National Republican., 1883-05-14
A MINISTER IN A ROW.
The Rev. Hugh Montgomery and Wit
ness Come TO Blows.


Norwich, Conn, May 13.-The Rev. Hugh
Montgomery, late pastor of the Central Meth
odist Episcopal church, OF this city, and
prosecuting agent Of this county, is, next ~
Neal Dow, the most conspicuous prohibition.
ist in New England. He has spent half his
life fighting the liquor traffic. and has preach u
several thousand sermons in different parts Of
the country on temperance aud prohibition
He is tall, raw boned, angular Of pows riul
build, and rough, aggressive, and pertinauious
in his prosecutions. No man in Connecticut
is SO cordially hated by liquor dealers. A few
weeks ago he brought a complaint against
Joseph Carroll, of Lisbon, charging him with
violating the liquor law. The case was set
down for trial before the superior court in
this city ON Wednesday last. On tho after
noon of that day Mr.. Montgomery was in an
ante room Of tho court room, coaching his
witnesses, the most important Of whom, John
Ryan, the man TO whom, IL is alleged, Carroll
sold tho liquors, told story that Montgomery
thought differed from the testimony as previ-
ously given by the witnesses.
You are not telling the TRUTH" exclaimed
the prosecutor. "Why don't you tell the
same story that you gave to the state attorney
tho other day2"
II am telling tho TRUTH" retorted Ryan.
1t is tho same evidence l furnished the at
torney."
at is not tho truth" replied Mr.. Mont
gomery. "You arc lying"
you wouldn't dare make that statement
outside this room," rejoined the witness.
This Is as good a place as any to settle
this case" said Mr.. Montgomery threaten.
ingly. "You haven't told the truth in this
case"
Then the enraged clergyman caught the wit
moss by the shoulders and shook him vio-
lently. Ryan hit the prosecutor a staggering
blow on the mouth, cutting the underlip and
drawing blood. Mr.. Montgomery retreated
against book case in the room. While his
head was pressed against the glass doors
Ryan struck him twice on the back of the
neck At this point the other persons in the
room restrained Ryan. The latter went be-
fore City Attorney Cooke and asked for a war
rant for the arrest of Mr.. Montgomery on the
charge of assault and battery. The minister
said he would prefer to leave the affair as it
was, but on account Of Ryans action he pre-
ferred charges of assault and battery against
him.
The cases wero set down for trial yesterday
morning, but were postponed until to-day.
Both men were placed under 5000. The liq-
uor sellers and other friends of Ryan in this
city raised large sum of money for him with
which to meet Mr.. Montgomery in the court,
and yesterday morning b. w. Tompkins, a
deacon in the wealthy Broadway church and
a millionaire of this city, announced in an
open letter to the Norwich Morning Bulletin
that "the forces ofevil were arrsyed against
our beloved city missionary [the Rev. Hugh
Montgomery and the issue must be relent-
lessly met" He promised Mr.. Montgomery
"his influence and money" in the trial. The
clergyman is backed by the wealthy church
members Of the town, who pay him yearly
salary of s., 500 flor his services as city mis-
sionary.
The city court room was packed to-day by
friends of Ryan, and the space behind the bar
was well filed with ministerial friends ofMr.
Montgomery. The taking Of evidence lasted
four hours and the hearing resulted in Ryan
being fined $50 and costs, while Mr.. Mont
gomery was discharged. The minister was
Immediately surrounded by q bevy of con-
graduating admirers. There is evident dis
satisfaction over the decision of the court to-
night, and it is freely said that the presence
Of tho clergy helped Mr.. Montgomery out. 1t
was shown in evidence that the latter an.
gered Ryan greatly by repeating over and
over that he made statement to him differ
ent from the one made last Wednesday, when
the troubled occurred, and that Mr. Mont.
gomery followed this up by placing his hands
on Ryan's shoulder. Ryan has app psaled his
case