Introduction
Albert Lisbie Cornog was born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1886 to Charles Cornog and his wife, the former Mary Cassdy. He was the second of six children, coming after older sister Annie May and before Marguerite, Ruth, Andrew, and Charles Cornog Jr. The family had moved to New Jersey by 1892 when daughter Marguerite was born. Charles Cornog worked as house painter until appointed to the Camden Police Department by then-Mayor Cooper B. Hatch.
City Directories show the Cornogs at 724 Clinton Street in 1892 and 1893, 760 Division Street in 1895 and 1896, 834 Spruce Street in 1897. A news article from 1897 shows the Cornog family at 830 Spruce Street, the directory address is probably the correct one. The family was at 742 Cherry Street in 1898 and at 817 Division Street in the 1899 Directory. The 1900 Census and 1901 City Directory shows Charles Cornog and family still at 817 Division Street. The 1902 City Directory lists the family at 808 South 8th Street, where they remained through 1908. The 1909 City Directory shows the Cornog family at 811 South 8th Street, then back across the street to 810 South 8th Street by the spring of 1910.
Charles Cornog passed away on June 13, 1910 at his home at 810 South 8th Street. Albert Cornog began his career with the Camden Police Department on June 17, 1910. In January of 1918 he was assigned to traffic duty, and was stationed for years at Haddon Avenue and Kaighn Avenue. Albert Cornog was promoted to Sergeant on February 2, 1929, to Lieutenant on October 10, 1941, and to Captain on March 23, 1943.
Albert Cornog stayed at the house at 810 South 8th Street into the 1930s. He was still single as late as April of 1930, but had wed by 1940. The Directory of 1940 shows that Albert Cornog had moved to 1014 Morton Street, where he lived with his wife Anna.
Albert L. Cornog retired on November 15, 1949 at the rank of Captain. He had been commanding the Third Police District, encompassing Cramer Hill and East Camden. Neither he or his wife are listed in telephone directories from that point onward.
Planned Burial, Hanged Herself
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Woman Alone in the World Committed Suicide in a Deserted Building in Camden
After making arrangements for the decent burial of her body, Mrs. Elizabeth Anna Black, 39[?] years old, who lived with Mrs. Mary Kelly, of 412 Vanhook street, Camden, ended her life some time Saturday night by hanging herself from a window in the deserted building of the Camden Smelting Works, Sixth and Jackson streets. The body was taken to the Morgue, but later claimed by Mrs. Kelly, the only friend the unfortunate woman had.
Alone in the world, her husband and children dead, Mrs. Black frequently spoke of being weary of life. Lately she had met with a mishap which prevented her from earning enough for her board. This appeared to prey on her mind to such an extent that comforting words from Mrs. Kelly had no effect. The only thing that Mrs. Black cared about was to see that she escaped a pauper’s burial in the event of death. She turned over her insurance papers to Mrs. Kelly with the injunction to have the money spent in a respectable interment. This Mrs. Kelly promised to do.
When Mrs. Black went to the lonesome place where the smelting building is located is not known. The spot is an isolated one, located at the lower end of the Line Ditch swamp. All of the windows have long since been knocked out by boys, who use the structure as a sort of rendezvous. It was while they were about to enter the ramshackle structure yesterday that they saw the body swinging from the sash of one of the windows. They notified Policeman Cornog, who cut down the swaying body.
Mrs. Black had knotted together several shoestrings, a piece of manila rope and a part of her skirt, which she had tied about her throat. After making the other end fast to the lower sash of one of the windows, she leaped to her death. Coroner Latchfield found that her neck had been broken.
From what Mrs. Kelly was able to learn about the woman, she came originally from Rappahannock, Va., where she is said to have well-to-do relatives. Mrs. Black was always reticent about speaking of her family connections, however.
Camden Gang Fighters Are Held for Trial
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Rival gangs created a stir at Lewis and Sycamore streets, Camden, early yesterday morning, resulting in several arrests. John Kowalch, aged 21 years, of 1049 Mechanic street, and Harry McCaffrey, aged 28 years, of 708 Mt. Vernon street, were held in $500 bail by Recorder Stackhouse on a charge of beating Albert Dudeck, of 1154 Mt. Vernon street. John Skulski, aged 37 years, of 818 Walnut street; Frank Kabinski, aged 37 years, of 1253 Sycamore street; William Jordan, aged 31 years, of 1117 Haddon avenue, and McCaffrey were given ten days by the Recorder for disorderly conduct.
