Introduction
Anson Kelley, often referred to in the press of his time as Anson Kelly, served from January of 1912 until his retirement on January 1, 1933 with the Camden Police Department, many of those years as a detective.
Anson Kelley was born April 23, 1875 in Camden, New Jersey. He was the sixth of twelve children born to Anson Henry Kelley and his wife, the former Katherine Matthews. His father was a laborer who worked himself up to be a foreman, working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The family is listed at 206 South 4th Street in the 1872 Camden City Directory, and at 317 Arch Street in 1874, a year in which Anson Henry Kelley worked as a railroad brakeman. Census records and City Directories show the family living at 115 South 5th Street in 1876, 231 Bridge Avenue in 1878, 205 Taylor Avenue from 1880 to 1885, 214 Bridge Avenue from 1887 to 1890, 212 Bridge Avenue in 1891, and 928 Cooper Street from 1891 to 1898.
Anson Henry Kelley died February 1898 and was buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in what was then the town of Stockton, which was annexed to Camden in 1899. All those buried at St. Patrick’s cemetery were exhumed and re-interred at Calvary Cemetery by the end of 1924. The family moved to 567 Stevens Street. At the time of the 1900 Census the family consisted of Anson Kelley’s mother, older brother Henry, and young siblings William, Katherine, Louis, Florence, and John.
Anson Kelley lived at 567 Stevens Street until about 1906. During this time he worked as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and as a house painter. He wed to Mary Carle in very late 1905 or 1906. Her sister Elizabeth was married to James J. Daly, whose father owned Daly’s Cafe at 800 Linden Street, and who took over ownership when his father died in 1922 and ran into the 1940s.
The 1907 City Directory shows Anson and Mary Kelley living at 1012 Lawrence Street. A son, Anson James Kelley was born in February of 1907 in Camden. The Kelley family is listed at 1006 Lawrence Street from 1908 through 1910. Anson Kelley was working as house painter in these years.
On May 16, 1909 Camden Lodge 111, Loyal Order of Moose was dedicated in Camden. Anson Kelley was one of the charter members.
On January 3, 1912 Anson Kelley was appointed to the Camden Police department. The Kelleys lived at 1016 Penn Street from 1912 to 1923. They lived briefly at 809 Penn Street. By 1926 they were living at 801 Kimber Street.
In 1921 Anson Kelley’s brother-in-law, Frank C. Carle, became a member of the Camden Police Department.
On November 21, 1927 Anson Kelley was promoted to acting detective at the request of Captain John W. Golden. The promotion was soon made permanent. He had previously served briefly as an acting sergeant with the vice squad. Detective Kelley retired effective January 1, 1933.
Shortly after the Census was enumerated in April of 1930, Anson Kelley and his wife Mary moved to 333 North 8th Street. This would be their home for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Kelley passed away in 1944. Anson Kelley died in December of 1952. They were survived by their son, Anson J. Kelley.
Anson Henry Kelley Death Notice
Camden Daily Courier —
Birthday Party
Camden Daily Courier —
A birthday party was tendered little Anson Kelly on Sunday at the home of his uncle, Harry Bennett Anson, who is only one year old, had as happy a time as the oft-talked about “Babes in the Woods.” Those who helped Anson make merry were Henry Gogel, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Carle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carle, Mr. and Mrs. James Daly, Mr. and Mrs. Anson Kelly, Harry Carle, Miss Bertie Stine, Miss Rose Carle, Miss Maud Bennett, Miss Clara Bennett, Master Willie Carle, Master Victor Bennett.
Boy’s Brutal Murderer Collapses at Hearing
Camden Post-Telegram —
Trio Accused of Murder. Coursey Firing the Shots.
Coursey Breaks Down While Story of Cold-Blooded Killing of Karl Kellmann Is Told by Detective.
