Introduction
BENJAMIN P. MIDDLETON, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in May of 1874 to replace John Vanstavern as an extra man with the Hook and Ladder Company, known in more recent times as Ladder Company 1. He served until April of 1876, when he was not re-appointed due to a change in politics in the leadership of the Fire Department.
Benjamin P. Middleton was born in Camden, New Jersey on October 3, 1851 to Benjamin A. Middleton and the former Rebecca Lock. The family was living in Camden’s North Ward when the 1850 Census was taken, and included three children, Elwood, 14; Mary, 11; and William, 5.
The Middleton family, which then consisted of Benjamin and Rebecca Middleton and their two youngest children, William and Benjamin P., was living in Camden’s North Ward when the census was taken in 1860. The 1870 Census shows the elder Middleton working as a slip tender at one of Camden’s ferries, while young Benjamin was an apprentice iron moulder.
After leaving the fire department in 1876, Benjamin P. Middleton served as one of Camden’s constables. He was in that position in 1878, when he lived at 812 Kimber Street, and in 1879, when he was residing at 827 Carpenter Street.
The 1880 Census lists Benjamin P. Middleton at 311 Benson Street with his wife Leonora and a son Edward. Fellow Camden firefighter Edward Dodamead was then boarding with Benjamin Middleton. He had returned to familiar surroundings by 1883, when, according to the City Directory, he was living at 835 Carpenter Street and worked as a carpenter.
The 1884–1885 City Directory shows that Benjamin P. Middleton he had moved at 613 Pearl Street, and had found work as a moulder. The 1885–1886 Directory shows Benjamin Middleton at the same address, working as a shipper for Henry Fredericks. Benjamin Middleton also returned to the fire department in 1884, serving as an extra man with Engine Company 1. He was reassigned to the Hook and Ladder Company the following year, and served until 1887, after which he had a long career as a member of Camden’s police department, interrupted on occasion by the political process, as in those times a change in power politically would signal wholesale changes on the police force and to a lesser extent in the fire department.
City Directories disclose the following information. By the time the 1887–1888 Directory was being compiled, Benjamin P. Middleton had joined the police force. He was living at 329 North 9th Street, where he remained through 1890.
Sadly, Leonora Middleton passed away in 1893.
Benjamin P. Middleton is listed at 1019 Penn Street in 1894, 812 Linden Street in 1895, 215 North 10th Street in 1896, 1124 Cooper Street in 1897 and 1898, and in 1999 he was living at 121 North 10th Street. The 1900 Census shows Benjamin P. Middleton and his son Edward boarding in the same neighborhood at 121 North 10th Street, the home of Mary Rudolph. The 1906 City Directory lists Benjamin P. Middleton, policeman, at 929 Carpenter Street. He was still boarding with Mary Rudolph in 1910, at 223 North 10th Street. The apparently married not long afterwards.
On February 26, 1912 veteran police officers George Horner, William Harvey, and Benjamin P. Middleton retired from active service with the Camden Police Department.
The 1914 City Directory shows Benjamin P. Middleton, a watchman, married Mary, at 14 Stewart Avenue in East Camden. The 1918–1919 City Directory shows the couple had moved to a home a few blocks away at 31 North 25th Street. The 1920 Census has Benjamin P. and Mary Middleton living at 559 Haddon Avenue. He was then employed as “Chief of the yard” at the Camden Iron Works. Not long after wards he retired to North Wildwood, New Jersey with his wife and step-son Howard. They were living at 915 New York Avenue in North Wildwood when the census was taken in April of 1930.
Benjamin P. Middleton passed away on June 17, 1930.
Police Service Photos
Camden Police Baseball Challenge
Chief Dodd yesterday received a challenge from the Third District police, of Philadelphia, which he promptly accepted and instructed Harry Miller to organize a strong club. Harry has gotten together the following stiff team: Benjamin Middleton, 1st base; Sam Bakley, left field; Harry Miller, pitcher; Sam Lee, second base; John Painter, centre field; Si Sage, right field; Weaver, shortstop; John Anderson, third base.
The game will come off to-morrow morning on the Camden Club’s grounds opposite the City Hall, at half past ten o’clock. Harry Miller is an old and well known ball player having pitched winning ball for Wilkesbarre, Scranton, Harrisburg and the Philadelphia League Club. Harry, however, was overworked, being known as “iron arm” Miller and straining the muscles of his arm, had to retire temporarily from the ball field. We bet three dollars and sixty-seven cents that our bluecoats will win.
