The Washington times. [volume], December 19, 1931, Page 2, Image 2

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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2
DIAMOND, ON SLAB IN MORGUE, DESERTED BY FRIENDS
JACK HIT SEES
NONE TO GRIEVE
FOO ‘SNAKE’
Gangster Looks Better in
Death Than He Ever Did
In Life, Says Writer
By JACK LAIT
Author of "Bir Honor” and Other
Crime Stories
(Written Exclusively for International
News Service)
ALBANY. N. Y., Dec. 19
'(I.N.S.). — I have just come
back from the morgue. Jack
Diamond, whom 1 had known
for years as a pale, bloodless,
dying boy. against whom the
ravages of ill health and un
fortunate congenital circum
stance should have wreaked
an early vengeance, lay on a
slab there.
In my many years of news
paper work, morgues are no
novelty to me. I have seen
corpses laid out and it always
appeared to me to be so grotesque
that when the spirit has passed
from the body, so few were there
to weep.
Utterly Alone
But of all—why should Jack
“Legs” Diamond be left so
Utterly alone?
His wife could be in town.
Marion is God knows where. I
am supposed to be writing a
feature story. Not covering spot
news. But I went down to the
morgue. Not that I loved
Diamond but I knew him and
thought that as a professional
duty I should go down and see
the wreck of what was once a
notorious gang st e r—still in
death.
There was a copper there. He
didn’t know me. I identified my
self. He looked at me curiously
X said:
“I am a New York news
paperman.”
He looked at me again. He
asked me for my credentials. I
had them. He looked a bit
solemn, he thought it over, and
he said:
“Okay. Come in.”
Seemed Asleep
On a marble slay lay the re
tains of a man whom I never
respected.
I saw Diamond many times,
but he never looked as good as
when I walked in.
His cheeks were pink. And
he seemed to be asleep. His
face was full, with the contour
of the breath of life—in death.
Although in my heart I knew
this man was a killer, a snake,
a consciousless rat, I was moved.
After all, he was a human being.
I ate with him. I drank with
him. He was so vibrant with
life; he was so confident of to
morrow—it seemed so uncanny
that clammy, lifeless, wound-up
piece of mud was what used to
be “Legs” Diamond.
Beat it for Years
I don’t brag that I have known
gangsters. It just happens to be
my assignment. If I were as
signed to Wall Street, I would
know financiers. But it just
chances that racketeers and un
derworld bosses are my job. And
naturally I had to know “Legs”
Diamond—and I saw him in the
morgue three years later than 1
expected to.
He beat it for years. And I
took my hat off as I saw cold
and stony in death the man who
had defied a great nation, who
had pictured himself bigger than
the United States, and who had
been knocked off, not by the
Army, Marines, the Government,
but by a cheap little gangster of
the sort that he would have
knocked off without a ripple in
the dimple on his right cheek.
Vacationing
KM
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—lnternational Photo
GERTRx.DE true
THIS young woman is secre
tary to the United States
attorney in Shanghai and is a
deputy United States marshal.
She has arrived in San Fran
cisco for a vacation.
Holding the Bag By Clive Weed
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Diamond’s ‘Kiki’ Denies Any Knowledge
Os Identity of Gangster’s Slayers
(Continued from Page 1)
leave for Boston on the 10
o’clock train Friday morning. 1
missed the 10 o’clock.
“The reason I didn’t go near
the police station after I
learned that Jack had been
killed was that I knew they did
not need me, as I could throw
no light on what had hap
pened.”
• “Kiki’s” story that she last
saw Diamond for only 15 min
utes late Thursday night was at
variance with a report sent Bos
ton police by police of Albany,
asking that “Kiki” be detained
here. Albany police said Dia
mond was in the Albany house
where “Kiki” had a room from
1 a. m. to 4 a. m. Friday.
In Seclusion With Mother
When the former show girl
slipped quietly into Boston last
night from Albany, after a short
stop off at Springfield, she tele
phoned her mother, and they
were soon reunited after being
apart for nine months.
Miss Roberts in her story said
that on the way out of the
Albany railroad station, she
passed two policemen and both
looked at her closely. The Mass
achusetts-bound train was, moving
as she stepped aboard' She
added ‘
“Now I am back with my
mother, happy that she has for
given me. I am sorry I didn’t
listen to her advice, because
everything she said would hap
pen has come true. But I was
stubborn and headstrong, -nd
I had to go out and learn for
myself from actual experience.