Two “Pals,” Too, Accused of Crime
Collapsing when arraigned in Police Court this morning before Recorder Stackhouse on the charge of killing Karl Kellmann, aged 18 years, of 2919 High street, at Twenty-seventh and Sherman streets, shortly before midnight Saturday, Fred Coursey, alias “Mexican Pete,” alias “Cowboy Pete,” aged 20 years, of 121 North Twenty-first street, who admits firing the fatal shots while committing robbery, and Harry Duffield, aged 21 years, of 407 North Forty-first street, who acknowledged masking his face with a handkerchief and being with Coursey, sobbed piteously, resting their heads on the railing of the dock, while John Painter, the veteran detective, was briefly reciting the story.
When Recorder Stackhouse asked what became of the young man who was shot and Painter replied that he died, Coursey and Duffield sobbed afresh, and when Recorder Stackhouse committed them without bail Policemen Frost and Kay had to help them.
Linnans Staley, aged 21 years, of 1819 Federal street, who confessed that he was in the robbery plot but later got scared and hid in the bushes, was scarcely able to stand, and when his mother broke down as he was committed as a principal he staggered and would have fallen but for Sergeant McClong.
Prosecutor Boyle announced this morning that the Grand Jury will be recalled for Thursday of this week and the case will be made the special order of the day.
Without the slightest clue to start with in the most brutal murder committed in recent years in Camden county, police and detectives under the personal direction of Chief Gravenor in two hours arrested two of the three prisoners and obtained their signatures to confessions and before sunrise the other was lodged behind the bars at the City Hall.
According to their statements to the police the prisoners while drinking on a lot near Twenty-first and Federal streets on Saturday night planned to go to a lone spot near Twenty-seventh and Sherman streets to hold someone up to get money and jewelry to buy more drink. Coursey had a 38-calibre cowboy pistol and Duffield used Coursey’s bandanna as a mask. Staley weakened before the spot selected was reached and at the time of the murder was hiding in a clump of weeds a short distance away.
The murdered boy was the son of Karl and Lulu D. Kellmann. He was a member of the Bible class of Grace Presbyterian Church, East Side, and active in church work.
Saturday night was the closing of a carnival given on High street between Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth streets. Karl was there and made several purchases. At one booth he bought a necktie, from another some ice cream and a box of candy and spent some time conversing with the young ladies connected with the church.
When it grew rather late he noticed that Misses Bertha and Bessie Skillen, of 815 North Thirty-fourth street, the latter a teacher in Grace Church Sunday-school, were without an escort and he volunteered to see them home. They accepted his invitation to be their escort. He saw them safely home and he was on his way back and had reached a point on the east side of Twenty-seventh street south of Sherman street and near the foot of the bridge that spans the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks when two men jumped out from behind a tree and as one commanded him to hold up his hands the other began to shoot.
The first shot struck him in the breast and turned him partially around. The next ploughed a hole through his neck, knocking him down, and the third went wide.
Screaming for help he tried to rise to his feet and was on his knees when Night Yardmaster Albert Ludlow and Brakeman Joseph Wittick, who were on the opposite side of the bridge, ran to his assistance. By the light of their lanterns they saw that he was seriously hurt and they took him to ‘Squire Sasse’s house nearby to await the arrival of the ambulance. As the railroaders sped across the bridge Ludlow saw a man run down the tracks in the direction of Seventeenth street.
In the signal tower at Pavonia station known as C. B. the operator, Thomas Sink, heard the shots and cries for help and ‘phoned to Captain James at Police Headquarters that a murder had been committed. Sink also saw a man run down through the weeds and bushes on the east side of the bridge toward the railroad tracks.
Policeman Hurlock and Schmid, ‘Squire and Mrs. Sasse and several others were out on the street before the railroad men reached the Sasse home and all hurried to ‘phones to notify police headquarters.
