JACK DIAMOND IN GAOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

JACK DIAMOND IN GAOL.

COURT'S MAXIMUM PENALTY.

FOUR YEARS' SENTENCE

FINE OF £2200 IMPOSED. Law and order scored its most decisive victory over the American gangster element, in New York 011 August 12, when Jack Diamond, one of America's most notorious gangsters, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and fined £2200 for maintaining an unregistered still and conspiring to violate the prohibition laws. Tho sentence passed by Judge Hopkins in the Federal Court was the maximum punishment possible for the crimes with which Diamond was charged. It was not unexpected, in view of tho fact that Judge Hopkins for years has been one of the foremost anti-saloon leaders in New York State. - Notice of an appeal was given and bail was fixed at £3OOO. Diamond had been found guilty after a jury had deliberated for two hours. Thus a second of America's leading " public enemies " is put out of action. Diamond ranked second only to " Scarface " A! Capone, the " No. 1 " public enemy, who has ceased liis nefarious operations pending his trial in Chicago 011 various charges of violating the prohibition laws and falsifying his income tax returns. A Charmed Life. Diamond', whose spectacular but abortive attempt to find a rofugo in Europe last year will be well remembered, frequently had boasted that the police would never " get " him. Hitherto he had appeared to bear a charmed life, escaping from police drag-nets and the bullets of would-be assassins. Bullets shot into his disease-weakened body had failed to halt his gang-leading career, while the attempts of tho courts of New York State to convict him on various charges connected with his preying upon the populace had always ended in victory for the gangster. Recently a State court acquitted Diamond 011 a charge of kidnapping and torturing a truck driver whom the gangster was said to have looked upon as being allied to a rival gang of liquor runners. Diamond established an alibi, and was acquitted, but a confederate was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for his part ill the kidnapping. At tho beginning of his trial there was a rumour that Diamond would plead guilty in the hope of " bargaining " with the prosecution for a light sentence in return. His lawyers laughed at this report, however, saying that they believed Diamond would be acquitted, but adding that ho was " man enough to take whatever is coming to him." Decision of the Court. The court's decision in sentencing Diamond to the Federal penitentiary is hailed as the " passing of Jack Diamond." It is expected that tho underworld organisation which he dominated will break up. Although Diamond filed notice of appeal and was released on bail, underworld friends of New York's most notorious twentieth century bandit declared that be had taken this step merely to settle his domestic affairs before entering prison. ft is believed in the underworld that Diamond is not unwilling to spend the next few years behind the bars because he knows that rival gangsters have vowed to " put him on the spot " and would eventually succeed if he remained free. However, the gang leader faces additional charges of carrying concealed weapons, violation of the narcotic laws, coercion and kidnapping. Ho is anxious to avoid prosecution on fheso charges because conviction would mean life imprisonment.