West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-09-23
SENSATIONAL NIGHT RAID
Last OF Famous Savage Gang In Jail
at UniOntOWn.
CHASE MEN TO MOUNTAIN HOME
Thrilling Midnight Automobile Ride
Through Preston County by
Sheriff and Posse.
CHASE MEN TO MOUNTAIN HOME

USioSrowN, PA, Sept. 20.-After a
midnight automobile ride over the rough
mountain roads and an eight-mile iaunt
in the wilderness, Sheriff T.. A. Johns and
three deputies arrested Bert and Harry
Savage, the last Of the famous Savage gang.
near GAINESVILLE, w. Va, and committed
them TO the county Jail 10 await sentences
on charges of burglary and larceny. The
officers went fully prepared for trouble.
but the two men were so completely sur
prised that they submitted without an
argument. Both are stalwart men, over
q feet in height, and weigh about 200
pounds each.
Numerous complaints have been re-
ceived from the district concerning the
burglaries and other depredations of the
Savage boys, but all efforts to round up
the gang have been futile. Harry was ar
rested and stood trial in December on the
charge of burglary. Bail had been fur
nished by Kim Savage, and Just rs the
jury filed into the court Harry made
dash from the courthouse and escaped. A
process was issued mt the time, but the
man could not be found. Bert was con
victed of larceny in the June session, 1909,
and he followed his brother performance.
Although the officers i'm that section of
the county were notified to watch for the
boys and arrest them they remained lat
large and the robberies continued. Sheriff
Johns also had warrant for Dorsey Saw
age, the pretty lS-year-old sister of the
boys, but she was in bed so i'll she could
not be moved and her father promised to
have her in Uniontown tomorrow.
Saturday evening the sheriff received a
tip that the Savage boys had been located
and determined to capture them. lie pre-
pared for dash by auto over the noun
tains. Deputies Byrne, Berg, and King
were called and the party left Uniontown
about o'clock. The roads were extreme
ly rough and they were compelled to leave
the car about four miles from GAINESVILLE
and make the rest of the trip on foot.
The night was pitch dark and stumbles
and falls over fallen trees and stones were
frequent.
In some respects the raid was one of the
most notable ever executed by any off
Ger of this county. Knowing that it
might be necessary for him to pursue the
fugitives into either Maryland or West
Virginia, Sheriff Johns Saturday after
noon called up Sheriff Spindler, of Pres
ton county, ut Kingwood, w. Va, and
Sheriff Brown, of Oakland, Nd, and
both promised their cooperation. Sheriff
Spindler then called up Squire j. ii Con-
away, at Glade Farms, w. Va, one of
the two justices of the peace in Grant dis
trict, and told him to Geputize as many
men as Sheriff Johns would need.
Squire Conway had gone to bed by
the time the Fayette county officers ar
rived, but in his trousers and slippers he
filled out warrants and appointed Sheriff
Johns as his deputy. Then Justice Coma
way, with Presley Welsh and George
Lewis, two stalwart mountainous, who
had never seen an automobile before and
marveled lat the one Sheriff Johns had,
volunteered TO guide the officers to the
hiding place of the Savages. Marshall
Fike, of this county, had been picked up
on the way over and this made seven
with the driver. On the way back the
prisoners made an additional two, a
pretty stiff proposition for any machine.
especially on those mountain roads. The
first town they struck after they left Glade
Farms was Hazelton.
They went directly to Bert Savage $
home and surrounded it. When the father
answered the knock upon the door he
was told that the officers desired admit
lance. While he stood in dazed condi-
ton the officers hurried past him, and
discovered Bert just rising from "a bed on
the floor. With the exception of his coat
he was fully dressed. Deputies Berg and
King leyeled their revolvers at him and
slowly approached They ordered Bert
to hold up his hands, which he did, and
in few seconds he was handcuffed
When told that he was wanted i'm Union
town he replied, "Well, as you got me. 7
guess | will have TO go this time" lie
"ts' A'it III lit tusNoul Oh 0lcflH johns
and Harry Byrne while Deputies King and
Berg and the Others continued some dis
lance farther 10 the house in which the
other brother lives and surrounded il.
The man of the house, L. S. Messenger.
was awakened by the loud knocking OF
the deputies, and after learning their
mission lac led them TO Harry's room,
where that branch Of the Savage family
was snoozing peacefully The irons were
placed on his wrists before he awakened.
When he realized what had happened he
did not offer any resistance. He was told
that his younger brother had been taken
into custody but be did not seem much
affected. The two men were taken back
to the place where the automobile had
been left in charge Of the chauffeur. About
O'Clock yesterday morning the return
trip was started and they arrived here
several hours later. AZ 4 o'clock the men
passed the stone near Tissue. Pa. that
marks the boundary Of Pennsylvania.
West Virginia, and Maryland On the
evov urroa- flro tr,.tt,.N.e... Al. l.