Introduction
Anthony Mona
Anthony Mona was born February 21, 1918 in Calciano, Italy to Vito Nicola and Chiarina (Catherine) Squeo Mona. The Mona family, which included younger brothers Michael and Vincenzo Nicola, came to the USA in 1928, Vito Nicola coming first, his wife and children following aboard the SS Roma via Naples in July. Vito Nicola Mona was living at 318 Division Street when his family arrived from Italy.
The 1930 Census shows the family living at 937 South Third Street, adjacent to dairyman Matthew Coccia. By 1942 Vito Nicola Mona and the rest of his family, including Anthony Mona, were living at 947 South Third Street.
Anthony Mona first came to the attention of police in 1938, when he was arrested for a holdup. An assortment of crimes minor and major resulted in him being sentenced to state prison in 1944. He walked away from a work detail in June of 1944, but was arrested in a bar near the Airport Circle in Pennsauken and returned to prison a few days later to complete a two-to-three year prison sentence.
Anthony Mona applied for and received a Social Security card in New Jersey around 1963. He died in December of 1966.
The 1947 Camden City Directory shows a Mrs. Stella Mona living at 947 South Third Street. As Anthony Mona would have still been serving out his prison sentence when the directory was compiled, it is apparent that Stella Mona was his wife. Stella Mona, last a resident of Bellmawr NJ, passed in July of 1988. Anthony M. Mona, aged 42, of Bellmawr passed in September of 1992. He appears to have been the son of Anthony Mona.
5 Youths Arrested as Holdup Suspects
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Believe Bandit Gang Plans of Group Halted by Roundup
Police believed they had frustrated the formation of hoodlum bandit mob yesterday with the arrest of five South Camden youths after a holdup of a grocery store at Tenth Street and Ferry Avenue.
Two of the five suspects were identified by the grocer, John Jacobs, as the bandits who entered his store at 960 Ferry Avenue, held him up at gun point and escaped with $23.95. Jacobs told Detectives Heber McCord and Clarence Arthur that he recognized one of the bandits as Anthony Mona, 19, of 947 South Third Street, a former boxer, whom he saw fighting in the ring, McCord said.
A radio call was sent to all cars to pick up Mona. A short time later, District Detectives Leon Branch and John Houston arrested Mona as he was eating in a restaurant near Broadway and Kaighn Avenue.
After questioning by McCord and Arthur, Mona implicated the others. They are Dominick Spinagotti, 17, of 251 Mt. Vernon Street; Vito Brandimorto, 20, of 245 Chestnut Street; Salvatore Martorano, 21, of 344 Cherry Street, and Victor Labato, 19, of 274 Mt. Vernon Street.
Mona was searched in the detective bureau. Police found $6.65 in change in his pockets. The others were rounded up at their homes by Detective Sergeant Benjamin Simon and Detectives Joseph Mardino and Robert Ashenfelder.
According to Simon the youths were “just beginning to embark on a career of crime.”
When the others were brought to the detective bureau for questioning, all but $2 of the loot was recovered, Detective McCord said.
McCord said the youths signed statements saying Mona and Labato entered the store while the others waited in Mona’s car outside the store, all fleeing together after the holdup.
Camden Detectives Get Escaped Felon
Camden Courier-Post —
Trap Police Character in Phone Booth at Airport Circle
A Camden police character, who escaped Sunday from the Bordentown state prison farm, was captured late yesterday by two city detectives in a telephone booth of an airport circle taproom while he was talking with a former girl friend.
The convict, Anthony Mona, 26, of 947 South Third Street, who had served only a month of a two-to-three year sentence for larceny of a saddle and violation of parole, was trapped in the booth and meekly submitted for arrest.
Detective Sgt. Thomas Murphy and Detective Clifford Carr captured Mona about an hour after they received a tip he had been seen in East Camden and Pennsauken township. On this information John L. O’Hara, principal keeper of the state prison, and Thomas A. Mahaney, parole officer, came to Camden to aid in the search. Last night they took Mona back to prison.
Mona made himself conspicuous by wearing a heavy dark beard and dark glasses. The detectives first checked the escaped convict’s home and were told he had not visited there. A second unsuccessful clue led to a house on River avenue near Thirtieth street.
Warned that Mona was armed the detectives received a “sure tip” he was seen entering the Pennsauken taproom. Detective Capt. Gus Koerner told Murphy and Carr to fire their pistols if Mona moved to use a revolver.
Entering the taproom the detectives converged on the telephone booth with drawn revolvers. They kicked in the booth door. Mona was heard to say to the woman he was talking with: “Here’s the law now. No use talking now.”
