for
the purpose Of eradicating the social
evil"
There was a startling unanimity of
answers to the question on religion.
Almost to a man the answer was that
they did not or had not for long
time belonged to any church organiza-
| ton. Many showed opinions somewhat
| favorable to an "open town." and these
were excused from service. Married
men also were not numerous in the
| first lot examined. The question as
| to whether or not they knew where
| the Arlington was received evasive
answrs. Some said Immediately they
knew, others had never heard of 1t and
| others answered ambiguously. This
question provoked much merriment
among the crowd and called some
| bushes to bronzed cheeks in tie jury
! box. All the questions asked by At
torneys Davis and Rush seemed to tent
to discovering If the veniremen had any
prejudice whatever against houses O.
| i'll repute or if they thought the Law
barring them from legal existence wal
best for society. Matters of fact wer
seldom touched upon.
Woman Gets Evidence
Wiley j. Phillips is the complaining
witness in the case The evidence wa!
| obtained by woman in tie employ
of the Blair Detective agency There
are many rumors that the cause Of the
prosecution is not really that Of de.
sire for better city but Is one OF
spite, and the name of Nick Oswald
is often mentioned in this connection
| Oswald was once Savage's friend and
protege but is now his rival.
| The police are doubtful as to the
good effect of the trial or the probabil-
fly of conviction. Savage is an in
fuential man and many pulls" are
| rumored to be working in his direction
The case will be continued tomorrow
and is expected to continue several
| days.