The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-24
MONTGOMERY IS \ REAL LIVE MAN Appears at Mayors Office and Answers Questions NOT A FICTITIOUS BEING Has Been In Charge of a Saloon or Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth
 Street Since Au-
 gust 8.
NOT A FICTITIOUS BEING


 R. J. Montgomery is a real live man He eats, sleeps, breathes and lives Every day he can be found at Seventh avenue and Fourteenth street, where he serves out liquid nourisnment
 The Mayor instituted Sherlock Holmes investigation yesterday and located the said Montgomery, who also visited the office of the Mayor and assured the chief executive that he exists in fact as well us fiction.
 The entire research grew out of the al- legation by Police Commissioner Phillips in his paper before the police commits sion Tuesday night that there was no such person as R. J. Montgomery and that he is purely fictitious and exists only for the sake of securing a license from the city council. The paragraph of MT. Phillips paper is as follows:
 ITO show that equal justice Is not being meted out to all men alike I call atten- ton to the fact that the council revoked the license of one Hafin on Fourteenth street and Seventh avenue for selling H. quor on Sunday. I am informed that shortly thereafter they granted a license to sell liquor at the same place to one Montgomery, and applied the license money paid by Hafiin on the license of Montgomery. am further informed that there is no such man as Montgomery and that he is purely fictitious, existing for license purposes only, and that some of the council knew this at the tme and, further, that there has been offered re- ward of S100 to any man that will produce ontgomery--anyway, Hafiin, who was In charge of the salooon when the Sunday selling is alleged to have occurred. is in charge of the business Just as before, and the public will remember that the Mayor favored granting this Montgomery license. This looks very much like the Mayor Is running a shell game in the reform business"
 Letter of Mayor.
 The Mayor instituted the investigation yesterday morning as soon as he reach- ed his office. He had read the account of the reply of MT. Phillips In the Age Herald and so immediately started the by addressing the following letter to the Alabama Brewing company
 August 2s. 1s05 Mir J. M. wilzyn, President Alabama Brewing Company, City:
 Dear Sir-Referring to Comnaissioner Phillips statement that R. J. Montgom- cry. who signed application for license, Is a fictitious person, and that your former manager. Hafiin, was still running the saloon at Seventh avenue and Fourteenth street, I would be glad to know If these facts are true or not I will also ask that you have MT. Montgomery come to this office.
 You will remember that you obtained my promise to vote for the re-opening of this saloon by stating in answer to my question you and your general manager, MT. A. S. Joseph would vouch for the character and qualifications of MT. R. J. Montgomery and the orderly conduct of this saloon Also that your former man. ager Hafln, had been discharged and would not be connected In any way with the saloon in the future Awaiting reply, am, very truly.
 GEORGE B. WARD. Mayor
 The Reply.
 About noon the Mayor received A reply to his letter stating that MT. Montgomery did exist and that the police commis- sioner was wrong in his statements The reply is as follows:
 Birmingham, Ala. August 23.1905. Hon. George B. Ward Mayor. City:
 Dear Sir-Replying to your inquiry of today I wish to say that Commissioner Phillips alleged information Is wholly in- correct.
 First: R. J. Montgomery took charge of the saloon on Seventh avenue and Fourteenth street on the 3rd day of Au- gust as allowed by the city council. and has been in charge ever since
 Second: The former manager. Joe Half Iin left the saloon the day It was closed by order of the Mayor and has not been connected with it or with this brewery since that time.
 MT. Phillips information in regard 10 this particular ss loon and the granting of the license to 1t Is incorrect and mis- leading Very truly,
 (Signed.) ALABAMA BREWING CO,
 By AVERY s. JOSEPH
 Close on the heels of the reply came Mir. Montgomery himself. He walked in- to the office and said:
 "I would like to see Mir Ward"
 That's my name. sir" replied the chief executive.
 Well. my name's Montgomery" replied the visitor Heard that you would like to know if am living man or only suspect.
 .'You are the man that the slo0 reward was offered for Well I am glad to see you. Sit down and tell me all about your self,r the Mayor said.
 well. have been living In Ensley for the mast six years and came to Birming- ham several weeks ago and took charge of that saloon after the first license was revoked. Plenty of people In Ensley and in Birmingham know me. and I hope some of my friends will be able to col- lect that sl0O. Don't know anything else to tell you except that I am running the saloon and not violating the Sunday law"
 That's enough" replied the Mayor, "and I guess that settles the question of vour being a live man. No use making an affidavit before a notary"
 That chapter of the incident closed.
 
 GRAND MASTER HERE. ,., c xuhaeter If Huntsville VIII Ad-