American Legion Memorial Post 274
American Legion Memorial Post 274 — Broadway & Jefferson Street, Camden, NJ
1944 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08104
After a party at the Post on July 15, 1942, an unusual event occurred. We are much more peaceable now!
Intruder Wounded in Return to Party
Camden Courier-Post —
So. Camden Legion Post Houseman Held in Probe of Shooting
Charles Flacco, 22, of 1615 Fillmore street, was seriously wounded by a shotgun discharge in the chest early today when he attempted to return to a party that had already ended.
He was found at 2 a. m. by passersby lying on the pavement at Broadway and Viola street and removed to West Jersey hospital. There he repeatedly muttered: “Don’t shoot, I have a wife and small child.”
Detectives Edward Mills and Robert Ashenfelter learned that Flacco had attended a party at the George Booz Post, American Legion, 1944 Broadway, earlier in the night. Questioning of Pietro Damario, 59, houseman at the post home, revealed he had been awakened by the crash of a window, grabbed a shotgun and fired.
“But I didn’t know that I had hit anyone,” he said. “I didn’t see anyone in the street and went back to bed.”
Albert diGiacomo and Guistino Fizzallo told police they saw Flacco in a taproom at 12.30 a. m. after a party at the Legion hall had broken up. “He left,” they said, “apparently to go home.”
The detectives believe the victim returned to the Booz post home and broke a window while trying to enter the darkened building, still under the impression a party was in full swing. Damario was held on a charge of aggravated assault and battery.