Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-15
The Montgomery cose
Death Throws Spotlight on Lonely Man

he. impressed her as very lonely.
Police. checking back, got the
same impression Of deep and
lasting loneliness. One detective
described him as "a lonely, self
contained man who did not talk
about his troubles"
Another detective summed
him up: He had no family. At
II. he wasn't married. He was
respondent over his failure to
pass his examinations. He lacked
self-confldence. He was con-
fused by his difficulty in un-
derstanding world affairs. He
was deeply lonely. He had every
reason, every motive to take his
life."
50 Persons Questioned.
But the investigation couldn't
and didn't stop there. Some so
persons were questioned to es-
tablish his movements that
night and for weeks before.
Friends Of Mr.. Braverman were
questioned because he had found
the body.
Dr.. A. Magruder Macdonald
performed an autopsy to make
sure he had not been drugged
unconscious and hung by some
one else. DR.. Macdonald re-
ported death by asphyxia suffo-
cation tstrangulation). The COR
oner found no trace of barbitur-
ateS but did find a percentage
of alcohol that showed Mr.. Mont
gomery had been drinking ex-
cessively but was not drunk.
THE markings described on
the neck are found only In those
cases Of suicide and they differ
widely from marks produced
when the individual is the VIC
tim Of q homicidal act DR..
donald concluded.
No Documents Missing.
The State Department failed
to find any classified documents
missing or in his room or desk.
Security officers were satisfied
security had not been "compro-
missed" by Mr.. Montgomery's
death.
On January 20. a new element
was injected into the investiga-
ton, Representative Busbey,
Republican. Of Illinois demanded
a House investigation.
On the House floor, Mr.. Bus
hey wondered If Mr.. Montgom-
cry really had committed sui
eide He said he had found
entirely too much secrecy and
mystery about the death Of Mr..
Montgomery"
The next day. the case was
referred to the Brownson sub
committee of the House Com
mittee on Government Opera
lions. This is the subcommittee
dealing with international az
fairs and the State Department.
Its chairman is Representative
Brownson, Republican, Of In
diana.
at didn't At into the long
range program we had planned, /"
Mr.. Brownson said. I'VE are
trying to do q Bookings IN
stitute type Of study. AS far
as I could see, we were not in
terested in a suicide, except as
it affected national security and
the personnel policies Of the
State Department"
Arranges Conference.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Brownson
asked the State Department and
the police for reports and ar
ranged for q conference at the
State Department.
On February 4. Mr.. Brownson
went to the State Department
with Representative Meader, Re
publican, Of Michigan, and Rep
resentative Lantaff, Democrat,
OF Florida. He had originally
planned to discuss his subcom-
mittee's long-term detectives but
the conversation centered on Mr..
Montgomery. Attending for the
State Department were Donald
B. Lourie, Undersecretary of
State-designate; Thurston b.
Marion, Assistant Secretary for
Congressional Relations; Herman
Phleger. State Department legal
advisor, and the sole holdover
from the Democratic regime,
Carlisle H. Humelsine, Deputy
UnderSecretary.
Mr.. Humelsine had Mr.. Mont
gomery's file with him and read
from 1t. Mr.. Brownson wanted
the file but the State officials
demurred on the ground that
personnel files had information
from persons who should be
anonymous in order to remain
useful. There was also the hold
over order from the Truman re-
gime restricting executive de-
partment files in being turned
over to congressional committees.
Wanted Background Chick.
Mr.. BrOwnson said he would
settle at this time for a conn
plete synopsis Of the file. He said
he wanted to know whether Mr..
Montgomery's BACKGROUND of
emotional instability was known
to the State Department when
ne was hired. He said he also
had been told Mr.. Montgomery
was rejected by the Army as a
psychoneurotic and he wanted
to know il the State Department
knew about that. He asked for
an analysis Of his job and what
files he had access to. He wanted
to know If any close friends or
relations were members Of any
subversive organizations.
IF he were personally I'M
happy and his death had nothing