New Britain herald., 1930-12-30
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New York, Dec. 30 - That glow ering and rowy section picturesquely named "Helrs Kitchen" continues to turn out gang fodder-undernourish- eG youth who live by stealth. Legs" Diamond, Philadelphia born. spent formative criminal years there, as did a dozen other racketeer chiefs. Diamond was one of many whose playground is the gutter. They graduate from petty sidewalk pilfer- ing to wagon bouncing ng'-stealing from delivery Wagons-and on to "gauging a cop" Potential Legs" Diamonds are on every street corner at dusk. waiting for something to turn up.
 They sleep mornings, and after moons are spent in pool halls. They thrill to being pointed out as tough mugs" and called such nick names as Spider, Lefty. Dusty and such. All acquire q lip curl and the custom of talking out the side of the mouth, prison fashion.
 Their talk is the monosyllabic argot Of the section-the staccato brand epitomized in 70, yeah?" and K. O." No flights of ambition soar higher than leadership Of a neigh borhood gang, making forays on de- fenseless wayfarers and unprotected shopkeepers by sheer force of num- bers.
 T. is not a part of their code 10 fight fairly but always rom ambush. Much has been made Of their bra vado, but in yariably the gangsters dodge danger. Instead, they hire plug-uglies, pump 'hem full Of dope, place pistols in their hands and send them out to kill.
 They have learned that in New York at least, if caught, they may buy immunity from q shametully corrupt judicial system. The gang stcr has proved he has little 10 fear So ho swaggers, poses for tabloids and accepts money from women. Honest policemen know they are vel low and refer to them descrvedly as "ruts."
 GauGster. do not squeal because they know they WiI be outnuubered and slain Thus tight-Hpped silence IS often hailed as horoism. Yet po- lice say not one, if certain Of i'm mUrlty, would hesitate 10 hetray his own mother. And I'll not be going out after dark for while.
 Few New York gangsters are rug gcd physical specimens. Nearly all suffer from malnutrition of early years. Experts say heredity has little 10 do with their outlawry. They blame it all on environment. Sharp proof Ot environments part in sangster making is illustrated in a "Hclrs Kitchen case on record. . Four tenement born sons were about d year apart. When q widowed mother could no longer support them, she permitted the eldest 10 be adopted by a cultured family in Oregon. The other three grew up in tta turbulent streets and each served prison term before 25. The eldest today is a successful physician in a California city honored and re- spDrted.
 "Hau's Kitchen girls are the perky. -um-chewing and slangy types oft,n attractive in a jovially hrusque way They go in for Sl IatS, Slo suits. romantic movies and despite temptations, more often than not remain good girls"
 Personal nomination for most ar t.stlcaIy portrayed drunk on the s'age-Jamcs Barton.
 II seems they do everything but la, car tracks in my workshop. To- day q man has been installing wall light. another planes away at desk drawers, a whistling Armenian rug weaver is under the edge of the car rct rcpairinE 6 dog -chewed hole and a window washer creeps around cn the sill back of my chair. An