In October 1932, James Savage [a.k.a. Savidge], a war veteran and baseball player of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was fatally wounded in a fracas at Donaldson, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The man who was arrested and charged with the murder, Frank Elonis [a.k.a. Eldonis], was eventually released as a result of evidence presented to a Grand Jury.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 6 October 1932:
KILLED IN DONALDSON SHOOTING MONDAY MORNING
James Savidge [Savage], 34, of Williamstown, is dead as the result of a shooting affray at a restaurant in Donaldson early Monday morning. Savidge was one of a group that included Charles Williams and Thomas Evans, also of Williamstown, whom it is claimed tried to enter the place when refused admittance. Authorities further claim that Frank Elonis, 18, of Donaldson, admitting firing into the group of Williamstown men with a revolver. He and his brother Samuel Elonis, 16, were taken into custody by State Police, the latter as a material witness.
Dr. Theodore Fegley of Tremont, Schuylkill County Coroner, said his investigation had revealed that the man had spent part of Sunday evening at the place, allegedly operated by Mrs. Marcella Elonis, but had left a short time later, and returned after midnight.
An autopsy performed by Dr. R. H. Stutzman of Tower City, showed that the bullet entered the left shoulder and then taking a downward course passed through the upper part of the heart and left lung. According to Frank Elonis‘ version, the revolver belonged to Sincy Gudzinsky, a boarder at his mother’s home, but that he had taken the gun after Gudzinsky refused to give him the revolver.
Savidge [Savige] was a native of Williamstown and was employed as a miner. He was a World War veteran and baseball player of that community.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Ruth [Rowe[ Savidge, his mother, Mrs. Mary Savidge, three sisters, Mary Savidge, Elizabeth Savidge, and Stella Savidge, and three brothers, Harry Savidge, Patrick Savidge, and William Savidge, all of Williamstown.
Funeral services will be held this morning with a requiem high mass in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Williamstown where interment will be made.
Frank Eldonis was given a preliminary hearing Monday evening before Justice of the Peace C. M. Titus at Tamaqua and was committed to the county jail without bail until he receives a formal hearing. He is charged with murder. The brother, Samuel Eldonis, has been released in the custody of his parents as a material witness to the shooting.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 10 November 1932:
Schuylkill Grand Jury Frees Donaldson Boy Of Murder Charge
The Schuylkill County Grand Jury last week freed Frank Elonis, 18 year old Donaldson High School student of murder charges that had been lodged against him.
Elonis had been accused of shooting and fatally wounding James Savage of Williamstown at his other’s home on the night of October 3rd. Elonis was lodged in jail, but was released on $2500 bail, after habeus corpus proceedings had been instituted by the boy’s counsel.
It was alleged that Savage had gone to Elonis’ home in company with Charles Williams and Thomas Evans that night, but were refused admittance. After this incident, it was testified that some one of the group had torn the banister from the porch. Elonis is said to have gone to the porch and warned the men that unless they left without further molestation, he would shoot, and he was told to “go ahead and shoot.”
A short time later, it was claimed, Elonis made good his threat and shot into the group with a revolver, with the result that Savage was fatally wounded.
It was contended that the boy shot in protection of the home and in his own defense. Although they did not testify so, before the jury, it is said to be the belief and contention of the family, that a similar attack had been made at the rear of the home, prior to the attack in front of the Elonis property.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.