WHO SHOT JACK DIAMOND?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17440, 11 December 1930, Page 5

WHO SHOT JACK DIAMOND?

i NEW POLICE THEORY ACTRESS FRIEND DISBELIEVED NEW YORK, Oct, 17. Tight-lipped and white-faced—a deathmask of himself--Jack Diamond, the gangster chief, is to-night fighting, with a faint hope of final success, against the ravages wrought by bullet wounds, consumption, pneumonia, and peritonitis. The doctors pronounce his condition still serious, but Jack's proverbial good luck seems to be with him agaiu, and hopes are being expressed of his ultimate recovery. The police net is dragging in dozens of "bad men"—thugs, gunmen, "speakeasy" owners, and miscellaneous "hoodlums."

An intensive search is proceeding for "Waxio*' Gordon, a Broadway hotel owner, and Harry Drescher, a professional bondsman, to whom Diamond is believed to have whispered the names of his assailants before, being taken to hospital. A new conception of the shooting has been formed bv the police. It is no longer believed .that it was enacted as Jack and Miss Marion Roberts (his chorus-girl sweetheart) claim. Fresh evidence indicates the possibility that: Diamond was shot first in the street, perhaps six hours before the final volley, then taken to Hotel Monticello, where turncoat bodyguards plugged him again while he was being attended in his room by the Titianhaired beauty, Roberts. . ANOTHER "WIFE"

The first, evidence of the possibility of the double shooting came with the discovery of only one bullet-hole in the, flaming red 'silk pyjamas in which Diamond was attired when brought into hospital. . The theory is that Jack left his wife jn A era (New York State) oh Saturday afternoon and came to New York for a trVst with his little dancer friend. At all events he, was seen on Saturday evening sitting at a table with Marion in a fashionable "speak-easy," amid liquor and the blare of dance bands. while near them sat a group of bitter enemies, taking shot after shot of "snow" (cocaine). The latter was described by the Dis-

trict Attorney to-day as one of the most consummate ' story-tellers ho had ever met in his 30 years at the. Bar. Troubles are not coming singly tor the gangster. American reporters profess to have discovered that his real wife, whom he married in 1917, is still alive and living in New York. The marriage had, it is stated, been a. closely guarded secret, apparently both from 'his friend Marion and from the woman who has hitherto been recognised as bis wife and is attending! him in hospital.