Introduction
Carl Leonard Brehm, better known as C. Leonard Brehm, was born on January 7, 1888 in Pennsylvania to George and Barbara Brehm. His father is first listed in Camden’s City Directories in the 1890–1891 edition, when he was living and operating a lager beer saloon at 909 South 4th Street. By the time the Census had been taken in 1900, George Brehm had acquired the hotel and tavern at 35 Kaighn Avenue, adjacent to the Kaighn Avenue Ferry. Besides C. Leonard Brehm, the family included sisters Hattie and Mina, and brothers George Jr. and Emile. The family remained at the Kaighn Avenue address for many years afterwards. George Brehm Sr. passed away sometime after 1900.
Older brother George Brehm Jr. operated the hotel and tavern at 35 Kaighn Avenue as early as 1918. The brothers were living there at the time of the 1920 Census, along with sister Mina Brehm and their widowed mother Barbara. The business was adjacent to the ferry terminal on Kaighn Avenue at Front Street operated by the Reading Railroad. George Brehm also operated a cafe at 437 Kaighn Avenue in the early 1920s, after Prohibition had gone into effect.
From 1924 through 1933 C. Leonard Brehm is on record as operating the cafe at 35–37 Kaighn Avenue. Active in politics, C. Leonard Brehm served as Camden County Freeholder from Camden’s Fifth Ward in the years 1930 through 1933.
Sadly, C. Leonard Brehm was drowned in a boating accident on the Delaware River in June of 1936. His wife and son Carl Leonard Brehm Jr. survived the accident. Carl Leonard Brehm Jr. later joined the United States Navy.
The widowed Mrs. Frances Brehm married Camden plumber and construction official Urquhart A. “Urkie” Ward. C. Leonard Brehm Jr. returned to Camden after World War II and was living with his mother and Mr. Ward at 1513 Princess Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden NJ when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. The young Mr. Brehm made a career of the Navy, retiring in 1971.
“Urkie” and Frances Ward moved from Princess Avenue to South 27th Street in East Camden sometime in the 60’s. They lived there until about 1972 or 73 when they retired to Florida. “Urkie” Ward passed away not too long after that. Frances Ward passed away in Florida in 1983. She is buried at Harleigh Cemetery between her husbands, C. Leonard Brehm and Urquhart Ward.
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Camden Courier-Post —
JOHN CARROLL HONORED BY FIFTH WARD CLUB
John H. Carroll, Fifth Ward Republican county committeeman, was honored last night by fellow-members of the Fifth Ward Republican Club at its meeting at the organization’s headquarters, 271 Kaighn avenue.
The club tendered a reception to the veteran political leader in token of his recovery and return from Cooper Hospital after a long period of illness.
Leo B. Rea, vice president of the club, served as toastmaster. Speeches were made by Mayor Winfield S. Price, Commissioners Clay W. Reesman and David S. Rhone, Bernard Bertman, police judge; Theodore Kausel, general manager of county institutions at Lakeland and Freeholders George Cotter, Thirteenth Ward, and Leonard Brehm, Fifth Ward.
The reception was in the charge of the club’s house committee, including William Kensler, R. Gimillo, and Charles H. Elfreth. Harley C. Shinn, is president of the club; Rea, ice president; Kirby Garwood, treasurer; George W. Nichols, secretary, and Elfreth, financial secretary.
Photos
Camden Courier-Post —
Six prisoners arrested in East Camden this morning as bandit suspects are shown above as they pleaded not guilty to charges of carrying weapons. From left to right they are: Catherine Christman, 28; Joseph Conti, 34; Nicholas Bartluci, 23; John Fisher, 38; Mrs. Mary Reginelli, 34, and Marco Reginelli, 32. The photograph was taken in police court. The six are believed by county authorities to be members of a gang which killed a Camden man in a Bellmawr holdup and which conducted a series of daring holdups netting them about $25,000.