It was a pretty sad experience,
but I haven’t lost my ambition,
and I have hope, of i-.timing
to the stage.”
Miss Roberts went on:
“I was deaf to the advice of
mother and all my other friends
who had a real interest in my
welfare.”
Met in Night Club
“Kiki” said she met Diamond
at New York night club after
a show at a time when his hard
luck was just beginning.
“I was not attracted to him
because of dia mon d s and
money. He never lavished
money or jewels or clothing on
me.
Kiki said that “Legs” treated
her kind and gentle.
“He would say to me: ‘You
are only a baby,’ ” Miss Roberts
said.
Delaney Will Question
“Kiki” on Diamond Death
ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 19 (I.N.
S.). —District Attorney John T
Delaney left foi Boston today to
question Marion. “Kiki” Roberts
in connection with the slaying of
Jack “Leg Diamond.
Police Chief David Smurl tele
phoned the Boston police at 2
a. m.. asking that the girl be
taken into custody.
Diamond was with "Kiki” be
fore he was shot to death in a
Dove Street rooming house.
Police ere convinced the same
mob who twice before had at
tempted to put Diamonl on the
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
spot and failed were responsible
for "rubbing out” the racketeer
ing beer baron a half hour after
he left the arms of his red-haired
show girl sweetheart, Marion
(Kiki) Roberts, in another room
ing house on the opposite side
of the city.
Delaney summed up the situ
ation today when he said:
“We are up against a stone
wall. It is apparent that the
gangsters who have been after
Diamond for the last two years
are responsible for the killing.”
Somewhere in New York city
today, police believe, the men who
clipped Diamond are hiding and
getting a big kick out of all the
stir caused by the shooting.
Give No Encouragement
New York city authorities told
Albany police they will co-operate
to the limit in an effort to track
down Diamond’s slayers, but
haven’t given Albany police any
encouragement the murder will
be solved.
Before the dead racketeer’s
wife left here, she paid a brief
visit to the undertaking parlor of
Thomas A. Keenan, where
Diamond’s body was taken at the
direction of Coroner Ernest A.
Hein for an autopsy.
Between sobs as she was leav
ing the undertaking parlor, Mrs.
Diamond said she had no ill feel
ing toward “Kiki” Roberts.
“Legs loved her (Kiki) and I
loved him.
“That's all there was to it.
It was nothing that I or any
one else could help.”
“How do you feel toward
Miss Roberts?”
“I never fe’t particularly in
friendly toward her because it
wouldn’t have done any good.”
N. Y. “Cold” to Arrival
Os Gang Chief’s Body
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (1.N.5.).
The body of Jack (Legs) Dia
mond, notorious Broadway gang
ster, was brought to New York
today in a hearse from Albany,
where Diam6nd was shot to death
yesterday.
Nobody paid much attention
when the hearse rolled up to the
National Casket Company. 'There
were no crowds, not even mem
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. bers of Diamond’s family. The
body was in a basket, embalmed
and ready for the casket. But
there was no one around jto pick
out the casket.
No Furore Results
A few reporters were there. A
lone cop ambled across the street,
took a look, and said: \
“Oh, Diamond, elr?”
A few chauffeurs deserted their
cabs and peered at the form in
the basket.
The Albany undertaker who
brought the body down to New
York, J. E. Lynch, seemed mysti
fied that there was no one on
hand with whom he could dis
cuss plans for burial of the
racketeer.
Mrs. Alice Schiffer Diamond,
the slain gunman’s widow, was
reported, meanwhile, to be mak
ing plans for burial of her hus
band.
She is seeking permission from
the high clergy of the Roman
Catholic diocese of New York for
funeral services in some church
in New York.
The funeral probably will be
held Monday.
“Broke,” Say Insiders
Along Broadway today it was
said by those on the “inside” that
the end of the road for Diamond
found him virtually broke. Not
only had he been shorn of his
power as a gangster leader, but
his various court actions and
other expenditures had depleted
his funds. The thousands of
dollars that had passed through
his hands were gone.
Only a few days ago, it was
reported a friend sent him a
telegraphic money order for S4OO
—small change for the gang
chieftain.
