ALLEGED ROBBERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20253, 23 July 1937, Page 7

ALLEGED ROBBERY.

ARREST OF A GOLFER.

FINGER-PRINTS IDENTIFIED. POPULARITY IN HOLLYWOOD. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. SYRACUSE, July 22. The police are alleged to have Identified fingerprints of John Montague, the golfer, who Is awaiting extradition from California on a robbery charge, as similar to those of a man who was convicted at Syracuse for extortion in 1927. The man’s name was La Verne Moore, they state. He posed as a detective and obtained money from a man, whom he and four companions threatened. La Verne Moore received a six months’ suspended sentence. The police chief satd: “He was running around, with a bad gang of boys here.” Montague was already awaiting extradition to Essex County, New York, to appear on a charge of the theft of 700 dollars in 1930. Montague was popular in the film colony, where he played startling golf with well-known actors. Last winter at Palm Springs, Florida, in the presence of a large gallery, he lowered the course record on each of four days, finishing the final round with 61. He bet freely for large sums, and won as much as £2OO a hole from some of Hollywood’s leading actor-golfers. A Mystery Person. Always a mystery person, he would never he photographed. Once on the links he smashed a photographer’s plates and afterwards gave him £2O. Inspector ’Cosart, of the New York State police, hearing tales of California’s mystery golfer, remembered that one La Verne Moore had a golf bag in his car, and was “crazy on golf.” when he and three others held

up Hanna’s roadhouse in 1930. Inspector Cosart went to California, had a look at Montague, and arrested him. He is now extradited to face the holdup charge. According to the police, Montague said on his arrest. ** I made a mistake when I was a kid. I got In with a tough gang and went wrong. I’ve spent the last, seven years trying to live ft down. I’m glad this has come out. so that I can drop the phantom >ose Most of the tales lauding Montague’s golf prowess are unsubstantiated. Miss Helen Hicks, however, stated dur’ng her tour of Australia last season. that Montague's golf was all that it was reputed to he.