Upon further checking, I have run across 2 good sources that say that Ed "Montudi" Garland died in 1980 and not 1966 as I said in my initial post. My original source was not reliable and I shan't put it above these other 2 sources. Many apologies.

One of these sources also said that Ory died in Hawaii and not California. I haven't verified either source on that one so take your pick.

BILLY THE KID ORY?

Many of Buddy Bolden's shows were in places of ill repute. Fights frequently broke out and it was not unusual for murders to take place. From a June 15, 1902 police report comes the following:

"... a difficulty took place at a Negro ball given in the Independent Pleasure Club...between Charles Montrell...and Edward Ory...which resulted in Ory drawing a revolver, 38 caliber, Hopkins & Allen make and firing one shot at Montrell the ball taking effect in his forehead above the right eye enflicting [sic] a mortal wound...Cause of difficulty--Ory claims that Montrell stepped on his foot."

Was this Kid Ory? He'd have been about 15, which was the age that he was when he met Bolden.

The New Orleans Daily Picayune carried the story and added:

"Montrell always cuts quite a figure at the dances, but outside of the slow drag shuffle he was awkward and some of the fancy darkies did not like his style. Ory does not consider himself in the rough head class of negroes and he waxed warm when Montrell, in dancing in the hall about 3:30 yesterday morning danced on his foot."

Ory though may be a common name among Creoles and this could easily be a different Ory. But how many Edward Orys are there likely to be at Buddy Bolden show? Jelly Roll Morton was there and remembered the murder. Since he and Ory were band mates years later, it seems this was not the same Ory. Morton remembered the shooter as a "gouty" fellow who was in great pain after his foot was stepped on. But he also got details wrong, confusing it with another murder that took place a couple of years later. Maybe he confused the shooters as well. Maybe he was covering for his friend. After all, Ory would have been some frightened kid who might have panicked.

At this time, we'd be more just to assume that it was not Kid Ory. But it is interesting, isn't it?