Introduction
Anthony Palese
Anthony Palese was born in New Jersey to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Palese in January of 1899. The family lived at 831 Locust Street in 1900, Joseph Palese then in business as a rag dealer. The family included two older children, Laurence and Mary. By 1906 Joseph Palese had gone into the bar business, at 302 Spruce Street. This was the family home as well, and the property would remain in the Palese family into the 1970s. Joseph Palese also had a bar at 341 Kaighn Avenue in 1914.
With the onset of Prohibition Joseph Palese worked outside of the bar business. He was working as a barber in 1924. Joseph Palese died before April of 1930. Anthony Palese was then working as police officer. Younger brother Rocco Palese reopened the bar at some point in late 1930 and early 1931. The bar, known generally as Palese’s Cafe, remained open through at least the fall of 1970.
Anthony Palese had become a city park guard by 1947. During the 1950s he worked for Camden County in a law enforcement capacity near the county courthouse at Broadway and Federal Streets.
Officers Exonerated in Investigation
Camden Courier-Post —
All of the officers were fully exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Accused Officer Studies Payroll
CAPT. NATHAN PETIT, who with seven other officers in the city traffic department, which he heads, is accused of receiving pay from state highway funds for work at the Baird boulevard overpass while on duty for the city, is shown scanning payroll records upon which the charges are based by the city. Director of Public Safety Dr. Rhone stands in the background viewing the proceedings yesterday while questioning is directed by Louis T. Goldman, assistant city solicitor, left.
5 Accused Cops To Ask Rhone for Full Exoneration
Claim Falsifications Of N. J. Work Record In Overpass Case
Director of Public Safety Rhone soon will be asked to “completely exonerate” five of eight Camden traffic officers who have been accused of accepting pay from the state for traffic duty at the Baird boulevard overpass during their regular city hours.
State Senator Wallace made that announcement today on behalf of Sgt. Anthony Skolski and Traffic Patrolmen Charles Hance, Martin Nelson, George Getley and Everett Joslin.
Wallace said he would base his appeal to Dr. Rhone on testimony produced at a preliminary hearing held yesterday on orders of Dr. Rhone for all eight men, including Captain Nathan Petit, and Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander.
“There is no question that the payroll records which were the basis for the accusations against the five men I represent, were falsified,” Wallace said. “Sergeant Wilson, who kept the records admitted frequently in his testimony yesterday the records were 'mistakes, errors and not based on actual time put in.'”
'Charges Groundless'
“The whole hearing proved without doubt that the charges against the five men were groundless and I will ask Dr. Rhone to make a public statement that the records were falsified and these five men were blameless and not guilty of accepting state pay for work on city time.”
Wilson admitted at the hearing he did not pay the traffic men the full time recorded for them on the overpass payroll records. He was asked by Assistant City Solicitor Goldman:
“Then it comes down to the fact that the men in the traffic bureau only worked on their off hours. That the reports are mistakes. They only received the money to which they were entitled. You got more money than they were entitled to but you won’t tell us where that money went to, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Wilson answered.
Wilson said the hours marked on the payroll were a mistake.
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Officers exonerated article (continued)
Officers exonerated article (continued)
Cops and Counsel in Dual Job Case
FIVE CITY TRAFFIC BUREAU MEMBERS are shown at top presenting their defense through counsel to Public Safety Director Dr. Rhone on charges they collected pay from the state for traffic duty at the Baird boulevard overpass at the time they were required to be on duty for the city. State Sen. Bruce A. Wallace is at extreme right denying the charges for the five officers he represents. Standing with him from left are Sgt. Anthony Skolski, Patrolmen Charles Hance, George Getley, Everett Joslin and Martin Nelson. The lower photo shows Traffic Sgt. James Wilson and Walter Vecander, and Park Guard Anthony Palese waiting to be called.
Cops
(Continued from Page One)
Traffic Officers Testify in Overpass Pay
PRINCIPALS IN THE CITY PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR’S PROBE of eight traffic department members, accused of receiving pay from the state at the time they were scheduled to be on duty for the city, are shown above yesterday testifying in their own defense. At the left is Capt. Nathan Petit, in command of the city traffic bureau, and Sgt. James Wilson, who admitted he signed the payroll sheets. The hearing was in the office of Public Safety Director Rhone.