NEW VICE SQUAD IN 3 RAIDS NABS 6 AS SUSPECTS IN BANDIT GANG
Police Believe Prisoners Know Something of Wierman Murder
PROSECUTOR BALDWIN SEEKS SPEEDY TRIAL
Indications Point to Sextet Staging Recent Holdups Netting $25,000
Arrested by the new Camden police squad today in three East Camden dwellings, four men and two women are believed by county authorities to be members of a bandit gang which collected $25,000 and murdered a Camden man in a series of eight holdups during the past two months.
Prosecutor Baldwin expressed belief that the suspects were either implicated in, or know who executed the shooting of William “Bel” Wierman, alleged Camden beer runner, during a holdup April 28 at the Bellmawr County Club. He announced he would ask the grand jury this afternoon to indict them on charges made against them this morning made by the city police, and would probably place them on trial here next week.
Meanwhile, all victims and witnesses to the daring holdups in and near the city will be summoned to the courthouse to attempt to identify the prisoners.
He highly complimented the newly created vice squad on its efficient raids made after a week of painstaking investigation.
Firearms Seized
In each residence police seized a sizable arsenal of revolvers, sawed-off shotguns, repeating rifles, and hundreds of ammunition, all hidden in walls or secreted under floors. An opium “layout,” hacksaw, pairs of colored eyeglasses and tear-ware were also confiscated. The discovery of the tinted eyeglasses in the residence was of significance to Police Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, who pointed out that one of the armed bandits who held up a man at Front and Kaighn avenue two nights before the Wierman slaying wore glasses to escape identification.
Detectives aided by state troopers raided the three residences, which prevented any of the suspects from resisting or escaping. Two attempted to slip through the ring, but one surrendered after a single shot was fired at him, and one was captured while trying to scale a rear fence.
The suspects gave their names as: John Fisher, 38, of 41 South Thirty-third street, Camden; Nicholas Bartluci, 23, of 784 South Wick street, Philadelphia; Joseph Conti, 34 of 708 South Eighth st., Philadelphia; Catherine Christman, 28, of 2202 Perth street, Philadelphia; Mary Reginelli, 32, of Apartment 2, at 143 North Thirty-fourth street, Camden; Marco Reginelli, 24, his wife’s address.
Committed Without Bail
Six were arraigned before Judge in the city police court this morning. As they were arraigned in a joint session, a blanket charge with carrying concealed deadly weapons was lodged against them by Detective Leonard Pancoast of the vice squad. An additional complaint charging possession of narcotics placed against Conti and Catherine Christman.
All of the suspects pleaded not guilty. They were immediately committed to the county jail without bail. Prosecutor Baldwin stated he would hold them for further investigation. They will be finger-printed and “mugged” so that county authorities can obtain their police records.
Each suspect has been arrested from one to four times since 1926. Each was released or exonerated. The most recent cases were inciting a riot in 1925.
Continued on Page Two
Vice Squad and ’Arsenal’ Seized in Raids
The arsenal collected by Camden’s special vice squad in raids on three East Camden houses today is shown above. Members of the squad are shown with various exhibits, including repeating rifles, shotguns and revolvers. From left to right they are Detectives Walter Smith, Vernon Jones, Lieutenant Walter Welch, Joseph Mardini, Theodore Guthrie, James Paradise and Howard Smith. Four men and two women were arrested in the raids, and are being held on suspicion of being members of the bandit “mob” which conducted eight large holdups, netting them $25,000, and murdered an alleged Camden beer runner.
The arsenal collected by Camden’s special vice squad in raids on three East Camden houses today is shown above. Members of the squad are shown with various exhibits, including repeating rifles, shotguns and revolvers. From left to right they are Detectives Walter Smith, Vernon Jones, Lieutenant Walter Welch, Joseph Mardini, Theodore Guthrie, James Paradise and Howard Smith. Four men and two women were arrested in the raids, and are being held on suspicion of being members of the bandit “mob” which conducted eight large holdups, netting them $25,000, and murdered an alleged Camden beer runner.
Vice Squad Nabs 6 Bandit Suspects
(Continued from Page One)
suspicion of hold-up and robbery in 1927, 1928 and 1929.
Conti is a familiar figure in the Philadelphia underworld, according to police, and it is believed that he may be the same Joseph Conti who was arrested as a witness in a recent gang murder in that city.
