The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-05
4 YEAR OLD BOY MEETS DEATH UNDER TRUCK
|CATSKILLS MUST
 BE CLEANED FROM CANISTER RULE
Efforts Being Made Now to Invoke Baunles Law on Jack Diamond and Give Him Life
BY HARRY FERGUSON Limited Press Stan Correspondent


 Catskill, N. Y, May 5.-(UP)- The most varied assortment of men ever assembled in the boundaries of one county in this state are directing the war against racketeers who have deserted the clamor of city sidewalks for the white roads that curve into the hills.
 Not all of them have the same immediate goal; in fact, they agree on only one item; that the profitable tourist trade of the Catskiils shall rot be distributed by allowing the region to achieve reputation for lawlessness. Attorney General John J. Bennett, Jr. who took charge of the investigation at orders of Gov Franklin D. Roosevelt, proposes: "Get an indictment against Jack Diamond, charging violation of the Baumes law, convict him and send him to preson for life as fourth of- fender"
 State troopers, subordinate to Bennett. but with definite ideas on means of combating gangsters, say:
 Break up the beer traffic and no gang can survive. Beer is the way Diamonds men make their money, and without money any gang is pow erless.'
 Frank H. Cooke, president of the Chamber of Commerce, has faith in the power of public opinion and is sponsor of resolution stating: "The citizens of this community pledge their utmost cooperation in keeping gangsters out of Catskill and vicinity"
 Catskills two policemen say: "We are keeping our noses out of this unless we are needed,'" Sheriff Har- old Every, Yale graduate and father of an Olympic fencing champion, also is awaiting the word that he is needed.
 There remain only the farmers, descendants of men who lifted their muskets from the racks and went forth to battle the British at Sara toga, as yet, they are disorganized, bewildered group. Diamond 10 them is a dangerous character, a man whose career is aptly expressed by the name Diamond-hard. gilt tering and costly.
 What can we do?" asked one of them who lives on the Saugerties road. Diamond had things or ganized up at Acra and could about run the county as he saw fit. All we
 
 that MT Bennett and the troopers have stepped in they ought to be able to do something. If they can't well, later will be time enough to talk about what we are going to do. Don't publish my name." Bennett, in the opinion of the farmers, is the man who will drive Diamonds gang out of the county, if it is done. Young, alert and en- thusiastic, he moves quickly about the county gathering information and presenting a strange figure in his immaculate clothing centrasted to the rough overalls of the farm- CTS. The attorney general puts especial faith in the testimony that Grover Parks will give if Diamond lives and is brought to trial. Parks is the man who accused the gang ster of torturing him in a garage at Acra because he was delivering a shipment of hard cider. So important does. the attorney general consider troopers are on constant guard at the farmers house.
 What will happen if Bennetts case should fall through. is, of course. conjectural. In the background there remains the possibility of an uprising of vigilantes with the crash of rural rifles ringing through the hills again. For as the Saugerties farmer said:
 Ut ain't that we're afraid of these Diamond fellows. It's just that we aint organized"