Mona fled from Bordentown while doing farm work. He was sentenced by Judge Sheehan Nov. 17, 1943, after his conviction on a charge of stealing a saddle from a Haddonfield riding academy. The court suspended sentence and fined Mona $100, payable in weekly installments. When he failed to keep up the payments he was brought before Judge Sheehan on May 10 and sentenced to serve the term.
Mona’s Camden police record dates from Feb. 9, 1938 when he was arrested for a holdup. March 2, he was given a suspended sentence of 18 months to three years. In February, 1940, he was arrested on a statutory charge and a support order was later made against him. He was arrested May 8, 1940, on an assault and battery charge. No disposition was made of this charge. On Feb. 3, he was arrested on suspicion in Pennsauken township and later fined $10 and costs for failing to have his driver’s license.
Jersey Parolee Shot By Philadelphia Gunmen
Trenton Evening Times —
CAMDEN, N. J. — AP — A 20-year-old [sic] man identified by Detective Captain Gus Koerner as a recently paroled convict was peppered with shotgun slugs Sunday night outside his home.
Koerner said police were seeking three men in connection with the shooting of Anthony Mona, released four months ago from the Bordentown (N. J.) state prison farm. Mona’s condition was reported not serious.
Mona, who was scheduled to go on trial in Camden County criminal court tomorrow on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a 15-year-old girl, had just gotten into his car when a car drove by slowly and its occupants opened fire, Koerner said. A second blast missed but shattered a window in Mona’s home.
He staggered a half block to a nearby store after the shooting, told people there to “call the cops. I’ve been shot,” and then collapsed.
Nicholas Mona Arrested in Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Dzick Frees 2 In Row Over Car Mishap
What police called a “quarrel among thieves” was thrown out of Municipal Court Wednesday by Judge Dzick.
He discharged Nicholas Persiano, 22, of Broadway near Pine st., a key figure in the recent $22,000 Freihofer Baking Co. robbery, and Anthony Mona, of the 1400 block S. 4th st. Mona’s brother, Nicholas, 20, is under bail in connection with the robbery.
For lack of evidence in an automobile case, Judge Dzick said he discharged the two “with much regret.”
Both were arrested as the aftermath of an accident in which a car driven by Persiano crashed into the bulk window of the Dial Shoe Store, 1152 Broadway.
Free on Bail
Persiano, who is under $10,000 bail on the robbery charge, is said by police to have obtained $19,000 of the Freihofer loot through a ruse, although he was not directly connected with the robbery. The money has not been recovered.
Judge Dzick said he gave his discharge order because Persiano “recanted” his original charges against Mona and Robert Rodgers, 23, of Mt. Vernon st. near 2nd.
Detective George Ellis testified that Persiano originally told him that his car was forced off the highway by a machine driven by Mona, and that when the car crashed Rodgers was on the running board attempting to beat him over the head with a piece of pipe.
Says Car Skidded
In court Wednesday, Persiano said his car skidded, and his testimony was supported by that of Thomas Myers, of 632 Benson st., and James Walker, of 945 Newton ave., occupants of another car in the neighborhood at the time of the accident.
On Persiano’s complaint, police arrested Mona. When Persiano failed to appear in court Monday, Judge Dzick issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Rodgers, who was not arraigned, was in court with an attorney.
Despite earlier statements police said he made, Persiano testified Wednesday that he “wasn’t sure” Mona drove the other car which threw him into a skid, and he “wasn’t sure” the man riding his running board was Rodgers.
Mona had been charged with reckless driving and Persiano with careless driving.
Mona Plea Is Changed To Non Vult
Camden Courier-Post —
Wanted by Burlington:
Anthony Mona, 38, of 4th st. near Atlantic ave., today changed his plea of not guilty to non vult on nine indictments charging him with breaking and entering and larceny, and aiding and abetting larceny.
At the same time, County Judge Martino announced, he would recommend that six additional indictments be nolle prossed.
The additional indictments charge conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
$50,000 Bail Continued
The change of plea was made as Mona was scheduled to go on trial before Judge Martino. Martino set Dec. 19 for sentencing, and continued Mona’s bail of $50,000.
The high bail was originally set for Mona by County Judge Dzick on Nov. 20, three days after he was arrested by Camden and Pennsauken police in the cellar of a house in the 4000 block of Federal st., Pennsauken.
Bench Warrants Issued
He was sought at that time on bench warrants issued in Camden and Burlington Counties. The Camden warrant was issued Nov. 7 when Mona failed to appear in court to enter a plea. Another warrant was issued in Burlington County when Mona failed to appear for sentencing.
He had been found guilty Oct. 14 by Burlington County Judge Drenk of carrying a concealed deadly weapon April 1 in Maple Shade.
At today’s proceedings Mona was represented by Louis N. Caggiano, and the state by Assistant Prosecutor Robert B. Johnson.