All of the prisoners treated their arrest with levity. Conti, while being led from the courtroom after his hearing jocularly remarked to Patrolman Everett Joslin:
“Wait, and I’ll get a machine gun out of my shoe for you.”
All the men were handcuffed when arrested in police court.
Conti and the Christman woman were arrested when police broke down the door of a house at 3719 Highland avenue, Camden. Fisher and Bartluci were seized at the South Thirty-third street address, while the Reginellis were captured in their apartment.
Conti made a desperate bid for freedom when he saw the detectives, armed with shotguns, repeating rifles, revolvers and tear bombs. The suspect dashed through the rear door, but came to an abrupt standstill when a member of the vice squad, Detective James Paradise, fired one shot at him.
Bartluci also attempted to escape and was clambering over a rear fence when he fell into the arms of Detectives Walter Smith and Vernon Jones.
All were arrested “on information received,” the only explanation the police would give. It was revealed that the special vice squad, organized by police heads a few days after a Camden bank messenger was robbed of $6700 in broad daylight May 23, has had the three dwellings under surveillance for the past week.
The raiders first visited the Highland avenue place at 5:15 a. m. An automobile was in front of the house, and Conti and the Christman woman were in it, according to detectives. When the suspects saw the police, they leaped from the car and ran into the house, locking the door after them.
Batter Down Door
Under the leadership of Detective Theodore Guthrie, the vice squad members quickly surrounded the place, and Detectives Smith and Jones knocked at the front door. There was no response, and the detectives then battered the door down, rushing into the dark interior with drawn revolvers.
They found Catherine Christman, but Conti had fled out the rear. Detective Paradise’s shot changed his mind about escaping.
Then a thorough search was made of the premises for weapons or possible loot. In closets, under beds, the detectives found weapons of all description. Baseboards and the floors were hammered, and several traps were found to contain weapons when floor boards were ripped up.
The raiders took their prisoners to City Hall, and then descended upon the South Thirty-third street house, at 6:30 a. m. There they had to force open the front door when their demands for entrance met no response. They arrested Fisher, who made no attempt to resist when he saw it was futile. Bartluci, however, dashed into the rear yard, but was captured.
Here, another thorough search uncovered weapons, and when the prisoners and confiscated material had been disposed of, the raiders sped to the North Thirty-fourth street apartment, forcing the front door open at 7:30 a. m. after surrounding the place.
Those who participated in the raids were the following members of the vice squad, headed by Detective Guthrie: Paradise, Jones, Walter Smith, Clarence Bunker, Louis Schlam, Clarence Arthur, Howard Smith and Joseph Mardini. With them were Sergeant Wilfred L. Dube and Detective Andrew Zopesky, of the state police.
Seized in Raid
The following is a list of what was seized in each place:
At 3719 Highland avenue: One automatic 12-gauge shotgun, serial numbers filed off to prevent tracing to the buyer; one bolt action high-powered .38-calibre rifle; one .38-calibre short-barrelled revolver, loaded; one .38-calibre long-barrelled ravolver, loaded; one hacksaw and blade; one box of 50 12-gauge buckshot cartridges, one pair of green glasses, three dozen silver spoons, 10 rifle bullets, 33 .38-calibre bullets, two bunches of keys, one handbag and a complete opium layout, including an extra pipe and a quantity of opium.
At 41 South Thirty-third street: One .45-calibre Colt automatic, loaded; one .45-calibre side-break revolver, loaded; one extra clip of 20 bullets, one 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun, two barrels; four dozen 12-gauge shells, four dozen rifle bullets, 32 .38-calibre bullets and three .45-calibre long rifle bullets.
At 143 North Thirty-fourth street: One automatic .12-gauge shotgun, Remington, Model 11, serial number 324870; one sawed-off shotgun, serial number filed off; one .32-calibre Savage automatic, six dozen 12-gauge shells, 13 .38-calibre bullets for a Luger revolver, eight dozen .32-calibre bullets, one dozen .25-calibre bullets and a pair of amber-colored glasses.
