The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-07
DEAD WOMAN'S FRIEND
DENIES THAT SHE HAD
THREATENED SUICIDE

"aIrs. de la Montanya had no reason
TO commit suicide and the iDttmattOn
that she came to her death in that way
is absolutely absurd. 1 know positively
that she was very happy, and that she
was not in the habit of making the
threats against her own life which
have been attributed to her. The fool
fish actions of those who were present
when she WAS accidentally fatally
wounded have served 10 make mys-
terry of the matter."@Gil Curry, close
personal friend of the dead woman.
Irritated by the TumorS which have
been given circulation by those who
attempted to hide the deails of Mrs.
de la Montanya's tragic death, Gil
Curry, one Of the most prominent
horsemen in California and a close
friend of the dead woman, in a state
ment to The Call last night did a great
deal to eliminate the possible suicide
version and to bring out more plainly
many facts which have not yet been
explained. The turfman proves his as
sertion that Mrs. Montanya had no
reason to commit suicide by quoting
her own words uttered within a short
time of her death.
II knew Mrs. Montanya very well.
I was also acquainted with her former
husband. and visited her number of
times recently. In fact, / saw her
several times in the 10 days prior to
H.
NIT suicide. and the intimation that
she came to her DEAN in that way is
absolutely absurd. l know positively
that she was very happy, and that she
was not in the habit of making the
threats against her own life which
have been attributed to her. She was
accidentally fatally wounded when that
revolver was discharged, and the fool
ish actions Of those who were present
at the time have served to make a
mystery Of the matter.
This talk to the effect that she
had some lingering affection for her
former husband is absurd. l met her
the day before she secured her final
decree last week, and she remarked
how extremely happy she would be
when she had been entirely freed from
Moptanya. She was also enthusiastic
at that time about travelling in Europe
this summer, and she asked me for the
addresses of my sisters in Paris, so
that she could visit them. She was in
the happiest frame Of mind.
These supposed threats of suicide ]
think. are flgments of somebody's imag-
ination. ! knew her very well and for
a number of years / never heard her
threaten to kill herself, nor did l ever
see her in a melancholy mood.
I endeavored to secure the details of
the incident from Mrs. Patton, whom
knew as a friend Of Mrs. Montanya's,
but when I telephoned her on Sunday
she was hysterical. Her death was GER
tainly tragic and the steps taken to
make it appear as suicide were foolish,
to say the least"
Much strength has been given to the
theory advanced by Curry that Mrs.
Montanya was accidentally shot while
those present were examining the
mechanism of the gun by the fact that
it would have been very awkward for
her TO shoot herself on the angle at
which the bullet entered the head over
the right ear and the further fact that
none of those who were present can
give any explanation OF where the gun
was picked up. This is the theory
which also suggested itself to the po-
lice yesterday.