The Portland daily press., 1892-03-09
THE MONTAGUE SUICIDE.
Washington Shocked by the Pathetic
Tragedy.

Scf1pU1On OI uu6 incidents Oh lUc ulSUItSS-
ing Montague suicide. Throngs of peo-
pie stood in front of a neat two-story
brick dwelling, SIS 4th street north east,
in Washington, all Sunday afternoon,
talked in hushed tones and looked up in
a sort of awe-stricken way at the second
story windows. In that room, stretched
upon bed, lay the bodies of a man and
a woman, their clothing and the bedding
being stained with their life blood. 1t
was case of suicide. 1t might be called
double suicide, for though the fatal
shots were fred by one hand, that of the
man, there was evideuce that the woman
had consented to die with him. The man
was an artist, Fearnleigh L. Montague,
and the woman his wife, Ernestine. In
the room they occupied while living, and
which was the scene of the tragedy, were
evidences of the fact that it was an art
lists home. Tables were strewn with
vials, lemons, glasses and other articles,
indicating that it was the home of an in
valid. The tragedy occurred little after
/ clock There were but few facts to
be learned at the house by the reporters.
A lady who was ill in an adjoining room
heard two muff1ed reports and a groan.
The sound was so slight that people in
other parts of the house did not hear it.
The lady at once made known her fears
to her husband and an attempt was made
to enter the room of the Montagues, but
the door was locked.
How the Tragedy Occurred.
Police Officer Wannall was found in the
neighborhood and called in. He forced
the door open and the sight.that met his
eyes and those that followed him was
horrifying. Montague lay lifeless upon
the right side of the bed, partially dress
ed, blood streaming from his mouth. His
wife lay by his side, her feet, however,
resting on the floor. Her dress was
stained with blood. Between the two
which had fallen to his side, was the re-
volver with which the bloody work had
been DONE The revolver had been fired
apparently first in the mouth of the wo-
man and then in the mouth OF the man.
There were marks of powder on the
womans face and her cheek had been
lacerated by the explosion Death, it
was thought, had been almost instanta-
neous in both cases. The manner in
which the fatal shots were fired indicated
that the method of the suicide had been
carefully thought out. The barrel of
the revolver had been placed in the mouth
and this was what muff1ed the sound.
The bullets crashed through the brain.
Mrs. Montague was dressed in white.
The house where he roomed is the res
idence of Mr.. F. L. Babendreier, a piano
tuner. Montague and his wife came
there to lodge about four months ago,
and during all that time Mr. Montague
hoI 10
dent and talked sometimes of killing
himself. ''Upon several occasions said
Mr.. Babendreier in giving an account of
the tragic affair, she had threatened his
life, and 1 told him he must not talk
that way. Once he told me of having
put the pistol in his mouth, tempted to
Shoot himself. 1 told him he was not
dangerously ill, and would recover. His
wife seemed much devoted to him, and
waited upon him day and night. Today
my sister-in-law helped Mrs. Montague
in fixing the room and to place him in
the window for a sun bath. He had
been cleanly dressed by his wife, and my
sister said something about not placing
him so near the window in his under
clothes as people could see him. She
replied that she guessed man that was
going to die had right to be dressed
she went out and came down stairs. AS
soon as she did So my wife heard Mrs.
Montague come and lock the door and
draw the curtain Hardly minute passed
she says, before the first shot was fired,
and then the second
Letters Left Behind.
In box on the table in the room were
found number of letters. One that
was sealed had been addressed by Mon
tague to Senator Stockbridge. There
was an envelope also addressed to Mon
tagues wife. 1t was addressed to her
as ''his darling wife," and dated Februa-
ry 20, fact that made those who inves-
tigated the case believe that he contem-
plated committing suicide on that day
and had written a letter of farewell to
his wife.
There was found also lady's gold
watch and diamond ring, in an old
English setting, the stone probably
Weighing three carats. Four dollars in
bills, a few dollars in specie and a solid
gold gentleman's watch chain were
found elsewhere in the room, which were
all of value discovered except some pic
lures of Montague's. 1t was thought
that Montague was in straitened circum-
stances and this fact, together with his
physical suffering, had produced the
despondency that led to the tragedy.
Coroner Patterson, after viewing the
bodies, had them removed to Lees un-
dertaking establishment to be prepared
for burial.
Coroner Patterson investigated the
case and deemed an inquest unnecessary.
He gave certificates of death in accord
ance with the facts.
Three gentlemen who knew Montague
arranged to defray the expenses Of a
respectable burial in Rock Creek GEM
etery. Rev. Dr.. Bartlett of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian church off
ciated.
On pad in Montague's rooms were
written number of notices in the form
of advertisements and among them ap-
peared the following lines:
Farewell to all thy charms near mother earth !;
| Farewell to all its pains endured by me since
birth.
Farewell to Sun God bright and radiant moon,
Farewell to the ethereal host of twnIiing stars,
for soon
| Shall twinkle o'er the spot when / no more
Shall ramble by the lake or ocean shore,
| Shall still cast eyes that sparkle on and shine
| When no more can answer back to thine.