Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-28
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Great Trials:
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History.
TRIAL OF
RICHARD SAVAGE

klCdARU SAV AGE
Richard Savage, the English poet
led a life that for the most part was
filled with tragedy, brought about
mainly through the infamy of his
mother, who rendered him illegiti-
mate by a most remarkable confess
sion in order to obtain a divorce.
Through her Vaccinations Richard
was, from his birth, cast into OBJ
security 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
ton 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 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 lodg
ing which he had in Westminster
Accidentally meeting two gentlemen
of his acquaintance, whose names
were Merchant and Gregory, he went
with them to a coffee-h and sat
dr linking until it was late. Liquor
having finally gotten the better of
the party, they started to quarrel
among themselves and with others,
swords were drawn, and one James
Sinclair was killed Savage, having
likewise wounded a maid who held
him, forced his way with Merchant
out of the house, where they were
been called upon to quiet the dis
turbance.
Savage and Merchant were secured
and guarded that night, and the fol-
lowing day they We're removed to
Newgate The trial came on at the
Old Bailey on the 18th of December
1927, before Sir Richard Page, a
judge of the court of kings bench.
All three companions were indict-
ed for the murder 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 max
ing no attempt 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 com
mitted gave testimony, and several
persons of distinction appeared in
behalf Of the prisoners and gave
them the character of good natured
quiet, peaceabe men and by no
means inclined to be quarrelsome.
When the judge made his charge
to the jury he showed that by the
evidence the murdered man and his
party We're in possession of the room
when Savage and his friends entered,
and that they had started the fight
without provocation, and killed Sim
clair in the manner as had been tes-
titled. 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
prisoners" he said, good character
is of weight where the proof IS
doubtful. 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 great man, a much
greater man than you or |; that he
wears very fine clothes. much finer
abundance of money in his pocket,
much more money than you or l;
but, gentlemen the jury, is it 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 COMPARE
sons, made an attempt to explain
the case, but the judge ordered him
to be silent. The jury then DELHI
Grated upon their verdict, and de-
termined that both Savage and Greg
DRY were guilty of murder, and Mer-
chant who had no sword, only of
manslaughter
This ended this memorable trial.
The murderers were conducted back
1oj
with irons of fifty pounds weight,
and four days afterwards they were
taken back to the court to receive
their sentence Mr.. Savage had now
no hopes of life but from the mercy
of the crown, which was very earn
estly solicited by his friends, and
which with whatever difficulty the
story may obtain belief, was obstruct-
ed only by his mother.
His merit and his calamities hap
pened to reach the ear of the
Countess of Hartford, who engaged
in his support with all the tender
ness which is excited by pity, and
all the zeal which is kindled by gen.
crosby She demanded an audience
| with the queen laid before her the
whole series of his mothers cruel
| ty, exposed the improbability of ar
accusation by which he was charg-
| ed with an intent to murder, and
so successful was her interpositior
that Savage was admitted to bal
on March 9, 1928, and he and Greg