New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-05-27
MIXED UP IN MURDER PLOT
Harry Montgomery, Former Resi-
dent of Sleepy Eye, Gets Into
Trouble in Washington.
Shoots His Brothers Mistress at
Formers Dastardly Request.
Was to Have Been Made indie
Pendently Rich as a Reward
for His Crime.

The Spokane Spokesman-Review of
recent date contains lengthy account
of the attempted murder at the little
town of Elk in Washington of Mrs.
May North by Harry Montgomery, a
former resident of Sleepy Eye.
The Spokesman-Review says that
Montgomery, who used to be brake
man on the Northwestern road in this
state and was married about four
years ago to Miss Mary Hughes of
Waseca, came to Elk only a short
time ago to live at a hotel conducted
by his brother, Ed. His wife and two
small children accompanied him.
On the night OF May 1st Mrs. North,
who had been mistress of the hotel for
several years and was still stopping
there as boarder, was mysterlously
shot through the window Of her room.
The shot took effect in her left temple
and at first it was thought she would
have to die. Later, however, she
showed signs of reviving strength and
it is believed now that her ultimate re-
covery is not only possible, but prob
able.
Soon after the attempted murder
several clues were discovered which
led the authorities to believe that
Harry Montgomery had something to
do with the shooting. They worked
. diligently at the case and link by link
secured a chain of evidence that es-
tablished beyond doubt his completely
in the crime.
Montgomery, however, stoutly main
tanned his innocence for several days,
and not until his young wife went to
his cell and urged him to tell the
truth did he evince the slightest sign
of weakness. Mrs. Montgomery is
quoted as making very pathetic ap-
peal to her husband to tell the truth,
saying:
'sHarry, for my sake and our little
ones. [ want you to tell the truth and
if you are guilty of this thing to make
a clean breast of it. You know that
you have told the officers that you
were in our rooms upstairs with me
and the children on the night that the
murder of Mrs. North was attempted
and you know that is not the truth.
You know that you came up after
wards and warned me to tell every
BODY that you were with me when the
pistol shots were heard. That is not
true, Harry, and you know it is not.
You have tried to deceive the officers,
Derhaps, but do not deceive me. Tell
the truth"
While the wife was making her plea
\. Montgomery collapsed and told the
story of the fendish plot which ne
said he and his brother had Matched
against the woman whom his brother
wanted out Of the way.
According to Harry's story the plot
was first suggested to him oy ms
brother few weeks after he came with
his family to Elk. The brother and
Mrs. North had been living together
for a number of years and he was now
anxious to rid himself Of her because
she was a serious obstacle to some O.
his plans.
When Ed first preached the plot tc
Harry the latter claims that he re
~ fused to have anything to do with it
but, when Ed who is very rich, pointed
I, oh IJar
pendently wealthy if he assisted in thu
scheme, Harry finally yielded and thu
two at once set to work figuring GU
some feasible way of carrying to sue
cess their devilish project.
At first it was planned to murder tn
woman in her bed and when the GRIM
was discovered start the story that tn
deed was the work of robbers.
This plan was abandoned, however
and in the end it was agreed tina
Harry should shoot her some nigh
. through the widow of her room. BIZ
was to be cut of the city, of course, il
order that no suspicion might attacl
to him.
Early in April, therefore, he went t.
Spokane with the view of having
Harry complete the job while he wa
gone. But Harry's nerve failed hin
at the critical moment, and when &c
returned to Elk it was necessary tt
talk matters all over again.
This time Ed picked the night whel
the murder was to take place and in
sisted that Harry fill up on whiske.
during the evening SO that he would
not lose heart when he came to per
form the dastardly deed. Then E'
started for Rochester, Mimi, Leaving
on the 10th of A pril and giving as