It was said that not long ago
he was reduced in financial cir
cumstances to the point where
he had to borrow S3OO from his
wife.
Gangster’s First Wife
Unmoved by Murder
NEW YORK. Dec. 19 (IJf.S.).
The passing of Jack “Legs” Dia
mond means nothing in the life
of Mrs. Prank Matthews, now
wife of a Manhattan garage
worker, but three years ago the
former Florence Williams, first
wife df the murdered gangster.
She says: t
"Jack Diamond had passed
completely out oft my life.
“I am sorry he met his death
the way he did, but he means
nothing to me, living or dead.
I've just come out of the hos
pital. I haven’t made up my
mind yet whether I will attend
his funeral.”
Her present husband never
knew Diamond, e-’ie said, and her
earlier marriage never dis
cussed.
Chicago Curate Given
Nebraska Bishopric
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 19
(1.N.5.) .—The Vatican today an
nounced promotion of Father
Stanislaus Bona, curate of St.
Casymir Church in Chicago, to
the Bishopric of Grand Island,
Neb.
The National Daily
RENO LAYS BETS
BN ANDRE CASE
OUTCOME
Murder Trial Made Gambling
Proposition; Defense Plans
a Surprise Witness
RENO, Nev., Dec. 19 (1.N.5.).
Excitement over the Andre
murder trial was at such pitch
today that Reno’s famous
“Gamblers’ Row” was betting
on the outcome.
In a score or more legalized
gambling places, "big shots”
placed their bets on whether
conviction or acquittal would be
the fate of Dr. Carl Pierre Andre,
handsome young dentist charged
with the murder of his discarded
sweetheart, Mrs. Martha Hutchin
son, 22-year-old widow, who fol
lowed him from West Virginia.
Bargain Offer Made
The prosecution was exnccted
to close its case today. Defense
counsel announced they would
immediately ask for an instructed
verdict of acquittal.
James M. Heward, Andres’ at
torney. revealed that the prosecu
tion offered thi-ee times to let
Andree plead guilty to involuntary
manslaughter. Heward said:
“That’s how much they think
of their chances of obtaining a
conviction. »
"We will present a surprise
witness to show that it was
entirely probable that Mrs.
Hutchinson jumped from
Andre’s car with suicidal in
tent. It was either that or an
accident. It is preposterous to
say that she was thrown out.”
State Charges Murder
The State charged that Dr. Andre
had struck Mrs. Hutchinson and
thrown her from his speeding
automobile on a ride following a
quarrel at a cocktail party at
tended by members of the gay
divorce colony and University of
Nevada co-eds at the “Dude
Ranch” of Cornelius Vanderbilt,
jr.
JURY CONVICTS
- GREMPLER
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec. 19.—
Reuben F. Grempler, a special
officer of Anne Arundel county,
was found, guilty of accepting
bribes from a reputed disorderly
house after a Circuit Court jury
deliberated more than seven hour.s
here last night.
Grempler, represented by State
Senator Ridgley P. Melvin, was
ordered to appear in court at 10
o’clock Monday morning for
sentence.
Grempler, the first of five
present and former Anne Arundel
county officers to stand trial on
bribery charges, was accused of
acepting bribes from proprietors
of the Belle Grove Inn.
The scene of a gang murder in
1922, the Belle Grove Inn was
again raided in August, after
police learned that Philadelphia
gangsters planned a stronghold
there.
The most damaging testimony
against Grempler was offered by
Mrs. Ida Valenti, alias Topts
DeWald, a former operator of the
roadhouse near Linthicum Heights.
Mrs. Valenti testified that at
that time she paid Grempler and
a justice of the peace about S2OO
per week.
Couple in Serious
Plight From Shots
George F. Bruckman, 23, and
his 20-year-old bride, Dorothy, are
in a critical condition today at
Washington hospitals after the
former shot her and himself
Thursday night
Mrs. Bruckman is at Casualty
Hospital with four bullet wounds
in her body, while her husband
is at Providence with a bullet
wound in his head. The shooting
occurred on a vacant lot at Sec
ond and I * Streets Southeast
when Mrs. Bruckman refused to
return to her husband
Edition of Washington
Writings Sponsored
By Fess Bill
A Congressional memorial to
George Washington is author
ized in a bill, introduced in the
Senate by Senator Simeon D.
Fess (R.) of Ohio.
