The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-01
A WASTED F
Death Of a Well known Person in the Police
Station.


Station.
William alias "Babe" Montgomery
died at the Central Police Station last
week from the effects Of intemperance.
The death was one of the leading topics
of conversation on the streets last even
ing. The story of Babe" M~ontgomery's
life will doubtless serve for many a tenn.
perance lecture and many a Sunday.
school story. His sad ending should
certainly prove a warning against dissi-
patton.
Montgomery wal born in Washington
county about thirty.ive years ago. He
was the youngest son of Hon. William
Montgomery, who for some years repre-.
sented that district in Congress. The
father was a man of brilliant attainment,
and about 1858 enjoyed a national repu.
tation as a leader of the Democratic par
ty. He was a lawyer by profession, and
soon built up a lucrative practice and
amassed a handsome fortune, which he
left to his boys, each receiving about
$4,000.
The boys, however, acquired bad hab-
its, and in 1856 or '67 the most crushing
blow on the father was inflicted by the
arrest of Babe" charged with the MUIR
der of a farmer named Dinsmore. The
aged farmer had been cruelty muir }ered
in cold blood for his money. Young
Montgomery and one Folger were arres,
ted for the crime. Great sympathy was
manifested for the honored father of
Montgomery, and there was much diff.
Guilty in finding a member of the Wash.
ington county bar to serve as opposing
counsel to Babe" Boyd Crumrine,
ESQ., was then District Attorney, and
Harvey Van Kirk, Esq, was retained to
help him. For another lawyer the pros
ecution were compelled to come to Pitts
burgh, and N. P. Fetterman ESQ of this
city, was retained. The trial excited
great interest. Folger was put on the
stand but refused to testify. The result
was a verdict of conviction for Folger,
dllA dNHulJVhl lOl 1OhNkOhlCly
Folger was sentenced to he hanged,
and was executed at Washington. He
made a lengthy confession, covering
thirty pages of foolscap, in which he de.
Clared that Babe" Montgomery was
equally guilty with him, He declared
he had been promised his freedom by
the counsel for the defense, provided he
refused to testify. He did refuse, but
the other side failed to keep their prom
Use. The confession declared that Mont.
gomery and Folger had concoCted the
scheme of murder in Jack Montgomery's
grocery store. They went together to
Dinsmore's house, entered the place;
one of them struck the old nan on the
head with a pistol and one shot him.
Their faces were blackened. They divi-
ded the spoils. Folger's foot-tracks were
noticed leading a way from the house; in
one Of them rested the heel of a boot,
and a boot was found on Folger from
which the heel had been lost. The con.
fession found wide publicity, and was
pretty generally believed.
Babe" Montgomery continued his
dissipation. He came 10 Pittsburgh
many years ago, and for a time was en-
gagged in business. Dissipation soon cost
him his fortune of $4,000, and he be-.
came a total wreck, Several years ago
he had a quarrel with Daniel Edwards
at Malatesta's saloon, and sent a ball into
Daniels stomach. "Babe" was arrested,
but released on bail, then left the city.
His friends paid the bail bond. Ed
wards recovered. Montgomery went to
Texas and there got into a cutting ARRAY
and was compelled to leave the Lone
Star state.
Montgomery had been in the city some
time past drinking heavily. He was ia.
ken sick in a saloon near the Union de-.
pot and was hauled to the Central Station
house IN a wagon. Medical aid was
summoned but it came too late. Dissi,
patton had done its work. The deceas-
eds brother Jack was arrested for drum.
kenness, and was lying in the Central
station, ignorant of his brothers. death.
Pitts. Post.