A Husband's Terrible Deed
Camden Patriot —
Ex-Policeman Mason’s Fearful Vengeance on His Wife for Her Infidelity
SHOT HER AND CUT HER THROAT. THE WOMAN STILL ALIVE, BUT MAY DIE AT ANY MOMENT.
The Man’s Home Repeatedly Broken Up by His Wife’s Dissolute Habits — A Touching Scene in Front of the Hospital — Mason Surrendered to the Authorities and Was Placed in Jail.
[Special to The Patriot.]
CAMDEN, March 3.—Officer Benjamin Middleton, of the Camden police force, went off duty at two o’clock this morning, and had hardly got settled comfortably in his home when he heard a pounding at the door. When he opened it he saw a man, haggard and bloody, who exclaimed: “I have just killed my wife, and I want you to lock me up.”
“What is your name?”
“Thomas S. Mason, and I live in Wrightsville. Come; I will show you what I did.”
Officer Middleton hurried on his coat and hat, and started out with Mason, who conducted him to No. 527 Ray street, where he found a terrible confirmation of the story. The officer’s first discovery was that the woman was not dead, but apparently dying. She had been shot three times, one ball entering the shoulder, one passing through the fleshy part of the leg, and one, causing the most dangerous wound, entering the thigh. In addition to this, her throat had been frightfully slashed with a razor. The officer quickly summoned help, and the wife was taken to the Cooper hospital, where it was said she would probably not recover, and Mason, together with Nellie Walker and Henry Schulke, were taken to police headquarters. The facts, as closely as it was possible to obtain them, are as follows:
Threw a Burning Lamp at Mason.
Mason is in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad company at its shops at Pavonia. He claims that he has known of his wife’s dissolute life in his absence, and that he has endeavored to entrap her. Returning to his home in Wrightsville last night he found her absence [sic], and was told that he might find her at the house of Nellie Walker on Ray street. He took a revolver, seven-barrelled, and each barrel with a ball cartridge in it, and a razor, and made for the house.
He watched this house from nine o’clock until 1.30 this morning, watching men and women come and go, but not seeing his wife. He managed, by getting close to a window, to hear his wife’s voice and that of his little five-year-old daughter. He tried to enter, but was refused admittance.
Police Roster Updates
Police Guillotine at Work
Police Guillotine at Work.
The Democratic Police Commissioners of Camden yesterday suspended eight Republican policemen, discharged one and appointed four Democrats. The changes were as follows: Suspended, Benjamin Middleton, Samuel Bakeley, Edward F. Cooper, Harry Mines, Casper Hart, William Whalen and William H. Butts; discharged, George Cooper; appointed, Louis Heffer, Rufus Bright, Thomas Smith, William Lightcap. A number of new Democratic policemen went on duty yesterday.
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
POLICEMEN SHOVED OFF.
Partisanship, Not Efficiency, the Test for Service on Camden’s Force. Republicans Have to Go.
Fifteen Republican policemen had to pass under the rod at yesterday’s session of the Democratic Police Commission in Camden. Edward Cooper and Samuel Bakley were dismissed. The former was charged with failing to report the condition of the streets on his beat, and the latter with spending an hour watching a play in the Temple Theatre although he said he was ordered to go there and preserve order.
Colored policeman William H. Butts was called for trial.
“Are you guilty?” asked Police Justice Paul.
“Guilty of what?” answered the officer.
“Oh, of anything at all,” responded the Democratic justice. Then he said the case would be postponed until Thursday.
Officer Butts knew that this would merely delay his dismissal, and he insisted on resigning at once.
The following resignations of Republican policemen, to take effect on the 15th instant, were presented: Harry Nunes, Isaac McKinley, John Pratt, James O. Weaver, Samuel Paul, William D. Comley, Casper Hart. These take effect July 1: Benjamin Middleton, Jacob Woodsides, O. Glen Stackhouse. Frank Matlack and John Dall were suspended.
Louis Hesser, one of the newly appointed Democratic officers, resigned. The following Democrats were put on the force: James Rutledge, Edward Richardson, Harry L. Duffee, Michael Bradley, John E. Dunn, Thomas Murphy, John Logan, William Orcutt, Patrick Clark, Joseph Sloan and Amer Green. The latter takes the place of Sergeant Stackhouse at the City Hall.
