Camden Beer

Camden's brewery at Fillmore and Bulson Streets was built in 1904 by Joseph Baumgartner. The firm was known as the Camden City Brewery Incorporated until it was acquired by Frederick A. Poth, and operated by F.A. Poth & Sons Inc., a Philadelphia based brewery, in 1910. The plant was then modernized to current standards of the time.

The firm was operated F.A. Poth & Sons Incorporated of New Jersey before Prohibition. During the 1920s the brewery came under the control of Philadelphia based bootlegger Mickey Duffy, and was a major source of revenue for him until his murder in 1931. Another crime figure, Edgar “Blondy” Wallace, had an interest in the brewery but apparently was out of the picture by the fall of 1934.

From 1948 to 1951 when I worked at the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, after work we the people that worked there went to the Greenwich Bar on Greenwich Street, downtown New York for a few beers. They had Camden Beer and to this day that was the best beer that I had ever had. I was thinking tonight of the beer I had then and wondered where and if there is any place that I could get that kind of beer again. I have never heard of Camden Beer any place before or after. I wonder now if it is still being made and where it can be purchased. I am now 75 years old and I am very glad to tell you what a good beer that was and how much we all enjoyed it. It sure was a good beer, good foam and a great taste, the foam was just as good as the taste. — Ray Nickerson, May 22, 2005

Two Rooms Turned Upside Down But Safe Is Not Robbed

Police Think Papers Were Burglars' Goal

Officials of Camden Firm Are Unable to Explain Motive of Attempt

Burglars ransacked the offices of the Camden County Beverage Company early yesterday but what they took, if anything, had not been disclosed late last night.

In a mystery “robbery” that has police puzzled, the thieves broke through a glass window on the rear loading platform, climbed inside and proceeded to turn three different offices of the brewery “inside out” in their quest.

The handle off the huge safe in the wall of the first-floor office, was broken, but the safe had not been opened according to Detectives Benjamin Simon and Clifford Del Rossi.

But it, appeared to have been the only thing not opened by the intruders.

Waste Baskets Searched

Filing cabinets and desk drawers were pulled out and their contents littered the floor. Even a wastebasket had been searched and its contents strewn about.

Apparently finding nothing of value on the first floor, the thieves, or thief made their way to the second floor where another office of the concern was ransacked from top to bottom.

Entrance to the brewery was made between 6 a. m. and 7 a. m. A watchman, Richard McKinley, who lives at 550 Chelton Avenue left the building at 6 o'clock and Olaf J. Hall, a bookkeeper arrived there at 7. a.m.

Hall went immediately to a second floor office where he saw several of the filing cabinets and desks had been gone through, but he failed to report it to his, superiors.

According to Frank R. Allison, secretary and treasurer of the brewery, Hall believed someone connected with the brewery had been searching for something, and being in a hurry had forgotten to replace things as he found them.

The “robbery” was not noticed until Nicholas Enderle, brewmaster, entered the building shortly before noon. He saw the offices on the first. floor in disorder and notified Allison.

The latter notified police, who could not learn whether anything of value had been stolen.

Were Seeking Papers

Detective Simon advanced a theory that the thieves had, been in search of valuable papers, rather than cash.

McKinley was questioned at the plant and declared that everything was “in order” when he left. He said two police dogs were left on the rear platform to guard against thieves. Later it was learned the dogs followed McKinley to his home.

The Camden County Beverage Company has been cited by the government on a rule to show cause why its 3.2 beer permit should not be revoked. The hearing on the citation was, scheduled for May 22, but, has been postponed indefinitely to await the conclusion of other cita-tion hearings.

Allison said he did not know of any valuable papers that would interest thieves. He expressed belief the robbers sought collections made by drivers on Saturday and kept in the brewery office until the banks open on Monday.

Hearing on Revocation of Permit Starts in Post Office Building Aug. 21

Hearing in the revocation of permit proceedings against the Camden County Cereal Beverage Company will be held in the post office building here August 21.

That was announced yesterday by Leo A. Crossen, recently appointed supervisor of industrial alcohol permits or this district.

Crossen said there is a possibility, however, that the place of the hearing may be changed to the federal building in Philadelphia. Notice of the hearing has been sent to officials of the brewery and counsel, Crossen said.

The hearer has not been selected, Crossen said, but Norman J. Morrison, ace prosecutor in Attorney General Homer S. Cummings' staff, will present the case for the government.

