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Show Body of Old Actor Ceases to Trouble Theatrical Folk Relievo City and County by Raising- Purse for Burial of Montgomery. Neither city nor county paid the burial expenses of James Montgomery. "While the contest was waged as to which was responsible for tho outlay some theatrical people learned that Montgomery had once been a member of their profession. Steve Newman, property man at tho Salt Lake theater, took the matter In hand and collected enough money to give tho deceased honorable, though plain burial. Years prior to his death Montgomery had been a slavo to drink and a regular guest at the city Jail. He passed away in tho drtmkhouso on January 13. Since that time he has been lying unburled. Tho city said ho was a county charge. The county authorities refused to bury him because ho died In tho city Jail. What would have ' been done with tho body If tho theater folk had not come to tho rescue ;s a problem. It might havo been an issue In the next county election. But the stage people remembered that Montgomery had not always been a wreck. They learned that ho had once trcxl tho boards with such celebrities as Booth and Barrett. What were tho temptations and tho misfortunes that caused him to stupefy himself with drink thoy did not ask. They were charitable In thought as well as in giving. So yesterday afternoon tho curtain fell on the last scene. Tho clods of tho City cemetery rattled on tho plain casket. Tho poor old body of the once ambitious actor will vex the City Board of Health and the County Commissioners no more. |