The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-18
OFFICER SHOT
IN EXCLUSIVE
CAPITAL CAFE
PatroIman Is Slain After
Killer Wounds Manager
of Night Club.
DRUNK BEFORE TRAGEDY
Depressed Over Fear That
He Could Never Be Big
Success, Like Father.

he Could Never BE Big
Success, Like Father.
BIZ United PYess
WASHINGTON, May PA so
cially prominent young New Yorker
killed a policeman, seriously wound
ed another and then committed sui
eide early Sunday in an exclusive
night club here. The young man
was Robert Shaw Montgomery, g.
son Of Colonel Robert w. Montgom-
cry, New York accountant and tax
expert.
The policeman he killed was Pa
trolman Jess L. Taylor, shot as
Montgomery dashed downstairs from
the Club Chanticleer after shoot
ing Charles Garbett, the manager
A taxicab driver narrowly avoid
ed being shot by lodging behind
his cab
Montgomery then killed himself
Suffered Mental Depression
Notes left by Montgomery in
dictated early today that he was slSf-
fering from profound mental de-
preston because, he believed, he
could never equal the achievements
of his successful father.
H. 70
60 pass a public accountant ex-
animation, and recently had been
under great strain taking the ex-
animation for a second time. He was
said to have been drinking just prior
to the triple Shooting.
Accounts pieced together from
various sources gave the following
account Of the affair:
Saturday night Montgomery
escorted Mrs. Eugene Smith, So
cially prominent in Washington, to
the Club Chanticleer.
There they met Miss Norvel
Munford, Virginia dehUtante, and
Montgomery danced with her re-
peatedly. Also OF the party was
Irvine Keyser, said to be a Balti-
more clubnan.
Escorts Woman Home
At midnight, Montgomery escorted
Mrs. Smith home at her request.
Later he returned alone to the
Chanticleer, only to find the others
gone. An alteration with Garbett
followed, Montgomery insisting on
sitting at a table that had been re-
served. He left in a rage, saying:
IF I don't get that table there's
going to be some shooting around
here!"
He went to his room at the Rae
quet Club, left note with, the at
tendant to be. placed in his own
mail box, and then went back to
the Club Chanticleer. The note
said:
IN. M.-Dinner Sunday-Fone
when conscious, but before IL"
IN. M" was understood to be Miss
Munford.
Policeman Is Slain
Back at the night club for the
third time, the young man pulled
out a pistol, fired once at Garbett,
who was standing at the door, and
then ran downstairs.
At the foot of the stairs he met
Patrolman Taylor, who had heard
the shot and was on his way up. A
bullet pierced the officers heart and
he fell in his tracks.
Meanwhile, the dance continued
within the club, the merrymakers
unaware Of the shooting.
Apprised of the tragedy, the or
chestra leader urged his musicians
to play founder and louder. Dancing
continued for an hour.
Today the Club Chanticleer was
closed, forever. Meyer Davis, owner
of the rendezvous which for six
years has been the center of the
capital night life, announced he
never would reopen it.
Mrs. Smith said Sunday night
that Montgomery had been drink
ing, and that it was for this reason
she asked him to take her home
She repeated the dialog as follows:
If you are going to drink sc
much, I'm going to go home"
He replied; "All right. if you
won't play with me I'll find some
one else who will
Failed to Pass Exams
On the way home, she said, he
told her he was going back to the
Chanticleer. She said he seemed
in good spirits but tired.
Notes found in Montgomery S
room at the Racquet Club shed
light on the shooting, in view OF
revelations concerning his deep
dissatisfaction with his achieve
ments and his recent failure to
pass an accountants examination
One aid:
There's only one genius in q
number Of generations. The
colonel is it. The next one can't
be expected for 100 years. I've
tried to live up to it. I can't. He
ranks. I don't"
DEMANDS WAR ON REDS