When Policeman Cornog arrived on the scene there was a general riot, and he found himself in the midst of the fighters. In the melee he lost his badge, but he succeeded in corraling four of the belligerents, while Policeman Appley arrested Kowalch. About half a hundred engaged in the fight.
Brass Buttons Save Two From Being Shot
Philadelphia Inquirer —
But for their shining brass buttons Policemen Cornog and Ellis would have been shot by Alexander Jasienski, of 1043 Kaighn avenue, Camden, early yesterday while all three were looking for a burglar. The officers ran after a figure in the dark in the rear of the house.
The man raised a shotgun and was about to fire when a glimmer of light reflected on the policemen’s brass buttons. It was Jasienski, who thought the officers were burglars, while the bluecoats were under the impression Jasienski was the fugitive. In the meanwhile the burglar escaped.
Battle Over the War
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Austrian Husband and Russian Wife Have Their Own Troubles
“Down with the Russians!” shouted a voice from a house at 911 Sycamore street, Camden, early yesterday morning as Policeman Cornog passed. At the same time there was a cry of “murder” and a crash that seemed to indicate the house was being torn apart When the officer went into the place he found Thomas Sewitsky pacing up and down, smashing dishes and breaking down doors while his wife cowered in a corner
The cause of this wild outbreak, it was revealed before Recorder Stackhouse later, lay in the fact that Sewitsky is an Austrian and he has become overwrought because the Russians are invading his native land. He was sent to jail for a couple of weeks to retain his mental equilibrium, a charge of disorderly conduct having been made by his wife, Lucy.
Police Honor Comrade
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Headed by Chief Gravenor, Camden’s police force yesterday paid its last respect to Philip Knauff, a policeman, who died of pneumonia Wednesday. The funeral was held at the home of Knauff’s sister, Mrs. Thomas Budick, of 622 Pine street. The services were in charge of Rev. William P. Valiant, pastor of the Kaighn Avenue M. E. Church and interment was made at Evergreen Cemetery. The pallbearers, all fellow policemen, included Harry Vliet, John Sheeran, Albert Cornog, Clarence Boyer, William Briant and Detective David Hunt.
Police Department Changes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There were a number of changes in Camden’s Police Department yesterday, by Mayor Ellis. He appointed Sergeant John Golden successor to Captain Hugh Boyle, recently placed on the pension list. Patrolman Howard Smith was made a city detective, and Hall Officer James Clay was made a hall sergeant. Motorcycle Policemen Jefferson Kay and Charles Laib were appointed traffic sergeants, while Patrolmen Edmund Pike and Albert Cornog were made traffic policemen. Patrolman Robert Abbott was appointed a sergeant. Mayor Ellis has received the resignations of G. M. Beringer and Myers Baker as members of the City Plan Commission, the first getting out because of pressing business and the other because of going to Camp Dix.
World War I Draft Card
George Clayton
Camden Courier-Post —
Elected President of Camden Beneficial Association; Other Officers Picked
Captain George “Babe” Clayton, chief clerk of the police department, was elected unanimously yesterday as president of Camden Police Beneficial Association, succeeding the late Edward Middleton.
Detective William Dolan and Traffic Patrolman John B. Stanton were re-elected vice president and recording secretary, respectively. Neither was opposed.
Two offices were contested on friendly terms. Archie Reiss, principal clerk in the detective bureau, was elected financial secretary over Lieut. George Frost, the vote being 34 to 28. Sergt. Edward Carroll defeated Sergt. Walter Mattison for treasurer 38 to 23.
Sergt. Albert “Dick” Cornog was elected without opposition as sergeant-at-arms.
Trustees elected are Acting Police Chief Ralph Bakley, Acting Lieut. John Garrity, Detective Joseph Mardino, Acting Lieut. Herbert Bott and Patrolman Edward Leonard.
CAPT. GEORGE CLAYTON — All officers were elected for one year. Detective Dolan served as acting president after Middleton’s death.
World War II Draft Card
Retirement
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Albert L. Cornog, John W. Roloff, Edna Roloff, North 27th Street, Haddon Avenue, Kaighn Avenue, and Morton Street.