Meanwhile yesterday it was an-nounced that the Harrison Beverage Company had lost its appeal to have set aside the order revoking its permit.

A special federal board of review which last week heard “new evidence” offered by the brewery, and reviewed testimony given at the orig-inal citation hearing, recommended that the permit revocation stand.

Brewery counsel has 10 days in which to file an appeal with Dr. James T. Doran, commissioner of industrial alcohol. During these 10 days the brewery may operate. If Dr. Doran upholds the board's de-cision, however, the brewery will be ordered closed.

Harold Simandl, former Newark police judge and attorney for the brewery, said he would carry an appeal to the highest courts if Dr. Doran ruled against him.

Camden Concern Expected to Be Bought by Ice Cream Company

Hassel and Duffy Listed Among Owners

Revocation of Permit Hearing Will Start Here August 21

Sale of the Camden County Cereal Beverage Company by its present owners is scheduled before August 21, the date of its revocation of permit hearing on charges of operating under “dummy officers.”

That was the word yesterday that came out of the offices of the Industrial Alcohol Bureau, in Philadelphia, as the government went ahead with the preparation of its case against the local concern.

The local brewery was among five in New Jersey cited by the government as being owned and operated by racketeers, who hid beneath the names of dummy officers.

The announcement of the proposed sale came after Edward C. Dougherty, U. S, attorney preparing the license revocation case, had named seven persons, who, among others, are the alleged true owners of the brewery,

Mickey's Brother Named

In the list were Charles A. Bodine, of Haddonfield, long associated in name with matters concerning beer; Max Hassel, slain gang lord and reputed owner of a string of breweries; Edgar “Blondy” Wallace, reputed ex-beer lord now serving a year in a federal penitentiary for non-payment of income taxes, and John Cusick, also known as John Duffy, brother of the murdered Mickey Duffy. John is alleged by the government to have taken over brother “Mike's bit,” following his slaying in an Atlantic City hotel.

Also named were Henry “Hank” Collins, close associate of Duffy in the old days; William Neely, an ex-Duffy satellite, and Lou [text illegible], associate of Hassel.

The proposed sale was made known to the government by Walter S. Keown attorney for the brewery, it yesterday. According to the Philadelphia office, Keown successfully had postponed the hearing to allow the owners time to complete negotiations.

The concern attempting to purchase the brewery is a North Jersey cereal manufacturing company,“ according to the report.

Keown and Norman J. Morrison, U. S. Attorney General, met in Philadelphia concerning the beer operation hearing. Keown is said to have sought Morrison's advice as to what action the brewery could take to satisfy the government

Hearing Aug. 21

The hearing will be held begin Aug. 21 in the Camden post office building. While no “hearer” has been chosen yet, Norman J. Morrison, special assistant U. S. attorney general, will act as government prosecutor.

The citation charges that the brewery concealed its true ownership behind “dummy officers.” These men, who applied for the license, were Frank R. Allison, of Oaklyn, as president, and Frank C. [text illegible] who gave an address at North Broad street, Philadelphia, secretary-treasurer.

Long reported to have been associated with the Camden brewery before the advent of 3.2 percent beer were the incorporators of the [text illegible] Realty Company, which owns property in which the brewery stands.

Police and federal agents frequently have contended that both Collins and Neely were associated with Bodine and Duffy in the beer business

A number of beer trucks seized by federal agents were Neely's. Dougherty is head attorney in the Philadelphia. Office of the Industrial Alcohol Bureau and also prepared the citation on which the Harrison brewery permit was ordered revoked.

Morrison is the attorney who acted as prosecutor against the Harrison brewery.

Action against four corporate defendants in the suit by Edgar “Blondy” Wallace to recover a 20 percent shareholder's interest in the Camden County Beverage Company from Charles A. Bodine, secretary treasurer of the concern, were dismissed yesterday by Vice-Chancellor Francis B. Davis in chancery court.

In his suit, Wallace, who was represented by William Harris, asked for the appointment of a receiver and named as defendants the holding and operating companies of the Brewery, the Babocor Realty Co., and No. 12 Hudson Street.

Application for dismissal was made by Walter S. Keown and George D. Rothermel, representing the holding and operating companies, on grounds the bill made no complaint against the corporate defendants and that the dispute involved only Wallace and Bodine. The suit will be argued between the two on final hearing, for which no date was set.