Evening star., 1931-12-18
Notorious LEGS" Shot to
Death in Rooming House
Following Celebration.
WIFE AND THREE OTHERS
HELD FOR QUESTIONING
Gang Leader, Thrice Target Of
Rivals, Slain in Few Hours
After Winning Freedom.
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, December 18.-Jack
Legs" Diamond, 33-year gangster
chief was mysteriously shot to death in
rooming house here today few min
utes after he had left party celebrat-
ing his acquittal of kidnapping.
Three bullets were fired into his brain
at close range, and apparently as he
struggled with his assailants. The body
was found sprawled across bed in
room at 81 Dover street which he had
occupied with his wife.
Mrs. Diamond, hysterical, was held by
the police
Il didn't do it. don't know anything
about it," she cried repeatedly.
Three Others Questioned.
Two women, who operated the room
ing house, and taxi driver, presumed
to have driven Mrs. Diamond from the
party, also were questioned by the Of
ficers.
Diamond was acquitted of kidnapping
by a Troy jury last night. The cele-
mond left the revelry between and S
am. and alone drove to the rooming
house in taxicab.
Mrs. Merl Wood. the rooming house
keeper, said she heard several shots
soon after the taxicab left. and several
men rushed down the stairs from the
upper floor where the Diamonds lived.
They paused at the foot of the stairs
and one said
20 hell. that's enough"
1t was, for when DR.. Thomas H.
Holmes of Delmar arrived around s
o'clock Diamond was dead. 1t was
some time after that before the police
were summoned and it was rur1ored
that their first informs ton came from
gangster calls from Chicago and St.
Louis, asking if Diamond had been
rubbed out"
Many Motives for Crime.
While no immediate motive for the
murder came to light, Diamonds un-
derworld activities supplied many r,a-
sons why gangland wanted him re-
moved
One of the bullets that ended the
gsnPling gangsters life ripped through
the base of the skull. and the ether
two were fred into the side Of the
head near the right ear. His face.
twisted and distorted. indicated to the
examining officers that he mad been
seized as he entered his room, and as
he struggled to free himself the assas-
sins shot him, afterward tossing the
body onto the bed.
Daniel H. Prior, Diamonds attorney,
arrived at the police station soon after
District Attorney John L. Delaney be-
fla L. al
He said he would represent Mrs. Dia-
mond, but that no effort would be
made to release her from custody until
the authorities had been able to ques-
tion her thoroughly.
Police also questioned Patrick De-
laney. who lives in an adjoining house
He substantiated Mrs. Woods story that
the shots were fired about S o'clock.
He jumped from his bed and saw a
man about feet inches tall, dressed
in dark clothes, enter an automobile,
which drove rapidly away.
Diamond was lying en- his back. He
had removed all his clothing except
his underwear and shirt The body was
removed to morgue, where an autopsy
was performed.
In Old Section of City.
Mrs. Diamond and her 5-year-old
nephew were at the Dove street address
when the police arrived. The child.
son CT Diamonds dead brother, had
been with the Diamonds and his mother
In the Troy court room yesterday.
The Diamonds had occupied the Dove
street room for several weeks. The
rooming house Is in an old section of
the city. not far from the State Capitol.
It was only few blocks from the State
street address where New York detec-
tives a few weeks ago found Diamond
and Marion 'Kiki" Roberts, former
showgirl and companion of the gangster.
When the New York officers broke
into the State street place, looking for
the gangster slayers of a metropolitan
officer, they faced Diamond, but a diff
ferent one from the Legs" the New
York police had learned to know He
was wearing mustache and glasses.
He had discarded both mustache and
glasses when the Troy kidnapping trial
began.
An effort was made today to locate
Miss Roberts, but she had not been
seen by her friends here in several days.
The scene of today's Staying also Is
within two blocks of former speakeasy
in which Diamond had an interest. It
was closed by police some time ago. At
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