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Camden Courier-Post —
BANDIT GUN FOUND
Sawed-Off Weapon Discovered by Workman on Sewer at Second and Federal Streets
A double-barreled sawed-off shotgun, loaded with two shells, was found in a sewer at Second and Federal streets today.
The weapon was dug out of the thick mud in the bottom of the drain by a highway department worker who had been cleaning the sewer.
It was turned over to Detective Robert Ashenfelter, who attempted to identify it as one of several guns stolen several months ago from the William Stein hardware store, 313 Federal street.
Ashenfelter also expressed a belief the weapon may have been one used by bandits who held up the saloon of Freeholder Leonard Brehm at Front street and Kaighn avenue. He bases his opinion on the fact the thugs after the robbery had been chased north on Second street and lost near Federal.
Three-cornered Fights In Freeholder Contest
Camden Courier-Post —
Clementon and Delaware Township to Have Bitter Battles
38 TO BE ELECTED IN COUNTY, NOV. 3
6 Additional Offices Created by Law; Candidates Listed
Three-cornered battles in Clementon and Delaware township will mark freeholder contests at the November 3 election. Ballots will be casts for an entire new board of freeholders, with 38 to be elected.
Boroughs to have freeholders representation for the first time as a result of recent legislation are Clementon, Lindenwold, Oaklyn, Woodlynne, Mt. Ephraim and Runnemede.
Rivals in the three-cornered fight in Clementon are Theodore W. Gibbs, Republican Organization nominee; Frank C. Somers, running as a Republican Independent, and Herbert P. McAdams, the Democratic nominee.
The triangular race in Delaware township finds Frank N. Walton, Republican Organization; J. Watson Matlack, Republican Independent, and Augustus A. Cornet, Democrat, as the contestants.
Nine members of the present board of freeholders will not be on the ballot for re-election. All are Republicans. They are Benjamin W. Sykes, Eighth Ward; Joseph Tarpine, First Ward, Gloucester; Philip Stohlbergel, Audubon; Joseph H. Van Meter, Collingswood; William J. Dallas, Haddon Heights; James W. Davis, Clementon; Charles C. Durges, Haddon township; Theodore Schleinkofer, Waterford township, and William A. Robinson, Winslow.
Joseph Bennie, Third Ward, Camden, is the only Democratic member on the present board. He is seeking a re-election and is opposed by Daniel Auletto, Republican nominee.
Candidates listed on the ballots in the various wards and municipalities follow:
Camden Wards
First Ward—Samuel D. Payne, R.; Thomas J. Kittel, D.
Second—William H. Heiser, R.; William Kunitz, D.
Third—Daniel Auletto, R.; Joseph Bennie, D.
Fourth—William L. Roberts, R.; Nicholas A. La Marra, D.
Fifth—C. Leonard Brehm, R.; Leon Perozzi, D.
Sixth—Harry J. Burrichter, R.; A. W. Lazro, D.
Seventh—Mrs. Mary D. Guthridge, R.; Theodore Buczkowski, D.
Eighth—Walter Sekula, R.; George S. W. Spaide.
Ninth—Francis B. Bodine, R.; S. V. Waddy, D.
Tenth—Samuel J. Edwards, R.; Edward J. Fox, Sr., D.
Eleventh—Howard Firth, R.; Charles T. Johnston, D.
Twelfth—John T. Rodan, R.; Wilbert H. Joslin, D.
Thirteenth—William P. Cotter, R.; Frank E. Zimmerman, D.
Fourteenth—Charles H. Genther, R.; George E. Brunner, D.
JUDGE AVIS ISSUES 7 BENCH WARRANTS; BREHM DISMISSED
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Dry Agent Witness Against Freeholder Fails to Appear
12 WILL BE TRIED TODAY
Fifty-six liquor law violation cases were called in U. S. District Court here yesterday and 19 defendants paid $1265 in fines. Judge John Boyd Avis issued bench warrants for seven who failed to appear.
The case against Freeholder C. Leonard Brehm, who has a cafe at 37 Kaighn Avenue, was dismissed for lack of evidence. A prohibition agent who no longer is in the service had reported making a purchase of whiskey there last April, but he could not be found yesterday.
