Legs Diamond: Gangster - Softcover

Through a combination of brains, cunning and daring Legs Diamond became one of the top gangsters in the East, but because of his stubbornness, treachery and poor decision making he lost it all; his friends, his money and finally his life. Legs Diamond is the most comprehensive biography yet written on New York’s most famous Prohibition era gangster. The book covers Legs’ youth in Philadelphia, his ascension through the New York underworld, which resulted in his becoming an international celebrity, and his inevitable demise in a cheap rooming house. Along the way, the many myths and untruths that have been written about Diamond over the years are corrected. Detailed in the book are: - Full accounts of all four attempts on his life. - The war between Diamond and his one time protégé Dutch Schultz, which resulted in the almost assassination of Legs’ brother Eddie. -The famous Hotsy-Totsy murder case. - Diamond’s ill-fated trip to Europe to purchase drugs. -His bid to monopolize bootlegging in New York’s Greene County. -The death of his brother Eddie. -New information on Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll and his possible partnership with Diamond. -Jack’s final night. -The origin of the nick name Legs. -His relationship with Ziegfeld showgirl Kiki Roberts And much more.

Patrick Downey has spent countless hours researching guys that wore suits and hats and carried machineguns. His other books include Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935 and Bad Seeds in the Big Apple: Bandits, Killers & Chaos in New York City 1920-1940.