The Washington times., 1931-12-18
DIES INSTANTLY
AS 8 BULLETS
ARE FIRED
Wife, Several Girls, Keeper OF
House Are Held; Hunt on
For Marion Roberts
Continued from Page y

ond killer step into the sedan
shortly after 5 a. m. Another
man was already at the wheel.
They drove toward Husdon Street,
which runs into Broadway and
the road to New York, the shoe
maker said. Delahanty said:
"The man I saw was about
8 feet inches in height, wore
dark clothes and q light-cOlOred
cap.
"He was between rs and 30
years Of age"
District Attorney John T. De-
laney later visited the Fourth pre-
cinct police station to question
Mrs. Diamond and the other wit
neSSeS.
The body of the New York gang
leader was ordered taken to the
undertaking establishment of Dan
tel j. Keenan,, by Prior.
Coroner Ernest A. Helm said he
would perform an autopsy today.
Letters From His Wife
From letters found in the dresser
drawer of Diamonds room, it ap-
peared that he had been in the
rooming house for the last 10 days.
Most Of the letters were received
from Mrs. Diamond.
Police were keenly interested in
questioning Marion "Kiki" Rob-
erts, sweetheart of Legs"
Marion turned gangSter mol
from Broadway showgirl beauty.
It was she who was with Dia-
mond when he was unSucceSSfully
drilled by bullets in a New York
hotel last year.
And she was also with him when
another attempt to bump off"
Diamond was made recently at
Cairo, N. Y.
"Kiki" did not appear at the
latest trial Of the gangster. How
ever, his wife was a daily specta-
tor in the courtroom.
Died In Great Agony
DR.. Thomas Holmes, who pulled
Diamond through when he was
perforated with bullets in Cairo
last summer, said that Diamond
probably died in agony, as his
ennaciated features were con-
torted with pain when the body
was found.
DR.. Holmes was summoned by
telephone at 6 a. M, about an
hour after the shooting, by an
unidentified voice. sEfi
Diamond at SO was one of the
most notorious and unpopular
gang leaders in the trade. He
was born in Philadelphia.
There were many women, as
well as men. who hated him bit
terly.
Therefore, authorities were con-
fronted with many possible
theories as to the reasons be-
hind his death.
A new gan; was muscling into
his upstate beer territory.
Was he the victim of beer
war?
Acquitted 20 Times
It was reported he had turned
in dope smugglers some time
ago and the gang never forgot.
Did he pay the price Of a
"Squealer"?
He had been acquitted of 20
court charges, including murder.
Did he pay the price for mur-
ders for which he was indicted?
Did his own gang, or ousted
members Of his mob, put him on
. the spot?
Was a former woman sweet
heart involved in the motive?
-, The favorite theory was that
the upstate rivals Of Legs"
didn't want him to start up
again. During his last trial. the
underworld grapevine was told:
IF Diamond is acquitted this
time, there is going to be hell
to pay"
After questioning Mrs. Diamond
for more than two hours at the
police. station, District Attorney
Delaney said. he was convinced
Diamond had been slain by the
two men who drove up to the
Dove Street rooming house in an
aut0moblle.
Search on For "Kiki"
Delaney said he was anxious
to question "Kiki" Roberts. Sev-
eral rooming houses in which it
was reported Diamonds Showgirl
"moll" had been staying were
searched by the police, but no
trace Of her was uncovered.
About three weeks ago. when
the police raided rooming
house near the Capitol in search
of two New York city gunmen,
they discovered the Roberts girl
and Diamond together.
Police said they were convinced
that Mrs. Diamond was not in
the rooming house when Diamond
was killed today.
She said she was at a friends
home in another part of the city.
DR.. Einstein Eager
/. TOSee Hearst Ranch