The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-19
anAnE, noNraoMERY pEAD.

me End Of Notorious Character VINO
once Narrowly Escaped the GailoWs.
Pittsburgh Commercial Of yesierday.
About half.past two o'clock yesterday
afternoon William, alias "Babe" Mont
vumery, a notorious character, died at the
Central Station. The deceased had been
on a protracted spree, and yesterday
about one o'clock he entered the
White House and called for whisky and
seltzer, which he drank, but his stomach
was in such condition that the drink was
thrown up almost Immediately aiterit had
been swallowed. Drink after drink was
swallowed with similar results, until about
Eve o'clock in the morning, when the sick
man went up stairs and laid down, where
he remained until about two o'clock yes
terdAy afternoon, when MIR. John Malo-
ney, one OF the proprietors Of the White
House, went to the Mayors office and
asked that the man be removed. Detec-
tive 0'Mara procured wagon and re-
moved Montgomery to the station house,
where he died in half an hour. The Cor;
oner was notified and proceeded to hold
an inquest. After hearing the testimony
OF Police Surgeon Gallagher, 70 the eject
that death was probably caused by intiam-
nation OF the stomach, the inquest was
adjourned till this morning at nine O'Clock.
hBabe" Montgomery was the youngest
son Of The late Hon. William Montgomery,
N Washington, Pa. The latter was dis.
tingnished lawyer, and many years ago,
in 1850. represented the Twenty-frst
distTict in Congress. The district at that
time was composed OF Washington, Fay
ate and Greene counties. "Babe" was al
Ways bad boy, and was engaged in many
ugly scrapes in his native town before he
had grown 10 mans estate. His worst
trouble-which came within an ace Of be.
ing his last-was his indictment, with q
man named VIM. Fogler, for the murder
OF an old farmer named Dinsmore, IN 1867.
Old man Dinsmore resided near West
Middletown, about eight miles from
Washington. One night in the winter OF
1867 bis house was entered by two men
with blackened faces, who demanded the
old mans money. Mr.. Dinsmore refused
20 tell where his money was concealed,
and one OF the seoundrels struck him on
the head with the butt end OF q revolver.
The old man then shouted for assistance,
and the other william shot him dead, when
the two escaped.
The detectives employed to work up the
case found near the Dismore farm house
the heel OF boot, and subsequently, dis
covered heelless boot in Fogler' 5 room.
Fogler was arrested aud committed to Jail,
and shortly afterward, it being found that
Montgomery was with Fogler on the even.
ing OF the murder, "Babe" was arreted
also. Both were indicted for the murder,
and when the case came to be tried the
counsel for the prisoners managed 10 have
the men tried separately, Fogler first. The
high position OF Hon. VIM. Montgomery
gave him great influence with the mem
bers Of the bar, and that influence was
used to the full extent in behalf oil his &C.
cused son. Not q member OF the Wash
ington county bar would appear for the
prosecution save one-Harvey Vankitk,
Esa.-and the late NJ Fetterman, Esq,
OF this city, was employed to prosecute
the case for the commonwealth. For the
defense appeared r. III. Gibson, Esq, now
Of this city, then Mr.. Montgomery's law
partner, Messrs. Ruth, Little, and many
others, comprising the best talent OF the
Washington bar.
Foeler was convicted OF murder in the
first degree. When "Babe" Montgomery's
trial came up Fpgler was called to the
witness stand, but refused to testify. 1t
was said that some OF the lawyers who de-
Tended him induced him to keep quiet by
promises that they would save his neck.
| This was in order to save Montgomery.
Fogler having told his counsel that Bah"
was with him and assisted in the murder
OF Dinsmore. At Montgomery's trial the
testimony of his friends and relatives es-
tablished an alibiand the young man was
aquitted. In q short time Fogler vas sem
fenced TO be hanged and the day OF ex-
ecution fixed. Then it was that great
many OF the citizens OF Washington be-
came loud in their indignant condemna-
ton OF the conduct OF the lawyers, who
they said had contriyed 70 get Fogler,s
neck into the halter and left him 10 his
fate in order to save the son Of the rich
and powerful William Montgomery. Sc
great was the clamor against at least two
| Of the lawyers in the case than an inyes-
| tigaton was ordered by the court, the re-
suit OF which was that the names OF the
two were stricken from the roll OF attor-
neys.
On the,day Of Fogler's execution he pub
lished a full confession OF his crime, in
which he implicated Babe" Montgomery.
Since that time babe" has been vaga-
bond on the face OF the earth. His father
died shortly after his sons trial, OF grief,
it was said, at the disgrace brought upon
himself and family. He left a large es-
tate, "Babe's" share being about $4,000.
The young man, Notwithstanding his way
ward career, was not spendthrift by any
means. He was even niggardly in his ex-
penditures, and hence large portion OF
his wealth remains, and will 90 TO his rela-
tives.
"Babe" was well known to the police Of
this city, he having figured in several
shooting affairs here. Ia 1871 he shot a
man named David Edwards in saloon on
Fifth avenue, for which he was arrested
and gave bail for court in the sum Of
s., 900, but Jumped" the bail and never
appeared for trial. He next turned up
somewhere in Texas, where he shot an
other man and fled 10 the far West. After
several years absence he returned to
Pittsburgh, and soon after his return he
bad difficulty with man at "dive" in
old Philo Hall, on Third avenue, in which
he again used his revolver, wounding his
antagonist. This time he escaped arrest
and was not heard OF for several months.
But he came back again, and was not
here long until he was heard Of through
q little pistol controversy at q Grant
street den. This time babe" received
the bullet instead Of the other fellow. But
he was not seriously hurt, and soon re-
covered to participate in many more dis
pracafnl hraRla Ha died with his hnnta