Three Plead Guilty
Three defendants pleaded guilty and were fined $200 each. They are George Karp, 48 South Massachusetts Avenue, Atlantic City; Martin Zimmerman, of 288 South Massachusetts Avenue, Atlantic City, and Peter Coppejan, alias Peter Smith, of 3016 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City.
The seven men for whom bench warrants were issued are Benjamin Brinan, of Vineland; Harry Benzuk, of 3215 Alabama Road, Camden; Louis Carlino, of 322 Benson Street; John Deegan, 160 Ocean Avenue, and Cilvio Tonetti, of 9 Florida Avenue, both of Atlantic City; Louis Eberle, of 714 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, and Samuel Berger, of 166 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City. The last two were reported to be in Florida.
Two cases against William Koehler, 2101 Broadway, Camden, were continued until Friday owing to absence of his counsel.
2 Put on Probation
Robert Stretch, 23, of Ocean City, former life guard there, and Roland B. Palmer, Jr., 24, of Belmar, were placed on probation for two years on charges of transportation and possession of liquor. A truck on which they were riding was picked up by the Coast Guard at Somers Point last October, with 161 cases of liquor aboard. Judge Avis said he disliked sending young men to jail and warned them against continuing in the liquor business.
Stephen Di Caicco, of 121 South Missouri Avenue, Atlantic City, was fined $50 for possession of liquor in an automobile. His father is a turnkey at the Atlantic county jail. William Carson, of 208 White Horse Pike, Atlantic City, was fined $25 after telling the court that he was taking home to his ill father the small quantity of liquor found in his possession.
Fisherman Fined
A fisherman, Albert P. Cramer, of 46 East New Jersey Avenue, Somers Point, was fined $25. He admitted he fished two cases of liquor out of The Thorofare, after the wreck of a rum running boat.
Others Pay Fines
Others fined for possession, transportation, or both were: John Pizzi, of Minetola, $50; Harvey Wilson, of Upper Darby, Pa., salesman for a foundry supply house, $25; Ellis W. McCormick, 1238 North Twenty-sixth Street, Camden, $75; Harry Collins, 1004 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, $100 fine and his automobile forfeited.
Charles McLaughlin, 839 South Tenth Street, Gloucester, received a fine of $10 and 10 days in jail for making beer.
12 on Trial Today
Twelve defendants pleaded not guilty to possession and nuisance charges and will go on trial beginning today.
They are: Albert M. Somers, of Northfield, charged with rum running; John Dietrich, 1317 Memorial Avenue, Atlantic City; Louis Atlas, 24 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City; Allen Larkin, 809 Old White Horse pike, Absecon; Peter Capiozola, of Buena; Fred Yarrow, 3122 Bay Shore Avenue, Brigantine Beach; Hyman Kramer, of Missouri and Arctic Avenues, Atlantic City, and his brother, Benjamin, of 11 Centennial Avenue; Levi Kimbrough, colored, 2926 Peltz Street, Philadelphia; Louis Lorenzo, 115 North North Carolina Avenue, Atlantic City; Frank Stecker, 419 Dauphin Street, Riverside, and James T. Mulrey, of Egg Harbor.
Five others placed on probation for two years, in addition to Palmer and Stretch, are: Wilbur Steece, 18 South North Carolina Avenue, Atlantic City; Henry Roth, of Fairview, Bergen county; Clarence Love, of Millville; Ralph S. Miller, of Newfield, and George Gerber, of 111 South Albion Place, Atlantic City.
Police Seek Body Of Man Who Died In Saving Family
Charleroi, Pennsylvania Mail —
Camden N.J. (INS) Harbor police and volunteers today were searching for the body of C. Leonard Brehm, Republican leader and city sealer of weights and measures, who sacrificed his own life to save those of his wife and son, when their motorboat sank in the Delaware River below Delair.
Grabbing life preservers, Brehm fastened them around the woman and his son Leonard Jr., 12, and then endeavored to keep the motor launch afloat by pumping. Thomas Kauffman, a Camden policeman, his wife, and Edward Cooke, 12, were other members of the party saved after the launch struck a submerged rock.