NOTORIOUS GANGSTER SHOT

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 5

NOTORIOUS GANGSTER SHOT

JACK DIAMOND KILLED AT PARTY.

WAS CELEBRATING ACQUITTAL.

By Telegraph—Prjss Assn.—Copyright. New York, Dec. 18,

Jack (“Legs”) Diamond, notorious gangster leader, was shot and killed at Albany (N.Y.) to-day during a party celebrating his acquittal yesterday on a kidnapping -charge. His assailant is unknown. ■ v

Three attempts had previously been made’on Diamond's life, the gangster recovering. after each shooting. Diamond, who was prominent ingangster activities in New York from an early age, was shot for the first time in 1927, recovering from his injuries. He attempted to land in Europe in September, 1930, but found all doors closed to him. The police at Aix-la-Chapelle ordered him to be deported, but the shippino- companies were unwilling to accept liim as a passenger and he was not wanted in New York. After being denied entrance to France and Germany, Diamond was placed on board a freighter at Hamburg tor New York, he having been extradited by the United States Government. Solicitors commenced an action against the Prussian Government for unlawful detention, but the case was dismissed.

In August, 1930, Diamond was again shot by gangsters. Extraordinary efforts to guard°him in the hospital were made and he eventually recovered. In April he was again critically wounded. At the time of the mysterious murder in New York of Mrs. Vivian Gordon, a prominent figure in the underworld, it was stated that one of her partners in various, blackmail schemes was Diamond. A quarrel regarding the division of the spoils is alleged to have led to her death. Diamond is said to have owed her £3600, of which he paid her £4OO, promising her the remainder later. This money is said to have been obtained from a rich broker who handed it over when Diamond threatened to expose his “love life.” Another story is that the girl blackmailed Diamond herself for that amount. The New York Mirror published the following: “The underworld version of the Vivian Gordon murder has it that Diamond hired her killers for £3OOO, and has not paid them yet because he has not the money. It is said that Diamond feared to let her live.” > In August, 1931, Diamond waS convicted of felony after many contests with the law. He was found guilty of violating the Prohibition Act by maintaining an illicit still. He faced a sentence °of imprisonment for four years and a fine of £2200. Diamond was recently acquitted on a charge of torturin<r a farmer during his beer-running activities. Diamond successfully appealed against this conviction and was celebrating another acquittal when he was shot down for the last time.