The Nevada journal., 1858-04-02
SHOCKING SUICIDE.


citizen of this county, committed suicide
at ranch owned by himself and Asa
Goodwin, about sixteen miles below
this place, between the Globe Ranch
and the McCourtney road, at half-past
ten o'clock on Wednesday morning last.
The act was committed with rifle, and
deliberately done.
We learn from Coroner Bailey who
held an inquest on the body few hours
after the deed was committed, the shock
ing particulars. Montgomery was alone
in the house at the time, his partner,
Goodwin, being at work in The barn at
a short distance. Goodwin heard the
report of rifle and hurried to learn the
cause. The body of Montgomery was
found exhibiting horrid spectacle on
the floor. The whole top of the head
was completely blown off The brains
lay in mass about six feet from the
body on one side and the top of the skull
on the bed about the same distance on
the other side. The floor was covered
with blood and pieces of flesh and bone.
The deceased held in his hand piece
of wire having crook or shoulder at
one end evidently formed for the pur-
pose and used to push the trigger of the
gun. The muzzle of the rife was doubt
less placed in the mouth of the deceas-
ed, although the head was so badly mu-
tilated that the truth could not be exact
ly determined.
Montgomery had not long since lost
an unimportant suit at law, since which
time he had been morose and gloomy
1t was his i'll fortune to lose in the course
of his life large fortune, and to be con-
stantly embroiled in the law. He was
sensitively alive to his honor, generous
aud just, yet firm and unyielding when
once decided upon course to pursue.
His motto was most emphatically, "mil-
lions for defense, not cent for tribute, ;"
which he lived up to to his cost.
For a few days previous to his DEATH
Mr.. Montgomery was engaged in count
ing up bis affairs and writing. The idea
of suicide seems to have been entertain
ed by him for some time before the COM
mission of the fatal deed. He left in
writing the cause of the rash act said
he had once possessed $4,000, but that
it was all gone and he was old and did
not feel like commencing life anew; that
he had been wronged by lawyers and
others that perjury had been employed
successfully against him in more than
one case; that the Coroner's jury in
their wisdom would doubtless return a
verdict of suicide while laboring under a
fit of temporary insanity, but that they
were fools, and had better attribute his
death to the injustice of man. He was
particularly severe upon several mem
bers of the legal fraternity, who he i'm
agined, had conspired to defraud him of
his rights. He stated that some of the
members of the Masonic order to which
he belonged were scoundrels and re
quested that he be not buried with Ma
sonic honors.
After the payment of his debts he left
the residue of his property, if any there
be, to Mr.. Goodwin his partner, to
whom he felt under obligations.
The Coroner's jury returned verdict
in accordance with the facts elected.
We have been intimate with Mr.
Montgomery during five years past.
He was determined, straight forward,
thorough-going man, and in his death
we mourn the loss of an honorable gen
tleman and true friend. He was a
native of Kentucky, emigrated to this
State from Missouri, and was near fifty
years of age. He leaves no family.
OUTRAGEOUS TASTE, says suffering
horticulturist of our acquaintance, is the
cutting off, roofing up and carrying away
from your neighbor's garden every green
thing which you are impudent enough
to ask and he is too cowardlv to refuse
| PUBLIC BENEFACTOR.-A friend OF
ours has turned public benefactor and
devotes a large share of his time to the
benefit of others. He boasts of furnish
ing his neighbors' hens with fine mess
of "lettuce-large drum head''-every
morning, gratis. Thinks his crop too
small to supply the increasing demand.
BLEssINGs.-Thef fine rain of the last
few days has gladdened the heart and
replenished the purse of many an ex-
pecting miner, and the seventh and last