Armed robbers, Hollywood stars, and the greatest golfer the sports world has never known.
THREAD: The story of "Mysterious" John Montague ππ»
THREAD: The story of "Mysterious" John Montague ππ»
1/ It's the mid-1930's and John Montague has just arrived in southern California.
Who is he? No one knows.
Where's he from? He won't say.
You see, Montague is hiding, but from what?
Who is he? No one knows.
Where's he from? He won't say.
You see, Montague is hiding, but from what?
2/ Let's take a trip back in time...
It's 1930, prohibition is alive and well, and the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York are crawling with bootleggers.
In the early morning hours on August 5th, three masked men entered the restaurant of Kin Hana.
It's 1930, prohibition is alive and well, and the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York are crawling with bootleggers.
In the early morning hours on August 5th, three masked men entered the restaurant of Kin Hana.
3/ Hana, a Japanese immigrant, and his wife were closing up after a long day's work.
Originally believing the men were friends playing a joke, Mrs. Hana wasn't alarmed until she saw their guns.
Originally believing the men were friends playing a joke, Mrs. Hana wasn't alarmed until she saw their guns.
4/ The men forced Mrs. Hanna to open the family's safe, robbing the couple of about $750.
As the intruders made their escape, a struggle ensued.
Mrs. Hanna's father, who was also present, attempted to stop the men but was unsuccessful.
As the intruders made their escape, a struggle ensued.
Mrs. Hanna's father, who was also present, attempted to stop the men but was unsuccessful.
5/ Outside, two getaway cars were waiting, along with a 4th man posted as a lookout.
The men loaded into their vehicles and headed off into the night.
The men loaded into their vehicles and headed off into the night.
6/ Now as we discussed earlier, these were the days of prohibition.
Route 9, the main road outside Hana's restaurant, was a known path for rumrunners, and thus, heavily patrolled.
As the men drove away, state troopers spotted the speeding cars and the chase was on.
Route 9, the main road outside Hana's restaurant, was a known path for rumrunners, and thus, heavily patrolled.
As the men drove away, state troopers spotted the speeding cars and the chase was on.
7/ In the first vehicle, two men later identified as John Sherry and William Carleton, weren't having much luck.
In an attempt to evade capture, the men had turned off the headlights to their car.
Bad idea. They soon careened off the road & into a ditch, killing Sherry.
In an attempt to evade capture, the men had turned off the headlights to their car.
Bad idea. They soon careened off the road & into a ditch, killing Sherry.
8/ Carleton, the passenger, would be captured and arrested shortly thereafter.
Meanwhile, in the second car, a man who identified himself as Lawrence Ryan was busy talking with the police.
Meanwhile, in the second car, a man who identified himself as Lawrence Ryan was busy talking with the police.
9/ Ryan, the passenger in the vehicle, was somehow able to talk his way out of being arrested.
He and Roger Norton, the driver, were allowed to leave.
He and Roger Norton, the driver, were allowed to leave.
10/ Knowing that Ryan had lied, and fearing the truth would come out, Norton would turn himself in two days later.
With three of the four men now in custody or deceased, the hunt was on for the man named Lawrence Ryan.
With three of the four men now in custody or deceased, the hunt was on for the man named Lawrence Ryan.
11/ While performing a routine search of the getaway vehicles, troopers found a set of golf clubs, a draft notice, and a driver's license.
The curious thing? They all belonged to a man named Laverne Moore.
Not Lawrence Ryan.
The curious thing? They all belonged to a man named Laverne Moore.
Not Lawrence Ryan.
12/ It wouldn't take long for authorities to realize, they'd been dupped.
Lawrence Ryan didn't exist at all.
The man who'd talked his way out of arrest on that August night?
Laverne Moore.
But who is Laverne Moore?
Lawrence Ryan didn't exist at all.
The man who'd talked his way out of arrest on that August night?
Laverne Moore.
But who is Laverne Moore?
12/ Hailing from Syracuse, NY. Moore was well-known in his hometown.
Blessed with extreme strength and athletic prowess, he excelled at most any sport.
At one point, he would even try out for the Yankees and befriend none other than Babe Ruth in the process.
Blessed with extreme strength and athletic prowess, he excelled at most any sport.
At one point, he would even try out for the Yankees and befriend none other than Babe Ruth in the process.
13/ Yet as time went on, it became apparent that baseball was not Moore's true calling.
His most gifted athletic pursuit? Golf.
It was with this in mind, he would leave New York and head to southern California to pursue his golfing dreams.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
His most gifted athletic pursuit? Golf.