The memorial will ‘consist of
a definitive edition of all of,
Washington’s essential writings,
including personal letters from
original manuscripts or first
printsand general orders issued
to the Continental Arm*. The
George Washington Bicenten
nial Commission will prepare
the manuscript at a cost of
$56,000.
Under terms of the bill the
memorial edition will consist of
25 volumes to the set and 3,000
sets will be printed. Two
thousand setj are to be sold
by the Superintendent of Docu
ments at a cost of SSO per set.
SATURDAY—DECEMBER
“Peaches” Loses
a-;:
St f■ I .
H W Hi
yJr 1 ■ pl
w * jf
>■■■•■
MRS. FRANCES BROWNING
THIS is the wife of Edward
“Daddy” Browning whose suit
for divorce from the wealthy
real estate man was denied
yesterday in New York.
B-YEAR-OLD BOY
PIANO ARTIST
By WILLIAM MOORE
A tiny wriffet of a boy—if he
weighed more than 60 pounds
he’d be rated as a heavyweight
perched on the edge of the piano
seat at central High Schol today,
and while a packed house sat en
thralled, played two piano num
bers.
He is Charlton Meyer, 6-year
old student of Frances Gutelius.
He appeared as the guest of the
National Symphony Orchestra at
its third children’s concert.
With great diffidence, but
withal a realization of his ability
to play well, Charlton gave two
numbers—Bach’s Minuet in G,
and- the beautiful “To a Wild
Rose,” by MacDowell.
The boy has a great touch and
an inate sense of musical beauty.
Only twice was he apparently
stumped by a fistfull of notes,
but he grit his teeth, took the
matter in hand and acquitted
himself nobly. The singing tone
in the MacDowell number is es
pecially commended.
Hans Kindler, the orchestra’s
conductor, put on another inter
esting hour for the children. His
men played the stirring overture
to “Egmont,” by Beethoven, and
Alfred Mannin, harpist: Bernard
Parronchi, cellist; Emil Spitzer,
English horn, and George Wargo,
viola, played several solos.
The program closed with “Fin
landia,” by Sibelius.
POEA, IN PAIN,
NEARSGRISIS
SANTA MONICA. Calif., Dec.
19 (I.N.S.}.—A restless night and
increasing pain today brought
Pola Negri, noted film actress,
nearer the crisis in her battle
against death following a major
operation.
Miss Negri’s doctor said she had
become weaker, due to lack of
rest, and her condition is critical.
The bulletin said:
“However, there is some evi
dence of the beginning of re
sponse to treatment.”
The ghost of Rudolph Valen
tino cheered Pola today.
“Be brave—Rtidolph would have
had it so,” Miss Negri was told
by the late sheik’s brother, Al
berto Valentino, who, with his
wife, were the first visitors physi
cians had allowed Miss Negri to
see.
Miss Negri and Valentino once
were engaged to marry.
Capper Bill Elects
Board of Education
A bill providing for election of
members of the District Board of
Education was introduced in the
Senate today by Senator Arthur
Capper (R.) of Kansas, chairman
of the Senate District Committee.
Two other measures introduced
by the Senator and referred to
his committee provide for the re
vision of the banking laws of the
District of Columbia and the
widening of Thirteenth Street
Northwest between Monroe Street
and Spring Road.
G.
FINANCE BILL
IN SENATE
House to Be Asked to Waive
Privilege of Introducing •
$500,000,000 Act
Republicans in the Senate
are going to make desperate ef
forts to pass by Tuesday the
bill creating the emergency re
construction finance corpora
tion President Hoover recom
mended in his annual message,
Senator Walcott (R.) of Con
necticut said today after visit
ing Mr. Hoover.
Such legislation must originate
in the House but Walcott said
the' House leaders could waive
this privilege. The present plan
of the Republicans is to have the
Senate originate and pass the Fi
nance Corporation bill while the
House passes the bill increasing
the capital stock of the 12 Fed
eral Land Banks.
Representative Rainey of Illi
nois, Democratic floor leader, said
the House cannot take action on
the bill until after the holidays
but he gave assurances that it
will be pushed to a vote. He fa
vors the bill’s principles.
Two financial experts were to
day called before the Senate sub
committee on Banking and Cur
ency to give their opinions on the
$500,000,000 proposal.
Ogden L. Mills, Undersecretary
of the Treasury, was the first wit
ness.
