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The Scarlet Dukes

Certain General

Phil Gammage

Voodoo Martini

Pool Hustler Monte di Monti Missing, Presumed Dead — A Life of Rumor, Innuendo and Allegation is Apparently Over

Longtime friend and supporter of The Scarlet Dukes, Monte di Monti recently has been reported missing by local Brooklyn authorities. As a public service we are posting this article which originally appeared in a local Brooklyn newspaper. We encourage anyone who knows of Monte's whereabouts to contact the authorities immediately. Information regarding the whereabouts and/or well being of longtime friend and supporter Monti di Monti is being sought. All information submitted regarding di Monti is strictly confidential.

Reliable sources have reported to the Inquirer that out-of-work pool hustler/blues singer Monte di Monti has been missing since last Friday, March 3 and is feared dead. Police are investigating his recent whereabouts and are in particular pursuing leads that placed di Monti in the company of his long-time companion, exotic dancer Lavonne St. John and two other women at 2AM that morning. There is speculation among detectives that di Monti's involvement with these women is of a questionable and lewd nature.

di Monti, a native of Brooklyn, New York gained notoriety in the late fifties as a top-shelf pool and billiards hustler at Jamar Billiard Academy in Bensonhurst. It was rumored that in his youth he had defeated reigning champion Willie Mosconi in a 48-hour marathon, winning an undisclosed sum of money. di Monti was reportedly 14-years old. In the early sixties he surfaced Los Angeles and was hired as a technical advisor to thespian Paul Newman during the production of the 20th Century Fox film, The Hustler.

During the seventies and eighties di Monti spent time shuttling between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York appearing in high-stakes pool tournaments and performing with Blues legends, Burbank Slim, Icepick Phil and Jim-Jelly Wade. "The boy could wail," said Phil, "but he had other fish to fry." di Monti was known to frequent such establishments as Plato's Retreat, Studio 54, Spago and the Rio Room, often seen in the company of those cities' most beautiful and glamorous women.

However, the early nineties saw a decline in his "sporting man" lifestyle and it is believed he had drifted to the Vista Village trailer park in Palmdale, California.

The police are requesting that anyone with information regarding di Monti's disappearance contact them immediately. All replies will be kept confidential.

THIS EMAIL RECEIVED SUMMER '99...
senores duques rojos,

i think i seen this di monti guy yeterday. he working in the bodega on forsythe st. he name is flaco. chek him out.

is there a reward for this? i'm sick need to score.

chapo hernandéz-ruiz
east 3 st
nyc

The questions of di Monti's alleged death refuse to die! Please contact the Brooklyn Police Department, Homicide Division if you have any news of di Monti's whereabouts.

THESE EMAILS RECEIVED FEBRUARY '00...

I believe I have some information on the whereabouts of your friend.

please contact me via email for the details. i am not looking for any financial remuneration. i do this as a service to the sporting public. i had the privilege to observe mr. dimonti instructing jackie gleason in the fine art of gentleman's billiards during the filming of "the hustler." the grace and refinement of this gentleman from the streets of brooklyn, new york was astounding. monte could walk into a room and all eyes would be on him.

but...if you are interested please respond.

vince pasqualini
red hook
brooklyn, ny

Mr. Phil,

I believe Mr. di Monti is allegedly working as a coffee boy at the Citizens of Pozallo Social Club on Henry St. The club at this time is under surveillance by the 76th Precinct detectives. It seems that there is an inordinate amount of gentlemen of, shall i say, dubious character, in the vicinity.

More details to follow...
Vince Pasqualini (I ain't no rat)

THIS NEWS ARTICLE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES APRIL 2001

Johnny Brill
Los Angeles Times April 7, 2001

Lavonne St. John, Ecdysiast, Found Dead

A body, believed to be that of exotic dancer Lavonne St. John, was discovered yesterday at her home in Benedict Canyon. Ms. St. John, believed to have been despondent over the disappearance of her long-time lover and companion, Monte di Monti.

An intensive police investigation is underway and they have not ruled out foul play. Bill Bissell, a representative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated, "We certainly suspect that Ms. St. John had vital information that may have been of value to some of di Monti's enemies. I am not at liberty to discuss this case until some facts become evident."

Mr. di Monti, famed for his expertise with a pool cue, disappeared four years ago. Rumors of his death have been reported as well as numerous sightings in various locales. The latest sighting was reported three months ago in Manchester, England. Mr. di Monti was reportedly seen in the company of Manchester United football star and England captain, David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, also known as Posh Spice of the famous pop group, the Spice Girls. The report could not be substantiated, however.

A full obituary of Ms. St. John will appear in next Sunday's Magazine supplement.

THESE EMAILS RECEIVED MARCH '06...

Johnny,

It's been rumored that Mr. di Monti has been shuttling across the Atlantic between London and New York. He allegedly has founded his own firm which operates in London's East End. He is the owner of a bespoke haberdashery in Soho called Vines for Villains and is reputed to have a large clientele among the underworld.

Mr. di Monti was wrongfully accused of rigging the UEFA Champions League draw which pitted Real Madrid v Manchester United and resulted in Utd being eliminated. He is also purported to be the man who will seize control of Utd, once the hedge funds, which backed Malcolm Glazer's hostile takeover, call in their loans. Mr. di Monti is keen on English Football and it has always been his desire to own a club.

Mr. di Monti, now 84, has recently entered a relationship after a long period of mourning for his lifelong love, Lavonne St John, who was found dead under dubious circumstances in 2001. His new paramour, 27 year old money manager Tanya Garner, is said to be expecting di Monti's first child.

In May, Mr. di Monti plans on visiting Amsterdam to confer with lifelong friend, Turkish mogul Ahmet Keremzoglou, regarding the importation of Turkish products to the UK and abroad.

I hope this has been informative. You know how much he values his privacy...

All the best,
A. Wexler