In less than five minutes by use of the red light system Captain James had every officer on duty on the East Side hurrying to the scene, officers stationed at every bridge, ferry house and railroad terminal, and the downtown auto with Detectives Schregler, Painter, Brothers and Moffett on its way to East Camden.
On information from the railroad men Sergeant Horner took all the East Side officers and the four detectives and they worked westward among the cars while Captain James started Policemen Colsey and Kelly to walk eastward from Fifteenth street until they met the main body.
The search proved fruitless and as they returned to the bridge one of the men picked up a green bandanna with yellow spots and sheep burrs embedded on it on the incline near the signal tower. Later he recalled that the man who went down the slope wore a Khaki shirt and cap.
The handkerchief was recognized as the kind used by “Indian Bill” May, and Detectives Brothers and Policeman Abbott were sent to arrest him. They found May and Eugene Cafferty asleep in a moving van in Marlton avenue. “Indian Bill” soon established an alibi.
Detective Schregler and a couple of officers who were sure that the description of the man with the khaki shirt tallied with Duffield started for his brother’s house, but failed to find him there. About this time the downtown auto turned into Twenty-seventh street to get Karl’s father, mother and sister and take them to the hospital. Councilman Finkeldey and a friend shouted to the crew that a woman was down and out on a step nearby, but the crew yelled back that they were on an emergency run and the woman would keep until they returned. Fireman J. H. Vickers walked across the street to investigate and found that the supposed woman was Duffield and that he seemed to be asleep.
Vickers shook him and as he got up he said something about the shooting that aroused Vickers’ curiosity and he ‘phoned to Police Headquarters. Captain James immediately notified Chief Gravenor, who was on the scene and the latter sent Detective Moffett to investigate. When Moffett arrived he learned that Duffield had taken a Westfield avenue car. Moffett returned to the bridge and he and Detective Painter and Chief Gravenor took the down-town auto for Duffield’s home.
Painter went to the front door and saw Duffield in the act of taking off his shoes. Moffett in going around to the back door to prevent his escape that way passed by the window at which Duffield was sitting.
Grasping Duffield by the collar Moffett pulled him through the window to the ground. As soon as he landed on his feet, according to the Chief and detectives, Duffield said that Coursey did the shooting.
Placing him in the auto they next drove close to Coursey’s home and with Policeman Potter who knew the man wanted, the detectives entered the house with drawn revolvers while other officers guarded all avenues of escape.
Coursey was found awake on a cot and while he was covered with revolvers Detective Painter searched his trunk and found the weapon that he later admitted using. It was empty. The detectives late yesterday afternoon found three used shells adjoining the house near a spot where Coursey said he had thrown them.
In order to keep the men apart they were taken to the City Hall separately and questioned and after they decided to tell all Sergeant E. B. McClong reduced their statements to writing and they signed them. It was on the strength of these statements that Staley was arrested.
Young Kellmann was taken into the hospital at 12.20 a. m. Chief Surgeon Schellenger saw at a glance that there was no hope for him and so notified Captain James, and Sergeant McClong was sent to the hospital to get all information possible.
The unfortunate youth could only speak a few words at a time because of the hemorrhages. All Sergeant McClong was able to get from him was that he was told to hold up his hands and that the shooting instantly began. The only description he could give was that they were small men and that the attack was so sudden that he could not tell whether they were black or white.
The injured young man kept asking the doctors if he was going to die, but they did not answer. He was conscious when his father and mother arrived and then sank rapidly until the end, dying at 1.50 o’clock, 90 minutes after he was admitted. Mother and father were prostrated and were taken home by the up-town auto.
County Physician Jones conducted the autopsy yesterday morning. He said that either wound would have caused death. The bullet in the breast pierced the right lung at the top and lodged in the cavity. It is now in the doctor’s possession. The other bullet went clear through the neck.
Coursey and Duffield have been working in the Pavonia car yard. The former was born in El Paso, Texas, but has lived East nearly all his life. He is an expert shot and was a member of the vaudeville team of Coursey & Cook, according to their letter heads presenting a fifteen-minute thriller.