Mortimer N. Buckner, president
of the New York Trust Company
and member of the executive
board of the National Credit Cor
poration, will follow Mills.
Senator Smith W. Brookhart.
Progressive Republican of lowa,
announced his intention of inter
rogating Mills on questions relat
ing to the proposed corporation,
especially as to what relief it will
bring the farmers.
VOTERS DEFEAT
GOV. MURRAY
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Dec.
19 (1.N.5.). —Oklahoma’s vigorous
and picturesque governor, William
H. (Alfalfa Bill) Murray, ap
peared today to have suffered a
defeat at the hands of the citi
zenry.
With returns from more than
half of the State’s 3.346 precincts
tabulated, the four initiative
measures personally sponsored by
the governor seemed doomed to
failure.
Latest returns from yesterday’s
special election showed a ma
jority of approximately 50,000
votes already piled up against
the proposed laws, which, among
other provisions, call for a drastic
State income tax and control by
the governor of the expenditures
of State departments and institu
tions.
Lieut. Cocke Claims
3 Glider Records
HONOLULU, T. H„ Dec. 19
(1.N.5.). —Lieut. William Cocke,
United States Army, today
claimed three world records for
gliders. Cocke was aloft 21
hours 34 minutes and 15 sec
onds. In addition he claimed
the altitude record of 3.500 feet
and the distance record of 400
miles.
Read This
An EXTRA CITY of 65,370 people
can be reached for ONE advertis
ing price with Classified advertis
ing in the Morning Herald and
Evening Times as compared to
any other one-price Classified me
dium in Washington. You, as a
wise buyer of advertising space,
know the value of reaching this
extra group of newspaper readers
. . , you can’t afford to overlook
them.
Phone District 5260
Ask for an Ad-taker . . . she will be !
glad to verify any of the above in
formation and assist you in the
preparation of a Classified adver
r tisement for publication in the
Herald and Times.
PEOPLE
Who Interest,
You and
What They
Are Doing
Mrs. Dill Asks Division
Os $4,000,000 Estate
NEW YORK, Dec. 19
Holding that “millionaires to
day have not suffered from any
depression,” Mrs. Clarence C.
MKS. nil.l.
estate to sell portions of the
vast land holdings acquired in
a period of 200 years in valu
able sections of Long Island,
Rockland County, N. Y.; Wash
ington, and Little Rock, Ark.
Snowden Ranks Bth
In Roll of Peers
LONDON, Dec. 19.—Viscount
Snowden, in his capacity as
lord privy seal, appears eighth
nn the roll
■hTi J|
Viscount Snowden
on me rou ?
of peers in
the new Par- ,
liament roll, |
issued today. I
He is pre- |
ceded by the |
Prince of *
Wales, the
Dukes of
York, Glouc- .
ester and!
Con naught, I
the Arch- I
bishop of I
Can terbury, I
the Lord
C h a n c ellor
l ii a n c euor -uvnu.M
and the Archbishop of York.
The roll contains 756 names,
including bishops and minors.
Germans Can’t Do
Without Music
HAMBURG, Germany, Dec.
19. —The last thing that a
German will give up is music,
according to
MISS GIANNINI
them.
“The German people accepted
an increase in bread prices
calmly. Admission prices to
concerts have been cut though,
as music is a necessity here.”
Woodcock. Suspends
. Dry Agent, Killer,
Prohibition Director Amos W.
W. Woodcock has suspended F.
A. McCartney, probational prohi
bition agent at Montgomery, Ala.,
who shot and killed a man after
McCartney had used his victim s
common law wife to help obtain
rum evidence.
Prohibition enforcement must
be done on a "respectable” basis,
said Woodcock. The victim was
Archie F. Day. Woodcock said
the United States Attorney at
Montgomery knew the agent was
using the woman and “made no
comment.”
Dill, wife of
the United
States Sena
t or from
W ashington,
has filed suit
1 n Supreme
Court asking
for a division
of her fam
ily’s $4,000,-
000 estate.
She peti
tioned for an
order to di
rect the co
executors of
her mother’s
D u s o 1 i n a
G i a n n i n 1,
P h iladelphia
and New York
opera prima
donna. She
said today:
“G e rmany
may be on
her last legs,
but music and
art will be
the last things
they give up.
They me an
more than
bread to