It was with this in mind, he would leave New York and head to southern California to pursue his golfing dreams.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
14/ You guessed it. Moore was on the run.
You see his trip just happened to come a mere five days after he'd managed to evade capture.
You see his trip just happened to come a mere five days after he'd managed to evade capture.
15/ Upon arriving in California, Moore knew two things.
He wanted to play golf, and he didn't want to get caught.
He had to come up with an alias.
And so it was, Laverne Moore would become "John Montague."
He wanted to play golf, and he didn't want to get caught.
He had to come up with an alias.
And so it was, Laverne Moore would become "John Montague."
16/ Word spreads fast around Beverly Hills.
Montague began impressing local golfers and club professionals with his unbelievable skill.
Stories began to circulate of a man who could drive the ball farther, chip better, and putt smoother than anyone had ever seen.
Montague began impressing local golfers and club professionals with his unbelievable skill.
Stories began to circulate of a man who could drive the ball farther, chip better, and putt smoother than anyone had ever seen.
17/ It didn't take long before these tales of grandeur made their way to the Hollywood elite.
One star, in particular, took notice.
Richard Arlen, the leading man of "Wings", (the first movie to ever win the Oscar for best picture) was fascinated by Montague.
One star, in particular, took notice.
Richard Arlen, the leading man of "Wings", (the first movie to ever win the Oscar for best picture) was fascinated by Montague.
18/ The two played together often, which led to Arlen inviting Montague to join his club as an official member.
The club, known as "Lakeside Golf Club," was a refuge for many celebrities and Hollywood brass.
The club, known as "Lakeside Golf Club," was a refuge for many celebrities and Hollywood brass.
19/ With his oversized swing, and personality to match, Montague fit in with the celebrity clientele almost immediately.
Within a short time, he would become the club champion, and one of its most popular members.
Within a short time, he would become the club champion, and one of its most popular members.
20/ Now if you've ever spent much time around the game, you know that gambling and golf often go hand in hand.
For a man like Montague, this only added to his mystique.
"Marvelous Monty," as he liked to be called, would bet on anything.
For a man like Montague, this only added to his mystique.
"Marvelous Monty," as he liked to be called, would bet on anything.
21/ His gambling exploits soon became legendary.
One particular wager became especially noteworthy. A bet with the one and only, Bing Crosby.
Crosby, perhaps the nation's most famous singer and actor at the time, was a club member and avid golfer as well.
One particular wager became especially noteworthy. A bet with the one and only, Bing Crosby.
Crosby, perhaps the nation's most famous singer and actor at the time, was a club member and avid golfer as well.
22/ Known to play up to 36 holes per day, Crosby was always up for another round.
His playing partner on many occasions? "Marvelous Monty."
Understanding Montague's skill, it's safe to assume Crosby lost the majority of these head-to-head matches.
His playing partner on many occasions? "Marvelous Monty."
Understanding Montague's skill, it's safe to assume Crosby lost the majority of these head-to-head matches.
23/. As the story goes, one night while sitting at the clubhouse bar, Crosby was again drowning his sorrow due to another defeat.
"If only I'd have made this putt or gotten that break, then I would have won."
"If only I'd have made this putt or gotten that break, then I would have won."
24/ Hearing this, Montague would have none of it.
He challenged Crosby to a different sort of match.
What did he propose?
He could beat Crosby in a one-hole match without using a single traditional golf club.
What would he use?
He challenged Crosby to a different sort of match.
What did he propose?
He could beat Crosby in a one-hole match without using a single traditional golf club.
What would he use?
25/ Monty went to his car and returned with three items:
A baseball bat, a shovel, and a rake. The bet was on!
A baseball bat, a shovel, and a rake. The bet was on!
26/ The rest, as they say, is history.
Tools in hand, Monty set about navigating the course.
Smashing the ball 350yds with the bat.
Chipping onto the green from a bunker with the shovel.
Using the handle of the rake to put the ball home.
Tools in hand, Monty set about navigating the course.
Smashing the ball 350yds with the bat.
Chipping onto the green from a bunker with the shovel.
Using the handle of the rake to put the ball home.
27/ Monty would birdie the hole.
And for Crosby? A par. "Marvelous" wins again.
Monty was living the good life. Having seemingly outrun his past, he began to relax.
Little did he know, this would mark the beginning of his fall from grace.
And for Crosby? A par. "Marvelous" wins again.
Monty was living the good life. Having seemingly outrun his past, he began to relax.
Little did he know, this would mark the beginning of his fall from grace.
28/ Notoriously cautious, Montague had a strange habit of refusing to have his picture taken.
Considering the crowd he was associated with, this proved to be an increasingly difficult task to accomplish.