Duffield was only recently paroled for robbing Gallagher’s saloon, Nineteenth and Federal streets of a lot of drinkables. Staley has been arrested several times on petty charges but was never convicted of crime. When Duffield’s coat was examined at the City Hall, it was found to contain sheep burrs.
To a reporter Coursey said that whenever he was drinking he had to get his gun and shoot something or somebody. He insisted that all were in on the job and that they let the man who preceded Kellman go over the bridge without molestation because he didn’t look as if he had any too much money.
Yesterday morning Assistant Prosecutor Wolverton and Stenographer Cleary called at the City Hall. The prisoners were examined by Mr. Wolverton and their statements taken by Mr. Cleary, but there was little or nothing new elicited.
World War I Draft Card
WWI Draft Registration Card
Kelley Made Acting Detective
Camden Courier-Post —
5 POLICEMEN ADDED TO DETECTIVE DETAIL
Dolan, Sapanore, Truax, Kelly and Smith Assigned
Pleas by Captain Golden of the Detective Bureau that the department was undermanned and overworked has resulted in the assigning of five policemen as acting detectives.
They are William Dolan, acting sergeant of the First District; Rox Sapanore [sic], Frank Truax, Edward Smith and Anson Kelly.
Dolans’ place is being taken by Sergeant Ralph Bakely, transferred from the Third District. Sergeant John Potter goes from the Second District to the Third to replace Bakely, and Patrolman John Skolski becomes acting sergeant to replace Potter.
Patrolman William Whaland becomes acting sergeant to take over the duties of Sergeant James Clay, who is seriously ill in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital of pneumonia.
Nab 2 Youths as Robber Band After a Chase
Camden Courier-Post —
Anson Kelly Gets Five Days After Hearing on Quarrel With Wife
Anson Kelly, 45 years old, appointed acting city detective last month, has been suspended by James E. Tatem, chief of police, for five days on complaint made by his wife, Mrs. Mary Kelly.
Mrs. Kelly, according to Arthur Colsey, police captain, called headquarters Thursday night, requesting that police come to her home at 801 Kimber street. She said her husband had returned in an intoxicated condition and had started firing bullets from his revolver into the ceiling while in a rage.
When police arrived, Captain Colsey said, Kelly had been quieted by his son, Anson, Jr., 20 years old, and all was peaceful. Mrs. Kelly, he explained, withdrew her complaint then, but Captain John Golden conducted an investigation.
Kelly, Captain Colsey reported, was given a hearing before Chief Tatem. Colsey said this is the first time Kelly has been in trouble since his appointment to the force in 1912.
Suspect Negro in Killing of Woman for $15
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Anson Kelley, Daniel Cirucci, Benson Street, William Williams, South 2nd Street, Third Ward Republican Association, Alfonso Harris, Taylor Avenue, Lee Robinson, and Washington Street.
Chasing Ball in Street Lands Boy in Hospital
Camden Courier-Post —
CHASING BALL IN STREET LANDS BOY IN HOSPITAL
Samuel Hill, 7, of 825 Fern street, chased a truant baseball into the street early last night and 10 minutes later was in Cooper Hospital with a fractured collarbone and an injury to his left foot.
Edward W. Kreh, 1204 Airdrie avenue, Philadelphia, told Detective Anson Kelly he saw the boy on the curb but was unable to stop his car in time. He hurried the child to the hospital and reported to police. The boy was permitted to return home.
Detective's Son to Wed Childhood Sweetheart
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Anson Kelley, Anson J. Kelley, Alma I. Brook, Morris Carey, Ethel Brown, Kimber Street, York Street, Benson Street, and Lawrence Street.
Wife Plunges Knife in Heart of Husband as He Strikes Her
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: John Edwards, Helen Edwards, Anson Kelley, Newton Avenue, Fred Crozier, Eugene Moreslander, William Boettcher, William McDonald, Lawrence Doran, John Golden, and William D. Crozier.
