Davolos' Cafe

Davolos’ Cafe was operated by Frank Davolos during the mid-1930s at 950 South 5th Street for many years.

950 South 5th Street housed a bar as far back as 1887, when Adam T. Davis Sr. was proprietor. He was still there as late as 1888. The 1890–1891 City Directory shows that Hugh Lavery resided at and operated the bar at 950 South 5th Street. Walter S. Gillespie was the proprietor in 1905, and Joseph Conaghy had the business, known simply as Conaghy’s, when the 1914 City Directory was compiled and through at least the end of the year. Jacob Sax was managing the bar for a Hyman Bloom as early as June of 1917 and by the 1920s owned the business. He still had the property as late as 1930.

A bar fight in which Mr. Davolos was injured resulted in his leaving the tavern business in 1938 or 1939. In the late 1930s and early 1940s the bar was known as The Upset Club, and was operated by Frank Tenerelli, who had boxed professionally under the name Frankie Blair. It was later known as the Walnut Cafe. The Walnut Cafe was one of the neighborhood’s many Italian-American bars. The business changed hands around 1990 and now serves South Camden’s Hispanic community. The DiMattia family operated the bar for many years. In 1967 Marie L. DiMattia of Pennsauken NJ and Louis DiMattia of Haddon Township were the partners.

Frank Davolos, 41, saloon proprietor at Fifth and Walnut Streets, is scheduled to appear tonight before the Camden Excise Board to show cause why his liquor license should not be revoked because of a brawl there last November.

Davolos, who lives at 441 Benson Street, suffered a head injury in the brawl which resulted in the shooting of Michael Narciso, 20, of 420 Walnut Street, in the left thigh.

There were two main fights and some side quarrels, according to police, on November 26. Bottles and glasses were hurled in the free-for-all.

Proprietor Defends Charges of Brawl in Revocation Citation

The Camden City Excise Board last night reserved decision in the case of Frank Davolos, proprietor of a taproom at Fifth and Walnut Streets, cited to show cause why his liquor license should not be revoked after a brawl there on November 26.

Chairman John L. Morrissey announced the board would render a decision after he and Curtis O. Sangtinette held a conference with Mrs. Ann M. Baumgartner, secretary, and third member of the board, who was absent because of illness.

Commissioner D. Frederick Burnett, State A. B. C. chief, ordered Davolos before the local board on charges of permitting a brawl on the licensed premises, contrary to Rule 5 of state regulations, and the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor, contrary to Rule 1.

Charges against Davolos grew out of a brawl at the saloon in which one man was shot in the thigh, another cut on the hand and Davolos suffered a battered head.

Michael Narcisso, 20, of 420 Walnut Street, was shot when he and Davolos fought over a revolver behind the bar. John Marchione, 25, of 3939 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken, companion of Narcisso, was cut during the melee. Narcisso and Marchione have been indicted on charges of assault and battery while the same charge against Davolos was no billed by the grand jury. Testimony was offered by Davolos and several employees that Narcisso and Marchione were abusive and used profane language while in the place and started the brawl when they were ordered out. The pair allegedly returned to the place three times after the start of the fight which included the throwing of glasses and bottles about the bar room.

Marchione testified both he and Narcisso were ordered from the place by Davolos “for no reason at all” and that Davolos started the fight by punching Narcisso in the face as both attempted to leave. Marchione said Davolos took the gun from a drawer from behind the bar and fired one shot at him and when he tried to fire the second, Narcisso attempted to grab the gun and was shot.

Shooting Victim Silent

Narcisso appeared at the hearing with the aid of a cane but refrained from testifying on advice of his counsel, Blaine Capehart, who explained his client was under indictment in connection with the case.

Angelo Malandra, counsel for Davolos, moved the charge of selling to minors be dismissed as Narcisso was the minor involved and without his testimony there was no evidence of the sale. His motion was granted.

The board also reserved decision on issuance of a club license to the Eighth Ward Democratic Club, of 512 Ferry Avenue. A protest against the license was entered by the Eighth Ward Roosevelt Italian Democratic Club, of 521 Ferry Avenue.

The objectors entered charges of: No charter; not being in continuous existence for the period required by state statute (which is three years) and that the club was located 200 feet from a church.

Club Charter Exhibited

Fred Schorpp, president of the Eighth Ward Democratic Club, testified he was a charter member of the club since July 17, 1919, and the club never disbanded. The charter was offered as evidence.

Edmund J. Olsen, attorney and secretary of the protesting club, declared the First Italian Pentecostal Church of Camden purchased the old South Camden Bank building at Broadway and Ferry Avenue and was remodeling it for a church.

The board allowed two person-to-person transfers and one place-to-place transfer. The license of Joseph Samselski, of 1198 Thurman Street, was transferred to Leon Walczynski and the permit of Joseph A. Italiano, of 941 South Fourth Street, was transferred to Joseph Cuffari. Joseph Fimiani, of Third and Washington Streets, was allowed to transfer his place of business to 2277 South Seventh Street.

Lent Car to Others He Says; Denies Charges

Frank Palese, 26, of 900 South Fourth Street, wanted as one of the alleged operators of the new “bingo” lottery racket, surrendered yesterday to County Detective Wilfred Dube.

Palese had been sought during the weekend as the “big shot” of the racket after Joseph Marino, Harry Girard and five others were seized in the case.

All but Marino and Girard were released in $500 bail before the surrender of Palese.

Prosecutor Orlando fixed bail at $1000 each for Palese, Marino and Girard. Carl Kisselman, retained as counsel for the defendants, said he would provide the amount for them.

According to Palese he simply lent his automobile to Marino and Girard, who were in Palese’s car when arrested, and he knows nothing whatever about the lottery charge.

Among those out on bail is Fred Rossi, former boxer, who used the ring name of Pee-Wee Ross.

Men Accused of Assault on Proprietor Say He Started Trouble

Accused of assault and battery, Mike Narcisso, 20, of 420 Walnut Street, and John Marchione, 25, of 3939 Marlton Pike, were freed yesterday by Judge Clifford A. Baldwin in Criminal Court. They were tried without jury.

Frank Davolos, owner of a cafe at Fifth and Walnut Streets, testified the men came into his place on the night of November 26 and started a fight. Davolos said he was injured on the head when struck by a beer bottle.

The taproom proprietor also testified the alleged assailants were thrown out but returned, this time to beat him. A scuffle followed, he testified, and in the melee, Narcisso was shot in the leg.

Narcisso and Marchione denied the story of the proprietor.

According to them Davolos called them “a couple of bums” when they entered his taproom and wound up his denunciation by hitting Narcisso on the head with a beer bottle.

Marchione testified he took Narcisso to the hospital and both returned for their overcoats which had been left behind. Marchione declared that Davolos grabbed a gun and fired it, the bullet going into a tailor shop across the street.

Narcisso, his companion testified, leaped over the counter to prevent Davolos from shooting again, and in the scuffle the gun was discharged, the bullet penetrating Narcisso’s leg.

“I’m not satisfied with the evidence presented by Davolos and his witnesses” declared the court. “I’m surprised that neither side has seen fit to bring here as witnesses persons who were in the taproom on the night of the alleged assault. I find the defendants not guilty.”