Montgomery, Joe S.

Picher, Oklahoma, After a lengthy investigation late Saturday afternoon and early Saturday night, county authorities declared that Joe S. Montgomery, 60 year old employee of the Federal Mining and Smelting Company, had committed suicide at his home on the Lucky Syndicate Mine lease. Montgomery's body was discovered at 6 o'clock Saturday evening when his wife, returned from a business trip to Joplin Missouri, where the couple formerly lived. The investigation disclosed, that Montgomery had first tried to kill himself by slashing his left wrist with a razor and after failing in that had shot himself through the head with a .410 caliber pistol. Pools of blood were found in the front room, a small washroom adjoining the kitchen, and in the bedroom, where the body lay. The county attorney said the evidence showed that Montgomery's wrist was slashed while he stood in the washroom. From there a trail of blood led to the front room, where the aged mine watchman had apparently sat for some time waiting for death. Later, it was believed, Montgomery returned to the washroom, obtained the pistol from a cupboard and then went to the bedroom and he shot himself. Dr. H. C. Ritchie of the American hospital at Picher, said it was probable Montgomery had been dead since Friday night. Mrs. Montgomery drove to Joplin Missouri Friday. No motive could be established for suicide. Montgomery had been in good health and was not in financial difficulty, being the owner of property in Joplin. He had worked for the mining company for the last 18 years, his wife, said. She was of the opinion her husband had met with foul play and was the one who called the authorities. Besides his wife, Mrs. Maude Montgomery, he is survived by one son, D. S. Montgomery of Miami; three sisters, Mrs. J. W. Brooks of Joplin, Mrs. Mattie Harris and Mrs. Kate Crain of Hillsboro Texas; two brothers, Charles Montgomery of Whitney Texas, and Jim Montgomery of Chickasha Oklahoma. Funeral arrangements were incomplete Saturday night. The Lane funeral home of Miami was called to take charge of the body.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Lampher funeral home chapel in Joplin. The Rev. W. A. Hubbard will officiate. Active pallbearers will be W. H. Throop, Ed Endicott, Ray Morris, Frank Allen, N. C. Counts and Dow Downing. Honorary pallbearers will be I. V. Korts, James Rodgers, Marion Sullivan, Loren Loveall, L. G. Johnson, L. W. Murphy and C. K. Carmean. Burial will be in a Joplin cemetery... Note: Lane Funeral Records indicate that Joseph Montgomery was age 64 and born Sept 22, 1871, in Missouri; that he died Oct 11, 1935, of suicide in Picher. His father was Sam Montgomery and was born in Missouri. His mother was Mary Haynes Montgomery and was born in Kentucky. His wife's name was Maud Montgomery and he was buried in Forest Park cemetery Joplin Missouri.