Vandals Rifle 19 Offices in Center of City
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Carl Kisselman, Barney Brown, Benjamin Asbell, Benjamin Natal, N. Marcus, F. Victoria Kebler, Dr. P.R. Davey, F.A. Reickert, Norris Rollen, Julie Carey, Anson Kelley, Cooper Street, and North 6th Street.
Camden Father Dies in Fight with His Son; Both Jobless
Camden Courier-Post —
CAMDEN FATHER DIES IN FIGHT WITH HIS SON; BOTH JOBLESS
Quarrel Over Youth Getting Work Is Blamed for Street Battle
ACCUSED WILL MAKE SELF-DEFENSE PLEA
Victim’s Head Hits Curb, Physicians Believe He Died Instantly
A quarrel over his son’s failure to obtain work ended fatally last night for the father of five children who was killed when he struck his head on a curb after the son had hit him on the jaw.
The father is Frederick Alanko Thompson, also known as Elanko, 45, of 805 Linden street. His son, Reino Alanko Thompson, who will be 18 in July, will be arraigned today on a charge of murder.
The fight occurred at the southeast corner of Ninth and Kimber streets.
The story of the alleged murder as told by the boy to Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin differed from that told by two young witnesses. The boy claimed self-defense while the witnesses said he had struck his father first.
Both Out of Work
Reino said he had been out of work for five months and his father had been unemployed for eight. The boy had worked for Todd Rooney, trucker, of Fern street near Eighth street. Shortly before that night, the boy said, his father criticised him for not obtaining work. To end the constant nagging of the father, his mother, Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, gave her son a quarter and he left the house.
Reino was on his way to Tenth and Market streets to meet friends, he said, when his father followed him. “He kept cursing me and when we got to Ninth and Kimber streets, my father struck at me. I sidestepped and hit him in the jaw. He fell to the street and I thought nothing of it. I said to him to get up if he wanted me to hit him again.”
Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, and Francis Zoll, 15, of 912 Kimber street, and John Golden, of 334 Golden street, who saw the fight, told the authorities the father made no effort to hit his son first but the boy hit him “six or seven times.”
Victim Dies Instantly
They notified Detective William Moll who had the father taken to Cooper Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Coroner Melvin Cain will perform an autopsy today.
Detectives Clifford Carr and Anson Kelly went to the Thompson home where they found the boy hiding in a kitchen alcove. They told the mother that he was wanted for questioning about a fight with his father but did not reveal that the father had been killed until they reached police headquarters. The son himself did not know his blow had proved fatal until later.
Thompson’s two older daughters, Rose, 16, and May, 14, accompanied Reino and the detectives to police headquarters. Two other daughters, Diamond and Irene, 10, remained at home.
The boy broke down when he was charged with murder and was led weeping to a cell. Mrs. Thompson, who had remained calm during the questioning, collapsed after her son was taken away.
Fritz Esel, 22, was arrested eight months ago by Detective Carr and turned over to immigration officials because he had no registration card. He was said to have illegally entered this country from Finland six years ago. The other members of the family are all American born, it appears. The father was naturalized.
Family Gathering
Camden Courier-Post —
HARRY CARLE
After an illness of several months Harry Carle, 54, of Eighth and Linden streets, died yesterday. He is survived by his widow, Bertha Stein Carle; two brothers, Patrolman Frank Carle and William Carle, and four sisters, Mrs. Clara Bennett, Mrs. James Daly, Mrs. Anson Kelly and Mrs. Rose Martin. The funeral will be held at 8.30 a. m., Monday at 521 State street. High mass will be held at 9.30 a. m., at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Mrs. Elizabeth Carle Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
News article, February 1939
Mary Kelley Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Obituary of Mary Kelley, wife of Anson Kelley
Anson Kelley Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Obituary