Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
Returned to Old Home.

Returned to Old Home.
AFTER the war was ended and the family
returned to the old home in Middlesex II
was seen that there was no great store
of the goods of this world remaining to
them. and they In common with thousands
OF other Virginians of those DAYS had To
get along with much less than they had
been used to before the struggle
Young Montague did his full share or
the work which the stress of circumstances
put upon him, and managed at the same
TIME to get a good preparatory educa ton
al pubic and private schools near his
nome, for he had already made up his mind
that no matter what the cost he wonid
OBTAIN an education and adopt the profess
sion in which his father had attained
distinction.
He was a little over sixteen wears old
when his father died His interference
was nothing, and he borrowed money to
complete his education. and taught school
TO repay the same, He graduated with dis
tinction in several of the schools of Ricb-
mona college,, there winning the debater's
and orators medal. He then entered the
summer law course at the University Of
virginia, and afterward passed his exami-
nation before the two circuit judges with
the purpose of pursuing the practice of
law In his native county of MiddIesex in
order that he might be the support and
companion of his mother, whose health was
at that time very poor. His mother how
necessltated a complete change in his
plans. ~
He returned to the university the first
or November and pursued his studies with
the most unremitting energy resulting in
his graduation with distinction in the la w
class in June, 1885.
His health was somewhat impaired by
the excessive strain and he was unable IN
of October of that year at which time he
qualified before the courts of the CITY
of Danville. good practice soon came To
him, and he repeatedly won distinction of
the bar, appearing in many of the most i'm
portant cases in Danville and that section
both criminal and civil. as well as in the
supreme court of appeals
United States District Attorney.
He was appointed by President Cleveland
In 1893 as United States district attorney
for the western district of Virginia. The
work in this district was very great but
the duties were performed in a manner
which evoked the praise of the department
at Washington, and made Mr. Montague,s
record second to no other district attornev
In the United States
In this Office he not only evInced h,s
ability as a lawyer and advocate but dow,
onstrated great business and administra tive
capacity IN the management Of the multi
tudinous affairs of his office
mated for the office of attorney general of
the state by the Roanoke convention in
1897, running over 1000 votes ahead ~
the ticket in the fall election. In tha
meantime he had resigned the office Of dis.
trict attorney, but Chief Justice Fuller NJ
the United States Supreme Court requested
him to perform the duties of that Office
until his successor was appointed
Mr.. Montague qualified as attorney gen.
eral on the LIST day OF January. 1898 and
performed the duties of this office for four
years. His record was a continuation of
that made In the office of the United
States district attorney.
AS attorney general he won some of the
most important cases In the history OF the
commonwealth, and his success before the
Supreme Court of the United States in the
famous Wadley case, wherein he estab-
lished the lack of power of the federal court
to enjoin the state in a criminal prosecu-
ton, was great and distinct victory.
During his term as attorney general Gov.
Montague defended the Sd Virginia Regi-
ment when they had the unpleasant cpl
sode with Gen. Butler at Camp Alger. This
trial attracted widespread interest and at
tention throughout the country and the
brilliant and effective work done by At
torney General Montague and Mr. R. w.
Moore who was associated with him in
the case. caused thorough exoneration OF