Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-27
NIONTGoMERY's LUCK.
An Incident Showing How He Go Int
the Practice of the Lsw in CaIifomia,

An Incident Showing How He Go. Into
the Practice of the law in CaIifOnis.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-There has been
great deal said about the appoin ment
Vi Hon. Zachariah Montgomery q the
position of Assistant Attorney General
for the Interior Department becatse of
his opposition to the common schod sys-
TEN, but now that he is fairly installed it
is probable that the newspapers vii let
him alone. There is an interestinginci-
dent in his life that is worth telling. The
story goes that. after graduating 81 st.
J0seph's College, Montgomery began to
study law in Bardstown, and wal Just
beginning to master the rudiments ,f the
profession when the gold fever struck
that section of the State. He was among
the first TO catch the disease, and living
bis books aside he left the dingy lawDffice
aud hurried away to California. lie fell
In with one Of the overland emigrltiOn
parties and in due time reached the land
Of gold, strongly impressed with the be-
lief that he could scoop up all the gOh he
wanted and at once accumulate a fortune.
But after seeking the coveted ore in rain
for several weeks, he found that it was
about as difficult to capture a fortune
there as any place else, and bedme
greatly discouraged.
W bile wandering from one mining CHM
10 another in search of find, he fdI in
with an acquaintance from Kentulky,
whose luck was as poor as his own. and
as misery was as fond of company hen
as now, they stuck together and tranped
eyer the gold regions till they were h6rt-
SICK and fOotsOre. They finally cOnchdei
TO give up gold hunting to go to San Fan
CISCO and seek other employment, and
with this determination they lett the fold
dlggers. Before reaching San Francisco
lney We're OVertaken by 9 posse Of
miners who arrested them as the pepe-
traitors OF crime OF some kind that lad
been committed in the mining distinct,
ana the two were hurried on to San Fmn-
cisco as prisoners. On reaching the dtv
they were arraigned for trial in one or.he
primitive courts Of that period, and asat
that DAY there was but little delay IN
criminal proceedings, the situation in
"pich the two Kentuckians found them
selves was decidedly uncOmiOrta ble.
W heh the court opened and the charie
was made against them the court inquind
j lhey bad secured counsel, TO which thy
Iephed that they had not.
IL then occurred to Montgomery that
lhe knowledge of law he had acquired IN
hentucky might be made available. aid
ne announced TO the court that he would
uhlerlake the defense. The code Of pre-
.,ee was not very elaborate IN
tue racine slope. and as the prosa-
Cauon turned the witnesses over 10 him
ue questioned them very closeli,
ana before the evidence closed he ha
broken the strength Of the charge ana ldt
Only suspicion against him and his con-
p'ulou. lie was then allowed 10 argue
,ue case before the court, and he had not
IIIIfNNVan fup a..
iVcdi attorneys discovered that "a live Ketr
.uchy lawyer had been turned loose AMI
"as submitting arguments that the prose
vutlhg attorney could not reply 20, AMI
oe'"re ne closed he was the lion Of thl
occasion.
ihe prosecuting attorney made In
u'red reply in bis effort TO sustain IN,
''arge against the prisoners. but the
gourt held that no case had been made
unt against them, and they were dia.
vhetRed. They had not left the cOuri
lo9n, however, before an incident oc.
guIred that dispersed the dark clouds that
nau been lowering over Montg0mery's iu-
uie and lighted up his pathway
WIN pleasant rays Of prosperous
s"hshine. As he was turn
ing away from the bar Of the
Gourt' after being discharged. and wonder
nlS which way TO direct his steps, he was
"ccOsted by an elderly gentleman, who
eVngfatulated him on the able manner in
Mnlon he had conducted his case. and
esAeu hm what he intended 20 do IN the
new country. Montgomery replied that
ne ne was at loss 10 know what he would
turn his hand 20, but be would embrace
me s, nrsi opportunity 30 make a living.
me stranger then, IN tones Of the great
est kindness, told him that be had
s,,t "eecesd him during the trial, and was
attracted 10 him by his ability, and had