HE ANNOUNCES THE NAMES
The Mayor Appoints the New Force To-day.
MANY OLD OFFICERS TAKEN BACK.
Some Surprise Manifested at the Mayor’s Appointment of Dodd Instead of Jones — This Afternoon All the Names Will be Announced.
The Mayor stated this morning to the newspaper fraternity that he would not announce his nominations for the police department until four o’clock this afternoon. It was expected that these would be announced this morning and in consequence there were a number of applicants for appointment on the force early this morning at the City Hall, hoping that the lightning would strike them.
Yesterday afternoon the mayor in addition to his nomination of Chief Dodd and Lieutenants Foster and Pettit appointed Frank Matlack, Jacob Woodsides, Alfred Hayden and John Dall, all of the Sixth Ward. The above were policemen under Mayor Westcott, before the Democratic Police Commission took charge of the Department.
Patrolman Griffin, Democrat, tendered his resignation yesterday to Mayor Westcott, to take effect to-day.
The appointment of Chief Dodd was quite a surprise to the public in general, as it was thought that Captain Jones would be named for the position. Many believed such an appointment would be in very good form, as Captain Jones’ knowledge of men and his military training would have made him a chief par excellence. The Mayor, however, probably thought that as Mr. Dodd had been so unceremoniously kicked out by the Democrats, it was nothing more than justice to again offer him the position which he had filled in a creditable manner for a number of years.
APPOINTED ON THE FORCE.
Mayor Westcott this afternoon made the following appointments:
First Ward — William E Cromly, George Cable, Henry R. Curtis, O. Glen Stackhouse.
Second Ward — Lincoln James, John Pratt, Samuel Bakley, Benj Middleton.
Third Ward — William Selby, Albert Myers, Edward Hartman.
Fourth Ward — Caleb Williams, Richard Golden, William Schregler, Ralph Bond.
Fifth Ward — William Harvey, Harry Mines and Oscar Weaver.
Sixth Ward — Jacob Woodsides, Frank Matlack, Albert Hayden and John Dall.
Seventh Ward — Josiah Sage, Henry Peters, Charles Lederman, Wm. Butts.
Eighth Ward — Alexander Alcorn, Chas. Leightenberg, Ferdinand Laird
Here's Camden's Finest, With Whiskers, in 1898
Camden Courier-Post —
Reading from left to right, those in the picture are: First row, William A. Schregler, Rox Comley, Jules Bosch, Lieutenant John Foster, Chief Samuel Dodd, Lieutenant H. Frank Pettit, Edward Hartman and Charles Wilbur. Second row, Thomas Brothers, Ralph Bond, John Dall, George Kappell, Silas Sage, Edward S. Hyde, George Selby and E. B. McClong. Third row, Edward Powell, John Sinclair, William Laird, Benjamin Middleton, Alfred L. Sayers, John Anderson, William Butts, John Painter and Frank Matlack. Fourth row, Thomas Hicks, Alfred Haydon, Abe Jackson, Albert Shaw, Edward Steen and Samuel Bakely. Fifth row, Caleb Williams, E. A. Gravenor, Thomas Buchanan, Samuel Cox, George Horner, Godfrey Eisenhardt, Harry Curtis and John Barnett. Sixth row, Casper Hart, Charles Fitzsimmons, A. Lincoln James, Oscar Weaver, Charles Ridgely, William Fish and George Cooper.
Harry Mines, not named above, is in the first row between H. Frank Pettit and Edward Hartman. In the fifth row, at the far right, “John Barnett” was a guess on the part of A. Lincoln James. Another person guessed George Johnson. Both were wrong and it is not known who that policeman is.
Police Service Article
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Policemen on the Rack
Policemen Benjamin Middleton, John Anderson, Thomas Brothers and William Butts, colored, were given hearings by the Camden Committee last evening on charges preferred against them by Reformers. Three charges against Policeman Alfred Hayden were withdrawn. Officer Edward Cooper failed to appear. Policeman Richard Golden tendered his resignation.
Veteran Police Officers Retire
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Mayor Ellis Appoints New Policemen
Mayor Ellis yesterday appointed David Kates, Anson Kelly and William Greenwood regular policemen to succeed William Harvey, Ben Middleton and George Horner, veterans who have been placed on the pension list. Squire “Roby” Thompson, hitherto a widely known justice of the peace, was appointed a substitute.