Considering the crowd he was associated with, this proved to be an increasingly difficult task to accomplish.
29/ In addition to refusing to have his picture taken, people began to take note of other peculiar quirks that Monty had.
He refused to join any of the club's public tournaments and wanted no press or recognition for any of his accomplishments.
He refused to join any of the club's public tournaments and wanted no press or recognition for any of his accomplishments.
30/ For one club member, this seemed particularly odd.
That club member? Grantland Rice. The nation's most famous sports writer at the time.
Grantland had heard the stories surrounding Montague and was lucky enough to be paired with him in a group one afternoon.
That club member? Grantland Rice. The nation's most famous sports writer at the time.
Grantland had heard the stories surrounding Montague and was lucky enough to be paired with him in a group one afternoon.
31/ Initially believing only a small portion of the stories he'd heard, it only took a few hours for Grantland to change his tune.
Well, seeing is believing.
What Grantland saw was the single best golfer he'd ever witnessed.
How had no one ever heard of this man?
Well, seeing is believing.
What Grantland saw was the single best golfer he'd ever witnessed.
How had no one ever heard of this man?
32/ This had to change.
With that, Grantland decided he would feature Montague in his next column.
Unfortunately for Monty, this meant the veil of secrecy was beginning to lift.
Soon after Grantland's article, word began to spread more and more through the public domain.
With that, Grantland decided he would feature Montague in his next column.
Unfortunately for Monty, this meant the veil of secrecy was beginning to lift.
Soon after Grantland's article, word began to spread more and more through the public domain.
33/ Additional articles from other writers began to appear in the LA papers.
Among the news outlets that soon became interested in who Monty was, Time magazine.
Knowing Montague's intolerance for pictures, Time sent a photographer who hid behind a tree to capture the shot.
Among the news outlets that soon became interested in who Monty was, Time magazine.
Knowing Montague's intolerance for pictures, Time sent a photographer who hid behind a tree to capture the shot.
34/ From that point it wouldn't be long until Monty's true identity would be known.
A NY State police inspector named John Cosart had been working the Hana case for the past 7 years.
Still searching for the 4th robber, who'd skipped town just 5 days after the incident.
A NY State police inspector named John Cosart had been working the Hana case for the past 7 years.
Still searching for the 4th robber, who'd skipped town just 5 days after the incident.
35/ When he saw the article in Time, he knew that the "Mysterious Montague" was his man.
Cosart called the LA police department and asked for help.
Soon Montague, or Laverne Moore as everyone now knew, was in police custody.
Cosart called the LA police department and asked for help.
Soon Montague, or Laverne Moore as everyone now knew, was in police custody.
36/ After being out on bond for a short time, Montague would eventually have his day in court.
The prosecution had a strong case.
Featured witnesses included Roger Norton, one of the convicted robbers, along with Mrs. Hana herself.
The prosecution had a strong case.
Featured witnesses included Roger Norton, one of the convicted robbers, along with Mrs. Hana herself.
37/ Norton and Hana both identified Montague as being the 4th member of the robbery gang.
Despite this, with the help of an all-star attorney and his celebrity status, Montague would be acquitted after only 5 hours of deliberation by the jury.
Despite this, with the help of an all-star attorney and his celebrity status, Montague would be acquitted after only 5 hours of deliberation by the jury.
38/ So what became of Mysterious John Montague?
In 1937 he would play in a celebrity golf tournament alongside Babe Ruth.
The charity event drew an estimated crowd of over 10,000 fans.
He would also go on to qualify for the 1940 US Open, yet did not perform well.
In 1937 he would play in a celebrity golf tournament alongside Babe Ruth.
The charity event drew an estimated crowd of over 10,000 fans.
He would also go on to qualify for the 1940 US Open, yet did not perform well.
39/ These would be the final brushes with celebrity for Monty.
In 1947 his wife would pass away and his struggles would continue for the remainder of his life.
Plagued by weight gain, an arrest for drunk driving, and a heart attack.
Montague's best days were behind him.
In 1947 his wife would pass away and his struggles would continue for the remainder of his life.
Plagued by weight gain, an arrest for drunk driving, and a heart attack.
Montague's best days were behind him.
40/ He would spend the balance of his life in relative obscurity.
Passing away from a second heart attack in 1972.
Passing away from a second heart attack in 1972.
41/ The mystery of how good Montague was or could have been will unfortunately never be solved.
For those who were there, it was clear...
Mysterious John Montague was the best that never was.
For those who were there, it was clear...
Mysterious John Montague was the best that never was.
42/ That's All Folks!
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