WHY WALTER MONTGOMERY COMMITTED SUICIDE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2741, 29 November 1871, Page 3

WHY WALTER MONTGOMERY COMMITTED SUICIDE.

(Correspondence of Ike New York Herald) Boston, 25th September.—l believe the cause and circumstances of the death of Walter Montgomery have already been given in your foreign correspondence. Within a day or two the history of the woman, whoso infatuation for the tragedian was undoubtedly the cause of his suicide, has fully transpired. It seems that she has been several tipics married, and that at least two of her husbands are living in this city. Her maiden name was Bigelow, and her father is a shoemaker in East Boston. Her last husband is a proprietor of a well-known private hotel. The following additional facts are of interest. At the time of the performance of the “Black Crook” at the Continental Theatre (now St. James) in this city, there Were two sisters who stood perched on a pedestal in a position that showed their forms oif to good advantage, which pleased some of the audience'while it infatuated others These two sisters went by the name of Bigelow, and were often spoken of as possessing beautiful forms and features. Anion" the constant visitors to the theatre was a° man of mature age, a respectable citizen of the west end of the city. He fell in love with the features or the form, we do not know which, of one of the girls. It took hut very little work to secure an introduction, through the agency of one of the attaches of the theatre. He thought so much beauty and form should pot go without a proper recognition, ho be popped the question and she accepted him, probably not for his looks, but for the money which he possessed, as he was reported as very wealthy. They were married, hut it was impossible for (two so unlike in disposition, age, &c., to live happily together. She. in company with her sister, was on the go all the time, and made the old fellow’s money tfy very rapidly. She ran up accounts at Various dry goods stores at Washington streets, until her husband gave orders to the proprietors not to trust her any more. This £auied a frdsh outbreak, and the result was she took a trip to Now York. Her husband stood it for about three weeks, and no longer. So ho started after her and brought her home, forgiving her for all she had done if she would only consent to live with him. Of course she agreed to all this, for the old man’s purse was just what she wanted to handle. About this time, Mr Montgomery played an engagement at the Boston Museum. Miss Bigelow, or rather Mrs attended each and every performance, and was struck with his beautifully shaped limbs, the same as had been smitten with hers while in “Black Crook.” She sent him bouquets nightly, with a card containing the name of “Miss Bigelow” attached to it. Mr Montgomery did not know who the fair donor was, and paid very little attention to the matter. When he sailed for Europe, and had left our shores but a day, was introduced to (aidy by the name of Bigelow, of Bost6n, who, on enquiry, turned oiit fo' be our’heroine. A mulual friendship sprang up between them on the voyage, when she informed him that she was madly in love with him, and had followed him on his home voyage in order that she might be near him. She passed herself off as a maiden and Montgomery believed her. To make a long story short, he subsequently married her, believing that in so doing he was marrying a maiden who loved him for himself alone. The day after he was married he found out that she whom he had made his wife already had a husband in Boston. It Will be recollected that in a week he was to sail for this country, an t that he was cn. gaged by some of our lyceums to give readings. It was too much for a. gentleman of Lis sensitive nature te face thp public in this city with these facts standing prominently

before them. It Would be the gossip of tb° city, and sent broadcast throughout th° country. It was too much for his nervesi and the result was that he took bis own lifeThis is given as the true cause of VValter Montgomery’s suicide. Whether the wife can sa'isfy her conscience in the part she has played in this tragedy is a question we leave entirely to her alone. Her husband, now in this city, has come to the conclusion that he is better off without her, and will soon enter a suit for a divorce.