The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-10
THE TRIAL OF
RICHARD, SAVAGE

Richard Savage, the English poet
led life that for the most part was
filled with tragedy, brought about
mainly drought the infamy of his
mother, who rendered him illegitimate
by a most remarkable confession in
order to obtain a divorce. Through
her Vaccinations Richard was, from
his birth, cast into obscurity and
brought UP in misery. The whole
subsequent existence of Savage was
struggle between the undeniable
genius that would have elevated him
to happiness, as it did to fame, and
the unceasing persecution of his
mother that abased and degraded him
This treatment by his unnatural
parent led to dependency, drink and
dissipation, too often the fatal temp
tiers Of men and of genius. 1t was in
one of these periods that occurred the
misfortune which cast a great blight
upon his life.
On November 20, 1927, Mr.. Savage
went from London, where he then
lodged, that he might pursue his
studies with less interruption, with an
intent to discharge another lodging
which he had in Westminster. Acct
dentally meeting two gentlemen of
his acquaintance, whose names were
Merchant and Gregory, he went with
them to a coffee house and sat drink.
ing until it was late. Liquor having
nally gotten the better of the party,
they started to quarrel among them.
selves and with others, swords were
drawn and one James Sinclair was
killed. Savage, having likewise
wounded maid who held him, forced
his way with Merchant out of the
house, where they were arrested by
several soldiers who had been called
upon to quiet the disturbance.
Savage and Merchant were secured
and guarded that night, and the follow.
ing day they were removed to New.
gate. The trial came on at the Old
Bailey on the 7th of December, 1921
before Sir Richard Page, a Judge of
the Court of Kings Bench.
All three companinos were indicted
for the mcrder of James Sinclair
Savage by giving him, with a drawn
sword, one mortal wound in the lower
part of the body.of the length of half
an inch, and Gregory and Merchant
of being present and making no at.
tempt to deter Savage in committing
the deed
At the trial a number of witnesses
who were. present at the coffee house
when the murder was committed gave
testimony, and several persons of
distinction appeared in behalf of the
prisoners and gave them the character
of good-natured, quiet, peaceable men
and by no means inclined to be quar-
relsome.
When the Judge made his charge to
the jury he showed that by the evi.
dence the murdered man and the par
ty were in possession of the room
when Savage and his friends entered,
and that they aid started the fight
provocation, and killed Sim
clair in the manner as had been testi-
fed. 1t was murder, not only in him
who gave the wound, but in the others
who aided and abetted him.
That as to the character of the
he said, good character
is of weight where the proof is
but flies up when put in
the scale against plain and positive
evidence" Thus far the Judges plea
was sensible, but at the conclusion
Of his address he used these words:
you are to consider that Mr.. Saw
age is a very gerat man, a much
greater man that you or /; that he
wears very fine clothes; much finer
than you or 1; that he has
of money in his pocket,
much more money than you or 1;
but, gentlemen Of the jury, it is not
a very hard case that Mr.. Savage
should therefore kill you or me?"
Mr.. Savage, hearing his defense
thus misrepresented, and the men
who were to decide his fate melted
against him by invidious comparisons,
made an attempt to explain the case,
but the Judge ordered him to be ST.
lent. The jury time deliberated upon
their verdict, and determined that
both Savage and Gregory were guilty
of murder, and Merchant, who had no
sword, only of manslaughter.
This ended this memorable trial.
The murderers were conducted back
to prison where they were loaded with
irons of fifty pounds weight, and four
H., 6 A