The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-23
ACCIDENT STILL A MYSTERY.
MIR. MONTAGUE's REMAINS TAKEN
NORTH For INTERMENT.


City on the White BLUM ROad-NcI-
son Gibbons, Who Brought Him
Home Threw Some Light on the
Mishnp-Mr. Montague stated to
Him That He Was Struck by One
of MIR. II. :, Wells WagOns-The
Negro Drivers of the Wagons Deny
Having Had such COlIisiOn-Lit-
tie Doubt, However, That Such Was
the Case.
The mystery concerning the death Of Mr..
Charles L. Montague is partially
cleared up. The two negro boys who car
ried him to his home on CASTOR street, in
a dying condition about 10 o'clock night
before last. turned up again yesterday
morning, having come for their pay for
bringing him home. They were able to
throw but little light on the manner of
his death.
The boys said they were at Growers
store on the White Bluff road, two and
one-half miles from the city, about $3.50
o'clock, when a smaller boy came in and
said there was a man lying on the side
of the road, some distance from the store,
badly hurt, and begging for assistance.
Nelson Gibbons, one of the two negroes,
went out TO look for the wounded man.
He did not find him at first, as the road
was very dark, but finally heard some one
call to him from the other side of the
road. Going over to where the man was
lying Gibbons asked what was the matter.
1t was Mr.. Montague, who replied that he
was badly hurt, that a negro driving one
of Mr. B. S. Wells wagons had run into
him and the tongue of the wagon had
struck him in the stomach He told Glib
bons to go back TO the store and get a We
hicle of some kind to carry him back to
the city, and he would pay him for his
trouble
Gibbons secured Mr.. Growers buggy
and the assistance of another negro. The
two lifted Mr.. Montague in the buggy and
brought him into the city. His bicycle
was also ought along. They arrived
about 10 O'Clock, or shortly after, so that
the accident must have occurred at least
half an hour and probably an hour be-
fore. After arriving at Mr.. Montague's
home, on CASTOR street, the wounded man
was assisted into the house, after which
the negroes drove off.
All that Mr.. Montague was able to say
after arriving at the house was that he
had been struck by a dray and to request
that doctor be sent for. The injury was
found to be a severe confusion of the alb
domen just below the ribs The skin was
not broken, but it was found that the
membranes of the abdomen had been rup-
tured. The wound was such a one as
might have been caused by the pole of a
wagon and indicated that the wounded
man or the wagon, or both, had been NOV
ing at rapid rate of speed at the time the
collision occurred. Otherwise it would
not have been possible for so serious an
injury to have been inflicted. Mr.. Mon
tague died shortly after midnight without
having rallied sufficiently from the shock
20 give any account of the accident.
Gibbons was closely questioned by the
detectives, who satisfied themselves that
he was telling a straight story about the
matter They then went out on the White
BLUM road, where they made further in
vestigations, verifying the negroes story.
They found that two of Mr. Wells farm
wagons had passed by Growers store
shortly before Mr.. Montague was dlscov-
cred and that no other wa gons had passed
that way about that time The drivers
OF the two wagons, William Thompson and
Caleb Chestnut, were arrested and
brought to the city. They were very much
frightened, and positively denied having
had any collision with any bicyclists, but
said that they had passed a man lying by
the roadside and another man standing up
holding bicycle. The time at which the
negroes passed this point was just about
the time the accident is believed TO have
occurred, and II was evident that 1t was
with one of these wagons that Mr.. Mon
tague collided. Chief McDermott thought
the negroes could tell more about the ac-
cident II they would and decided to hold
them for the inquest, which he expected
would be held. He was notified by Coro-
ner Goette, however, that no inquest would
be held as the coroner was satisfied that
Mr.. Montagues death was due to an acct
dent
The news of Mr.. Montague's death was
a shock to his friends. He was man
OF pleasant disposition, and those. who
knew him We're surprised that he should
have been so far out on the road alone at
night as 1t would have been more nat
ural for him 70 have been accompanied
by one or more friends. He had dined at
o'clock, as was his custom, and had
returned to the Office after dinner to at
tend to some matters preparatory 10 his
departure from the city next week His
approaching vacation was mentioned by
his associates at the office, and his part
ners insisted that he should
leave business matters alone entirely
for while and enjoy his vacation In or
der that he might return In the fall thor
oughly restored in health.
Mr.. Montague left the Office shortly be-
fore O'Clock. At about $40 O'Clock he
was seen by one OF his partners at the
De Soto. and a little later went east on
Liberty street on his bicycle. What course
he took In going out TO the White Bluff
road is unknown. The theory advanced
that he might have received his injury by
running into a wagon pole projecting from
the rear Of a wagon is not borne out by
the circumstances. He was found
with his wheel on the right
side OF the road, going TO
show that he was coming into the city
at the time OF the accident The negroes
were going out at the time and the coils
Ion must have been with the front end
OF the pole.
His remains have been taken to Elms
ford, near Tarrytown-on-t he-4udson, ac-
companied by Mrs Montague and her two
children.
Mr.. Montague's will was fled for pro-
bate in the court of ordinary yesterday. II
leaves everything 10 Mrs. Montague with
out conditions or restrictions and she o.
appointed Administrative OF the property.
No values are stated in the Will. II Is un-
derstood that the deceased carried consid.
cradle life Insurance.
-s--e-s-