Introduction
Basil Preston Cook was born in England. He got into the bar business during Prohibition and had a few scrapes with the law. In 1932 he was running a bar at 939 South 5th Street.
By 1942 Basil Cook was working as a salesman for Camden County Beverage Corporation, the firm that owned and operated the Camden Beer brewery at South 6th and Bulson Streets.
Still employed by the brewery, Basil Cook was on a leave of absence from his job when he collapsed while shoveling snow outside of his home at 307 North 2nd Street on February 15, 1958. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital.
Blair Indicted by Grand Jury for Threat to Blow Up Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Boxer Must Stand Trial With Pal on Pennsauken Man’s Charge
DRY RAIDERS CLEARED IN COOK’S GRILL CASE
Two Agents and 4 Truckmen Absolved of Mischief in Bar-Wrecking Episode
The April grand jury yesterday returned a true bill against Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, on a charge of threatening to kill a Pennsauken man by bombing his home.
It was the first time Blair has ever been indicted, although his police record shows he has been arrested 10 times for various offenses.
In addition the grand jury “no billed” a malicious mischief charge made by Basil Cook, owner of Cook’s Grill, 939 South Fifth street, against two prohibition agents and four employes of a trucking firm who tore out the bar and fixtures of the cafe in a raid several weeks ago.
Dismissal of the charges against the federal men and their collaborators had been forecast by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin. The agents are Nelson Snedecor, 38, of 138 North Tenth street, Allentown, N. J.; and John J. Stokes, 41, of 6100 North Seventeenth street, Philadelphia, both of the Philadelphia prohibition office.
Controversy Ends
The Grand Jury’s action, taken in a first partial presentment made to Justice Frank T. Lloyd while Judge Samuel M. Shay was busy in Criminal Court, officially concludes a case that attracted wide attention and brought stormy conferences between Prohibition Administrator John D. Pennington, Mayor Roy R. Stewart and United States Attorney Philip Forman.
Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, who issued the warrant for the agents’ arrest, freed them on their own recognizance at the request of federal authorities. Cook contended the agents unlawfully destroyed his property after leaving the place following a raid, and entering it again without a warrant. The agents said they stayed in the hotel all night following the raid, excepting for the time they were forcefully taken out by police.
The workman [sic] are Floyd E. Slamp, 20, of 148 Marne avenue, Haddonfield, son of the secretary and treasurer of the Troth Warehouse and Trucking Company, Fifth and Byron streets; Robert McKee, 45, of 4837 Duffield street, Philadelphia; John Shrom, 19, of Moorisville, Pa., and John Adams, 20, of 542 Erie street.
Pal Accused With Blair
Blair, whose true name is Michael Tenerelli, was indicted on charges made by Calvin Bell, 45, of 7349 Remington avenue, Pennsauken. Thomas Bonelli was indicted with Tenerelli on the same charge. Tenerelli is 23 and lives at 833 South Fourth street. Bonelli is also 23 and lives at 270 Walnut street. Bell, who is colored, had them held in $2500 bail each by Police Recorder George W. Yost, of Pennsauken, last May 6. Bell charged they threatened to bomb his home unless he paid them $100 to make good for 100 gallons of liquor they allegedly purchased from one of his sons and found it worthless. The defendants were arrested in Bell’s home.
Tenerelli and Bonelli were released on bail a week ago in connection with the alleged holdup of Mrs. Barbara Lehman in her cigar store at 1209 Arctic avenue, Atlantic City. Although Tenerelli has figured in police records since he was 12 this is the first indictment to be returned against him, police say.
Other indictments returned yesterday are:
Desertion and non-support: John Councellor, John Morgan, Joseph Casini, Raymond Sykes, August Remler, Thomas Early, Isadore Kramer, Martin O’Toole, Harry Gallagher, William Johnson, Charles Krown, Curtis Myers, Clarence Brinning, George Price, William Slaughter, Grover C. Bennett.
Breaking, entering and larceny: Elisha and Anna Coleman, Theodore Ruteski and Anton Zakrewski, Patrick Williams and Louis Thomas, Henry Parzewicz, Tony Renczykowski and Stanley Kidzierski.
Robbery—John Duboski, John H. Linicky; assault and battery—John Barr, Louigi Celeni, Fred D. Coleman, Benjamin Wallace, Zack McGriff, John Collins, Max Platkin, Joseph Panacola, Albert Pickering, Adolph Smith, Millard Wallace.
Larceny and receiving stolen goods—Warren Cormulewicz, Harold Wolf, William Mitchell, Stanley Kramer and Frank Gymuszuk.
Possession of liquor—Herman Fleisher, Gene Geffner, David Gold.
Statutory charge—Robert J. Sutters.
World War II Draft Card
Death Notice
Camden Courier-Post —
Basil Cook, 68, of 307 N. 2d st., a salesman on leave of absence for the Camden Brewery, was pronounced dead on arrival Sunday night at Cooper Hospital. A coroner's report said he died of a heart attack while shoveling snow in front of his home.