Evening star., 1937-10-26
MONTAGUE DENIES
CHARGES ON STAND
Declares He Fled State
When Clothing Was Found
in HoId-up Auto.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ELIzABETHTOWN, N. Y, Oct. 26.
-"Mysterious" John Montague, who
puzzled Hollywood pals by his reti-
cence, told a jury today he was in
nocent of a robbery charge, and fled
New York State because his clothing
was found in a hold-up mans auto
mobile.
Denying participation in the seven-
year-old S700 robbery of Kin Hana's
Jay, N. Y. road house, Montague,
known in Syracuse, N. Y, as Laverne
Moore. said he was ashamed" of his
connection with the case.
Montague said he was not and am
not ashamed of the name Moore, but
assumed the name John Montague in
1880 because it was different" from
his real name.
The defense rested its case after
Montague's testimony, which required
two hours. SGmmations were called
for after the noon recess, with both
SIDES predicting the case would 60
to the jury before nightfall,
Dispositions Read.
The defendant took the stand
abruptly after listening to the reading
of dispositions from his screen colony
friends as to his good character and
honesty.
Direct examination by James M.
Noonan of Albany, N. Y, chief de-
fense counsel, required only four min
utes and consisted mainly of a cate
gorical denial by Montague that he
had been in the vicinity of the Hama
road house the night of the robbery.
Montague chuckled as he recalled,
under his attorneys questioning, that
he once had been fined S. for stealing
cherries.
Among Hollywood friends who sub
n1itted affidavits in his behalf were
Crooner Bing Crosby, Guy Kibbee,
Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, Oliver
Hardy and others.
AS he took the stand all eyes were
directed at the defendant, who admits
he is Iaverne Moore, indicted for the
robbery of Kin Hana's Jay, N. Y, road
house.
Declares He Was in Bed.
do you remember the evening of
August 4. 1890, the night of this
crime?" his counsel asked.
IT do" Montague replied.
Where were you?"
''I was in bed at my home in SYRIA
euse"
Prosecutor Thomas w. Mcdonald
began a vigorous examination,
turning first to the contents of Glad
stone bag found in wrecked motor
car in which the hold-up men fled
from the roadhouse.
Yesterday William Carleton, owner
of the car and confessed participant
in the crime, testified the bag was
placed in the machine a week before
when he and Montague went to Roch-
ester, N. Y.
Carleton said the defendant did not
participate in the robbery.
The State claims the bag was
placed in Carleton's car preparatory
to getaway" the night of the
crime. Montague, the State contends,
rode in another car which was to have
met the subsequently wrecked ma
chine.
DeIves Into Hollywood Life.
The prosecution delved into Mon
tague's social life in Hollywood. bring
ing from the defendant testimony that
he went with "an extravagant crowd
but didn't attempt to keep up my end
as extensively as they"
"I travelled with them as a guest
most of the time" Montague ex-
planned.
WAS your company so charming that
they paid your expenses?" the prose-
cutor asked.
ct don't know how charming I was,
but I was accepted" the witness re-
piled.
Presiding Judge Harry E. Owen
twice rebuked Montague for attempt
ing to amplify answers instead of
replying yes" or mo"
The prosecutor referred to a trip
which Montague admits making to
Hana's restaurant week before the
robbery ito make contacts for hauling
liquor"
But we never got to talk to Hama
about it," Montague testified.
Liquor hauling was discussed at
Utica restaurant, however, he said.
This was August 1, two days after the
trip to Hana's place.