A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 2. (Szeged, 1999)

LENGYEL András: A Montanus-per. Üzleti harc, várospolitika és sajtónyilvánosság

ANDRÁS LENGYEL THE MONTANUS LAW SUIT Business War, City Politics, and Freedom of the Press In April of 1926, a small booklet of 24 pages appeared in the city of Szeged. The pamphlet entitled The Battle of the Tata and Pécs Coals in the Households of Szeged, was written in the form of an open letter. Its author used a pen-name called Montanus. The pamphlet brought to light the corruption of the coal supply of the city. A great scandal broke out and the author (Jenő Puskás, journalist) and the publisher (Lajos Balogh, alderman) were brought to court. Business interests and city politics were related factors in the case. The press, which was responsible for having uncovered the corruption, played an important role in the development of the case. This study attempts to show the role of publicity through the analysis of this Law Suit.